# US 2013/0153218 A1 · Method and system for lifting fluids from a reservoir > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153218 A1 - Document ID: US20130153218A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/679,604 - Filed: 2012-11-16 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16 - Assignees: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company - Inventors: Thomas A. Boone - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153218A1 ## CPC - E21B 43/24: using heat, e.g. steam injection - E21B 43/122: {Gas lift} - E21B 43/2406: {Steam assisted gravity drainage [SAGD]} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract Systems and methods are provided for lifting hydrocarbons from reservoirs. A method includes injecting a heat carrier fluid comprising steam, hot water, or both into a first well and injecting an organic compound into a second well. The organic compound is selected to vaporize to a gas from the heat provided by the heat carrier fluid, forcing produced fluids to the surface. The produced fluids are collected at the surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for lifting fluids from a reservoir, comprising: injecting a heat carrier fluid comprising steam, hot water, or both into a first well; injecting an organic compound into a second well, wherein the organic compound is selected to vaporize to a gas from the heat provided by the heat carrier fluid, forcing produced fluids to the surface through the second well; and collecting the produced fluids at the surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising: separating the organic compound from the produced fluids; and repeating the injection of the heat carrier fluid and the produced fluids into the second well. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising: separating water from the produced fluids; and shipping the produced fluids as a mixture with the organic compounds. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first well and the second well are the same. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first well comprises an injection well in an oil-sands reservoir. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second well comprises a production well in an oil sands reservoir. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the organic compound comprises alkanes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the produced fluids comprise reservoir hydrocarbons. ### Claim 9 A system for harvesting resources in a reservoir, comprising: a production well comprising a horizontal section located substantially proximate to a base of the reservoir; an injection system configured to inject an organic compound into an tube in the production well, wherein the organic compound is selected so as to vaporize at the end of the tube; and a continuous production system configured to produce a fluid from the production well, wherein the fluid comprises a bitumen and the organic compound. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, comprising an injection well configured to inject steam into the reservoir. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the production well comprises a plurality of annulus, wherein: a first annulus is configured for steam injection; a second annulus is configured for solvent injection; and a third annulus is configured for production of fluids from the reservoir. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, comprising a separation system configured to separate water from the fluids. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, comprising an injection well configured to inject steam into the reservoir. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, comprising a tube in the injection well configured to inject an organic compound into the injection well at the heel, wherein the organic compound is selected to flash at the conditions in the heel or the injection well. ### Claim 15 A method for harvesting hydrocarbons from a reservoir, comprising: drilling a production well substantially proximate to a base of a reservoir; injecting steam into the reservoir to lower a viscosity of bitumen, wherein the bitumen flows into the production well; injecting an organic compound in the liquid phase into the production well, wherein the organic compound flashes into a vapour in the production well; and producing fluids from the production well, wherein the fluids comprise the vapour and the bitumen. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the fluids comprise the liquid phase of the organic compound. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, comprising drilling an injection well at greater than about three meters shallower than the production well. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, comprising: injecting steam into the reservoir through a first annulus in the production well; injecting the organic compound into the production well through a second annulus in the production well; and producing the fluids through a third annulus in the production well. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, comprising injecting a non-condensable gas with the organic compound. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, comprising injecting a mixture of the organic compound with a diluent, wherein the diluent remains as a liquid in the production well. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, comprising injecting a mixture of the organic compound, a non-condensable gas, and a diluent, wherein the diluent remains as a liquid in the production well. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, comprising adjusting an injection rate of the organic compound to minimize geysering at the surface. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, comprising injecting hot water, steam, or both, in a physical combination with the organic compound, wherein the organic compound remains as a liquid in the vertical portion of the production well and flashes to a gas at the heel of the well. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, comprising injecting a diluent as the organic compound, wherein the diluent comprises components that remain as a liquid in the production well and components that flash to a gas in the production well.