Direct steam generation co2 output control
AssigneeConocoPhillips Company
InventorsScott MACADAM, James SEABA
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems generate steam and carbon dioxide mixtures suitable for injection to assist in recovering hydrocarbons from oil sands based on concentration of the carbon dioxide in the mixtures as influenced by temperature of water introduced into a direct steam generator. Increasing temperature of the water to above 200° C. before introduction into the direct steam generator may utilize heat from an electrical power generation unit. Enthalpy of this preheated water impacts amount of fuel needed to burn in the direct steam generator and hence the concentration of the carbon dioxide, which may be below 11% by mass percent of the steam.
Claims20
A method of generating a mixture of steam and carbon dioxide, comprising:
- supplying fuel and oxidant into a direct steam generator;
- heating water to above 200° C. for introducing in liquid phase into the direct steam generator;
- and
- combusting the fuel and oxidant in the direct steam generator as the water that is preheated is introduced to produce the mixture that includes the steam and combustion products and that has a carbon dioxide level in mass percent of the steam below 11 percent.
A system for generating a mixture of steam and carbon dioxide, comprising:
- a device for heating water and configured for outputting the water in liquid phase at a temperature above 200° C.;
- and
- a direct steam generator coupled in fluid communication with an output of the device for heating the water and configured to combust fuel and oxidant as the water from the output of the device is introduced into the direct steam generator to produce the mixture that includes the steam and combustion products and has a carbon dioxide level in mass percent of steam below 11 percent.
A method of generating a mixture of steam and carbon dioxide, comprising:
- combusting fuel and oxidant in a direct steam generator as water that is heated to above 200° C. and in liquid phase is introduced into the direct steam generator to produce the mixture that includes the steam and combustion products and has a carbon dioxide level in mass percent of steam below 11 percent;
- introducing the mixture into a formation;
- and
- recovering a hydrocarbon emulsion containing a condensate of the steam that is recycled for resupplying of the water heated before entering the direct steam generator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.