Process for providing steam for a hydrocarbon recovery process

A process for providing steam from a steam source to a well of a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the process comprising:

• heating a first pipe including a plurality of portions of the first pipe with each of the plurality of portions of the first pipe extending along a respective segment of a path between the steam source and the well, and a second pipe including a plurality of portions of the second pipe with each of the plurality of portions of the second pipe extending along the respective segment of the path between the steam source and the well, wherein heating is carried out by:
• directing steam along a first portion of the first pipe and back along a first portion of the second pipe to heat the first portion of the first pipe and the first portion of the second pipe;
• after heating the first portion of the first pipe and the first portion of the second pipe, directing steam along the first portion of the first pipe and a second portion of the first pipe, and back along a second portion of the second pipe and the first portion of the second pipe to heat the second portion of the first pipe and the second portion of the second pipe;
• continuing to direct steam along each successive portion of the first pipe and each successive portion of the second pipe after heating each previous portion of the first pipe and each previous portion of the second pipe;
• after heating each of the plurality of portions of the first pipe and the plurality of portions of the second pipe, utilizing the first pipe and the second pipe to transport steam to the well.

A system for providing steam to a well of a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the system comprising:

• a steam source;
• a first pipe including a plurality of portions of the first pipe with each of the plurality of portions of the first pipe extending along a respective segment of a path between the steam source and the well;
• a second pipe including a plurality of portions of the second pipe with each of the plurality of portions of the second pipe extending along the respective segment of the path between the steam source and the well;
• a plurality of cross-over pipes, each of the cross-over pipes coupling a respective one of the portions of the first pipe with a corresponding one of the portions of the second pipe;
• valve arrangements associated with the cross-over pipes, ones of the valve arrangements operable to:
• direct fluid flow from one of the portions of the first pipe to a corresponding one of the portions of the second pipe, when in a preheating configuration, and
• direct fluid flow from the one of the portions of the first pipe to a subsequent one of the portions of the first pipe as well as direct fluid flow from the corresponding one of the portions of the second pipe to a subsequent one of the portions of the second pipe, when in a steam delivery configuration.