US 4,160,479 A · Heavy oil recovery process

Abstract

A process incorporating integrated units and combined cycle energy production is provided for the recovery and upgrading of oil containing deposits which are not readily amenable to recovery and upgrading, to produce therefrom a light oil and elemental sulphur. Residual hydrocarbons generated in the process are gasified to produce hot gases which are used as a source of energy for process use, including electric power. The electric power is utilized to electrolyze water and produce hydrogen for use in upgrading and oxygen for use in gasification. The integration of gasification of residual hydrocarbons to produce, inter alia, electric power with the electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen for upgrading, and efficient use, distribution and recovery of energy in combined energy cycles provides an economical and essentially energy sufficient process with the flexibility to be adapted for the recovery and upgrading of various low yield oil deposits.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A process for the recovery and upgrading of oil containing deposits such as heavy oil, tar sands, shale and coal, which once initiated is essentially energy sufficient, said process comprising the steps of:

(a) recovering the deposit;
(b) treating the deposit to obtain a feedstock;
(c) desulphurizing the feedstock with hydrogen and recovering therefrom a light oil, elemental sulphur and a heavy residual oil;
(d) electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen and oxygen, said hydrogen being utilized in step (c);
(e) gasifying said heavy residual oil in a series of gasifiers using air-oxygen mixtures to produce hot gases, wherein the concentration of air and oxygen may vary from gasifier to gasifier, the oxygen being supplied from step (d);
and
(f) utilizing said gasifier hot gases to provide energy for use in the process.

4 more elements

The process for the recovery and upgrading of heavy oil deposits, comprising the steps of:

(a) recovering the deposit by thermally stimulating the heavy oil deposit by injecting the deposit with a member of the group of steam, hot gases, hot water and mixtures thereof thereby creating a hot water-heavy oil emulsion, and by lifting the emulsion to the surface;
(b) treating the emulsion to separate the water therefrom and produce a heavy oil feedstock;
(c) desulphurizing the feedstock with hydrogen and recovering therefrom a light oil, elemental sulphur and a heavy residual oil;
(d) electrolizing water to produce hydrogen and oxygen, said hydrogen being utilized in step (c);
(e) gasifying said heavy residual oil in a series of gasifiers using air-oxygen mixtures to produce hot gases, wherein the concentration of air and oxygen may vary from gasifier to gasifier, the oxygen being supplied from step (d);
(f) utilizing the gasifier hot gases for injection into said heavy oil deposit, and in the preparation of hot water and steam for use in step (a) and electric power for use in step (d).

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Heavy oil recovery process

Life of this patent

Heavy oil recovery process

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18