Integrated bitumen production and gas conversion
AssigneeExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
InventorsStephen Mark Davis, Michael Gerard Matturro
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An integrated gas conversion and bitumen production process utilizes steam and light hydrocarbons produced from a natural gas fed gas conversion process, to stimulate the bitumen production and dilute it for transportation by pipeline. Hydrogen for hydroconversion of the bitumen and hydroisomerization of gas conversion hydrocarbons may be produced from part of the synthesis gas generated from the natural gas. The bitumen diluent is preferably naphtha produced by the gas conversion and the diluted bitumen is pipelined to a bitumen upgrading facility.
Claims22
An integrated gas conversion and bitumen production process comprises (i) stimulating the production of bitumen with steam obtained from a natural gas fed gas conversion process that produces steam and hydrocarbons, including liquid hydrocarbons and, (ii) diluting said produced bitumen with a diluent comprising at least a portion of said liquid hydrocarbons to form a pipelineable fluid mixture comprising said bitumen and diluent, and (iii) transporting said mixture by pipeline to a bitumen upgrading facility.
An integrated gas conversion and bitumen production process comprises the steps of (i) converting natural gas to a hot synthesis gas, (ii) producing liquid hydrocarbons and steam from said synthesis gas in at least one hydrocarbon synthesis reactor, (iii) using a portion of said steam to produce bitumen, and (iv) using a portion of said liquid hydrocarbons to dilute said bitumen to lower its viscosity sufficient to enable it to be transported to a bitumen upgrading facility by pipeline.
An integrated gas conversion and bitumen production process comprises:
- (i) converting natural gas to a hot synthesis gas comprising a mixture of H2 and CO which is cooled by indirect heat exchange with water to produce high pressure steam;
- (ii) contacting said cool synthesis gas with a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst in at least one hydrocarbon synthesis reactor, at reaction conditions effective for said H2 and CO in said gas to react and produce heat, liquid hydrocarbons which include a naphtha fraction and a gas comprising methane and water vapor;
- (iii) removing said heat from said reactor by indirect heat exchange with water to produce medium pressure steam;
- (iv) passing at least a portion of said steam produced in either or both steps (i) and (iii) down into a subterranean tar sand formation having a bitumen drainage area that is penetrated by a well, to heat said bitumen and reduce its viscosity sufficient for it to be removed up through said well;
- (v) producing said bitumen by removing it from said well;
- (vi) reducing the viscosity of said produced bitumen by mixing it with a diluent comprising said naphtha fraction to produce a pipelineable mixture, and
- (vii) transporting said mixture by pipeline to a bitumen upgrading facility.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.