Method for hydrocarbon recovery using a water changing or driving agent with RF heating
AssigneeHarris Corporation
InventorFrancis E. Parsche
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of processing a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation including a laterally extending injector well, a laterally extending producer well below the laterally extending injector well, and water within the subterranean formation, may include injecting a water changing agent into the laterally extending injector well to change the water in the subterranean formation adjacent the injector well to absorb less RF power. The method may also include applying RF power to an RF radiator within the injector well after injection of the water changing agent, and recovering hydrocarbon resources from the laterally extending producer well. In another embodiment, the method may include injecting a water driving agent into the laterally extending injector well.
Claims33
A method of processing a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation comprising a laterally extending injector well, a laterally extending producer well below the laterally extending injector well, and water within the subterranean formation, the method comprising:
- injecting a water changing agent into the laterally extending injector well to change the water in the subterranean formation adjacent the injector well to absorb less RF power;
- applying RF power to an RF radiator within the injector well after injection of the water changing agent;
- and
- recovering hydrocarbon resources from the laterally extending producer well.
A method of processing a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation comprising a laterally extending injector well, a laterally extending producer well below the laterally extending injector well, and water within the subterranean formation, the method comprising:
- injecting a light hydrocarbon into the laterally extending injector well to drive water in the subterranean formation away from the laterally extending injector well;
- and
- applying RF power to an RF radiator within the laterally extending injector well after injection of the light hydrocarbon;
- and
- recovering hydrocarbon resources from the laterally extending producer well.
A method of processing a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation having water therewithin, the method comprising:
- forming a laterally extending injector well in the subterranean formation;
- forming a laterally extending producer well below the laterally extending injector well;
- injecting a water changing agent into the laterally extending injector well to change the water in the subterranean formation adjacent the injector well to absorb less RF power and so that a conductivity of the subterranean formation adjacent the injector well is reduced to below 0.0002 mhos/meter for a radius of at least 10 meters;
- applying RF power to an RF radiator within the injector well after injection of the water changing agent;
- and
- recovering hydrocarbon resources from the laterally extending producer well.
A method of processing a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation having water therewithin, the method comprising:
- forming a laterally extending injector well within the subterranean formation;
- forming a laterally extending producer well below the laterally extending injector well;
- injecting a water driving agent into the laterally extending injector well to drive water in the subterranean formation away from the laterally extending injector well so that a conductivity of the subterranean formation adjacent the injector well is reduced to below 0.0002 mhos/meter for a radius of at least 10 meters;
- and
- applying RF power to an RF radiator within the laterally extending injector well after injection of the water driving agent;
- and
- recovering hydrocarbon resources from the laterally extending producer well.
A method of processing a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation comprising a laterally extending injector well, a laterally extending producer well below the laterally extending injector well, and water within the subterranean formation, the method comprising:
- injecting a dry gas into the laterally extending injector well to drive water in the subterranean formation away from the laterally extending injector well;
- and
- applying RF power to an RF radiator within the laterally extending injector well after injection of the dry gas;
- and
- recovering hydrocarbon resources from the laterally extending producer well.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.