US 2026/0286213 A1Published application

System and method for optimized production of hydrocarbons from shale oil reservoirs via cyclic injection

AssigneeShale Ingenuity, LLC

InventorRobert A. DOWNEY

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Abstract

System and method for the optimized production of hydrocarbons from shale oil reservoirs via cyclic injection to achieve an improved and optimal recovery of oil. The method can determine and optimize the composition of injected fluids to be injected, the rate, pressure and duration of injection, the production rate and pressure of produced fluids; can determine and utilize the optimum number of injection and production cycles; can determine the amount of soaking time (if any); and can determine the equipment design and operating characteristics to provide for the optimized injection of injection fluids, and the separation of produced fluids for both reinjection and delivery to sales or storage.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method to increase the recovery of oil from shale reservoirs utilizing a cyclic injection and production process that comprises a plurality of injection and production periods, and wherein the method comprises the steps of:

(a) determining a hydrocarbon-containing composition for injection, wherein the hydrocarbon-containing composition is in a liquid state at surface injection conditions;
(b) determining a maximum injection rate and a maximum injection pressure in a well to be utilized during a plurality of injection and production periods;
(c) determining a maximum production rate of gases and liquids from the well and a minimum production pressure during the plurality of injection and production periods;
(d) injecting the hydrocarbon-containing composition for a period of time such that the pressure near a wellbore of the well reaches the determined maximum injection pressure during the injection period;
(e) producing the well for a period of time such that the pressure at the wellbore reaches the determined minimum production pressure;
(f) at or during the production period, assessing the composition of produced fluids and recalibrating a reservoir simulation model to determine the composition of the residual oil in the shale reservoir;
(g) processing the produced fluids at the surface to remove hydrocarbons, wherein the hydrocarbons comprise aliphatic hydrocarbons;
(h) adjusting the composition of the hydrocarbon-containing composition;
(i) injecting the adjusted hydrocarbon-containing composition;
and
(j) performing the process of steps (a) through (i) repeatedly.

8 more elements

A system for performing a method to increase the recovery of oil from a shale reservoir utilizing a cyclic injection and production process, wherein the system comprising:

(i) a storage unit for storing a hydrocarbon-containing composition for injection, wherein the hydrocarbon-containing composition is in a liquid state at surface injection conditions;
(ii) a plurality of wells operable for injecting and producing fluids from the shale reservoir;
(iii) production equipment for receiving the fluids produced from one or more of the plurality of wells;
(iv) a fluid separator operatively connected to the production equipment, wherein
(a) the fluid separator can separate the fluids produced from the one or more plurality of the wells into recycled fluids, produced gas, and produced oil,
(b) the fluid separator is operatively connected to the storage unit to permit the flow of the recycled fluids to the storage unit,
(c) the hydrocarbon-containing composition comprises the recycled fluids, and
(d) the fluid separator is operable to adjust the composition of the recycled fluids;
and
(v) a pumping system for injecting the hydrocarbon-containing composition into one or more of the wells in the plurality of wells, wherein the system is operable to perform the method to increase the recovery of the oil from the shale reservoir utilizing the cyclic injection and production process, which method comprises the steps of
(a) determining the composition of the hydrocarbon-containing composition for injection,
(b) determining a maximum injection rate and a maximum injection pressure in a well in the plurality of wells to be utilized during a plurality of injection and production periods;
(c) determining a maximum production rate of gases and liquids from the well and a minimum production pressure during the plurality of injection and production periods;
(d) injecting the hydrocarbon-containing composition for a period of time such that the pressure near a wellbore of the well reaches the determined maximum injection pressure during the injection period;
(e) producing the well for a period of time such that the pressure at the wellbore reaches the determined minimum production pressure;
(f) at or during the production period, assessing the composition of produced fluids and recalibrating a reservoir simulation model to determine the composition of the residual oil in the shale reservoir;
(g) processing the produced fluids at the surface with the fluid separator to remove hydrocarbons, wherein the hydrocarbons comprise aliphatic hydrocarbons;
(h) adjusting the composition of the hydrocarbon-containing composition;
(i) injecting the adjusted hydrocarbon-containing composition;
and
(j) performing the process of steps (v) (a) through (v) (i) repeatedly.

18 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 19/693,897Filed 1 Jun 2026
Priority: 30 Dec 2019
Published: 24 Sep 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

C09K 8/594
Compositions for enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons, i.e. for improving the mobility of the oil, e.g. displacing fluids:…
E21B 43/16
Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells: enhanced recovery methods…
E21B 43/166
Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons: injecting a gaseous medium; Injecting a gaseous medium and a liquid medium
E21B 43/168
Injecting a gaseous medium; Injecting a gaseous medium and a liquid medium: injecting a gaseous medium

Family

Application62/955,205Us provisional application · filed 30 Dec 2019
Application17/138,355Continuation · filed 30 Dec 2020
Application18/545,652Continuation · filed 19 Dec 2023
Application19/005,634Continuation · filed 30 Dec 2024
Application19/693,897Continuation
US 11,851,609 B2Related patent
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US 12,644,039 B2Related patent
US 2021/0340428 A1Published application
US 2024/0117242 A1Published application
US 2025/0171680 A1Published application
US 2026/0286213 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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