# US 8,770,289 B2 · Method and system for lifting fluids from a reservoir > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,289 B2 - Document ID: US8770289B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/679,604 - Filed: 2012-11-16 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16 - Assignees: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company - Applicants: Thomas A. Boone - Inventors: Thomas A. Boone - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770289B2 ## CPC - E21B 43/24: using heat, e.g. steam injection - E21B 43/122: {Gas lift} - E21B 43/2406: {Steam assisted gravity drainage [SAGD]} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract Systems and methods are provided for lifting hydrocarbons from reservoirs. A method includes injecting a heat carrier fluid comprising steam, hot water, or both into a first well and injecting an organic compound into a second well. The organic compound is selected to vaporize to a gas from the heat provided by the heat carrier fluid, forcing produced fluids to the surface. The produced fluids are collected at the surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for lifting fluids from a reservoir, comprising: injecting a heat carrier fluid comprising steam, hot water, or both into a first well; producing produced fluids in a second well from the reservoir; injecting an organic compound into the second well while producing the produced fluids from the reservoir, wherein the organic compound is selected to vaporize to a gas from heat provided by the heat carrier fluid, lifting the produced fluids to a surface through the second well; and collecting the produced fluids at the surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising: separating the organic compound from the produced fluids; injecting the produced fluids into the second well; and repeating the injection of the heat carrier fluid and the produced fluids into the second well. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising: separating water from the produced fluids; and shipping the produced fluids as a mixture with the organic compounds. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first well and the second well are the same. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first well comprises an injection well in an oil-sands reservoir. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second well comprises a production well in an oil sands reservoir. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the organic compound comprises alkanes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the produced fluids comprise reservoir hydrocarbons. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising flashing the organic compound into a vapour at a temperature and a pressure at a heel of the production well. ### Claim 10 A system for harvesting resources in a reservoir, comprising: a production well comprising a horizontal section located substantially proximate to a base of the reservoir; an injection system configured to inject an organic compound into a production well tube in the production well while a fluid is produced in the production well, wherein the organic compound is selected so as to vaporize at the end of the production well tube; and a continuous production system configured to produce the fluid from the production well, wherein the fluid comprises a bitumen and the organic compound. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, comprising an injection well configured to inject steam into the reservoir. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the production well comprises a plurality of annuli, wherein: a first annulus is configured for steam injection; a second annulus is configured for solvent injection; and a third annulus is configured for production of fluids from the reservoir. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, comprising a separation system configured to separate water from the fluid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, comprising an injection well tube in an injection well configured to inject an organic compound into the injection well at a heel, wherein the organic compound is selected to flash at conditions in the heel or the injection well. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the organic compound is selected so as to flash into a vapour at a temperature and a pressure at a heel of the production well. ### Claim 16 A method for harvesting hydrocarbons from a reservoir, comprising: drilling a production well substantially proximate to a base of a reservoir; injecting steam into the reservoir to lower a viscosity of bitumen, wherein the bitumen flows into the production well; injecting an organic compound in a liquid phase into the production well, wherein the organic compound flashes into a vapour in the production well; and producing fluids from the production well while injecting the organic compound, wherein the fluids comprise the vapour and the bitumen. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the fluids comprise the liquid phase of the organic compound. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, comprising drilling an injection well at greater than about three meters shallower than the production well. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, comprising: injecting steam into the reservoir through a first annulus in the production well; injecting the organic compound into the production well through a second annulus in the production well; and producing the fluids through a third annulus in the production well. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, comprising injecting a non-condensable gas with the organic compound. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, comprising injecting a mixture of the organic compound with a diluent, wherein the diluent remains as a liquid in the production well. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, comprising injecting a mixture of the organic compound, a non-condensable gas, and a diluent, wherein the diluent remains as a liquid in the production well. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, comprising adjusting an injection rate of the organic compound to minimize geysering at a surface. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, comprising injecting hot water, steam, or both, in a physical combination with the organic compound, wherein the organic compound remains as a liquid in a vertical portion of the production well and flashes to a gas at a heel of the production well. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, comprising injecting a diluent as the organic compound, wherein the diluent comprises components that remain as a liquid in the production well and components that flash to a gas in the production well. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, comprising flashing the organic compound into a vapour at a temperature and a pressure at a heel of the production well.