Integrated enhanced oil recovery process
AssigneeGreatpoint Energy, Inc.
InventorPaul Wallace
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An enhanced oil recovery process that is integrated with a synthesis gas generation process, such as gasification or reforming, involving capture and recycle of a sour carbon dioxide stream for EOR use.
Claims20
An integrated process to (i) produce an acid gas-depleted hydrocarbon product gas stream, (ii) produce a hydrocarbon-containing fluid from an underground hydrocarbon reservoir via a hydrocarbon production well, and (iii) enhance production of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid from the underground hydrocarbon reservoir, the process comprising the steps of:
- (1) injecting a pressurized sour carbon dioxide stream into the underground hydrocarbon reservoir to enhance production of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid from the underground hydrocarbon reservoir via the hydrocarbon production well;
- (2) recovering the hydrocarbon-containing fluid produced from the hydrocarbon production well;
- (3) separating the hydrocarbon-containing fluid into (a) a liquid hydrocarbon product stream and (b) a gaseous hydrocarbon product stream;
- (4) producing a synthesis gas stream from a carbonaceous feedstock, the synthesis gas stream comprising (a) at least one of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and (b) at least one of hydrogen and methane;
- (5) treating the synthesis gas stream and the gaseous hydrocarbon product stream in an acid gas removal unit to produce the acid gas-depleted hydrocarbon product gas stream and a sour carbon dioxide stream;
- and
- (6) pressurizing the sour carbon dioxide stream to generate the pressurized sour carbon dioxide stream,
- wherein at least one of the synthesis gas stream and the gaseous hydrocarbon product stream comprises more than a trace amount of hydrogen sulfide.
A process to enhance production of a hydrocarbon-containing fluid from an underground hydrocarbon reservoir via a hydrocarbon production well, by injecting a pressurized sour carbon dioxide stream into the underground hydrocarbon reservoir, wherein the pressurized sour carbon dioxide stream is generated by a process comprising the steps of:
- (I) recovering the hydrocarbon-containing fluid produced from the hydrocarbon production well;
- (II) separating the hydrocarbon-containing fluid into (a) a liquid hydrocarbon product stream and (b) a gaseous hydrocarbon product stream;
- (III) producing a synthesis gas stream from a carbonaceous feedstock, the synthesis gas stream comprising (a) at least one of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and (b) at least one of hydrogen and methane;
- (IV) treating the synthesis gas stream and the gaseous hydrocarbon product stream in an acid gas removal unit to produce an acid gas-depleted hydrocarbon product gas stream and a sour carbon dioxide stream;
- and
- (V) pressurizing the sour carbon dioxide stream to generate the pressurized sour carbon dioxide stream,
- wherein at least one of the synthesis gas stream and the gaseous hydrocarbon product stream comprises more than a trace amount of hydrogen sulfide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.