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US 9,803,456 B2Granted
SAGDOX geometry for impaired bitumen reservoirs
AssigneeNexen Energy Ulc
InventorRichard Kelso Kerr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process to utilize at least one water lean zone (WLZ) interspersed within a net pay zone in a reservoir and produce bitumen from the reservoir, includes using Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage with Oxygen (SAGDOX) to enhance oil recovery, locating a SAGDOX oxygen injector proximate the WLZ, and removing non-condensable gases.
Claims26
A process to produce bitumen utilizing at least one water lean zone (WLZ) within a bitumen-comprising subterranean reservoir, the process comprising:
- installing a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) system within the reservoir, the SAGD system comprising:
- a production well having a horizontal distal portion and a vertical proximal portion in communication with an extraction pump;
- and
- a steam injection well having a horizontal distal portion above the horizontal distal portion of the production well and a vertical proximal portion in communication with a steam source:
- installing an oxygenatious gas injection well with a gas outlet in the reservoir above the horizontal distal portion of the production well, the gas outlet located one of:
- within the WLZ;
- and proximate the WLZ, the oxygenatious gas injection well being separate from the SAGD system and horizontally spaced apart from the SAGD system;
- operating the SAGD system, comprising:
- injecting steam through the steam injection well to the horizontal distal portion thereof into the reservoir with the effect that steam heat and steam pressure are applied to the bitumen thereby reducing viscosity of the bitumen and mobilizing the bitumen to flow downward under gravity drainage;
- and
- extracting bitumen and water from the bitumen-comprising subterranean reservoir into the horizontal distal portion of the production well;
- and
- operating the oxygenatious gas injection well by injecting oxygenatious gas through the gas outlet and igniting the bitumen in a combustion zone located one of:
- within the WLZ;
- and proximate the WLZ, with the effect that one of:
- combustion heat energy;
- oxygenatious gas pressure;
- steam heat and steam pressure generated from vaporized water from the WLZ;
- and combustion gas pressure is applied to the bitumen reducing viscosity of the bitumen and mobilizing the bitumen to flow downward under gravity drainage.
16 more elements
A process to produce bitumen from a bitumen-comprising subterranean reservoir having a barrier of lower permeability than the remainder of the reservoir, the barrier comprising one of:
- shale;
- mudstone;
- and a combination of shale and mudstone, the barrier comprising one of:
- a continuous horizontal barrier;
- a discontinuous barrier;
- and a plurality of discontinuous barriers spaced apart horizontally or vertically, the process comprising:
- installing a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) system within the reservoir, the SAGD system comprising:
- a production well having a horizontal distal portion and a vertical proximal portion in communication with an extraction pump;
- and
- a steam injection well having a horizontal distal portion above the horizontal distal portion of the production well and a vertical proximal portion in communication with a steam source;
- installing an oxygenatious gas injection well with a gas outlet in the reservoir above the horizontal distal portion of the production well, the gas outlet located one of:
- above the barrier, and below the barrier, the oxygenatious gas injection well being separate from the SAGD system and horizontally spaced apart from the SAGD system;
- operating the SAGD system, comprising:
- injecting steam through the steam injection well to the horizontal distal portion thereof into the reservoir with the effect that steam heat and steam pressure are applied to the bitumen thereby reducing viscosity of the bitumen and mobilizing the bitumen to flow downward under gravity drainage;
- and
- extracting bitumen and water from the bitumen-comprising subterranean reservoir into the horizontal distal portion of the production well;
- and
- operating the oxygenatious gas injection well by injecting oxygenatious gas through the gas outlet and igniting the bitumen in a combustion zone located one of:
- above the barrier, and below the barrier, with the effect that one of:
- combustion heat energy;
- oxygenatious gas pressure;
- steam heat and steam pressure generated from vaporized water from the combustion zone;
- and combustion gas pressure is applied to the bitumen reducing viscosity of the bitumen and mobilizing the bitumen to flow downward under gravity drainage.
20 more elements
A process to produce bitumen from a bitumen-comprising subterranean reservoir having a top gas layer with a top gas pressure, the process comprising:
- installing a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) system within the reservoir, the SAGD system comprising:
- a production well having a horizontal distal portion and a vertical proximal portion in communication with an extraction pump;
- and
- a steam injection well having a horizontal distal portion above the horizontal distal portion of the production well and a vertical proximal portion in communication with a steam source;
- installing an oxygenatious gas injection well with a gas outlet in the reservoir above the horizontal distal portion of the production well, the gas outlet located below the top gas layer, the oxygenatious gas injection well being separate from the SAGD system and horizontally spaced apart from the SAGD system;
- operating the SAGD system, comprising:
- injecting steam through the steam injection well to the horizontal distal portion thereof into the reservoir with the effect that steam heat and steam pressure are applied to the bitumen thereby reducing viscosity of the bitumen and mobilizing the bitumen to flow downward under gravity drainage;
- and
- extracting bitumen and water from the bitumen-comprising subterranean reservoir into the horizontal distal portion of the production well;
- operating the oxygenatious gas injection well by injecting oxygenatious gas through the gas outlet and igniting the bitumen in a combustion zone located below the top gas layer, with the effect that one of:
- combustion heat energy;
- oxygenatious gas pressure;
- steam heat and steam pressure generated from vaporized water from the combustion zone;
- and combustion gas pressure is applied to the bitumen reducing viscosity of the bitumen and mobilizing the bitumen to flow downward under gravity drainage;
- and
- regulating the injection of oxygenatious gas to maintain a gas pressure within the reservoir to be in the range of 90% to 110% of the top gas pressure.
13 more elements
A process to produce bitumen from a bitumen-comprising subterranean reservoir having a bottom water layer with a bottom water pressure, the process comprising:
- installing a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) system within the reservoir, the SAGD system comprising:
- a production well having a horizontal distal portion and a vertical proximal portion in communication with an extraction pump;
- and
- a steam injection well having a horizontal distal portion above the horizontal distal portion of the production well and a vertical proximal portion in communication with a steam source:
- installing an oxygenatious gas injection well with a gas outlet in the reservoir above the horizontal distal portion of the production well, the oxygenatious gas injection well being separate from the SAGD system and horizontally spaced apart from the SAGD system;
- operating the SAGD system, comprising:
- injecting steam through the steam injection well to the horizontal distal portion thereof into the reservoir with the effect that steam heat and steam pressure are applied to the bitumen thereby reducing viscosity of the bitumen and mobilizing the bitumen to flow downward under gravity drainage;
- and
- extracting bitumen and water from the bitumen-comprising subterranean reservoir into the horizontal distal portion of the production well;
- operating the oxygenatious gas injection well by injecting oxygenatious gas through the gas outlet and igniting the bitumen in a combustion zone located above the bottom water layer, with the effect that one of:
- combustion heat energy;
- oxygenatious gas pressure;
- steam heat and steam pressure generated from vaporized water from the combustion zone;
- and combustion gas pressure is applied to the bitumen reducing viscosity of the bitumen and mobilizing the bitumen to flow downward under gravity drainage;
- and
- regulating the injection of oxygenatious gas to maintain a gas pressure within the reservoir to be in the range of 90% to 110% of the bottom water pressure.
13 more elements
A process to produce bitumen from a bitumen-comprising subterranean reservoir having a top water layer with a top water pressure, the process comprising:
- installing a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) system within the reservoir, the SAGD system comprising:
- a production well having a horizontal distal portion and a vertical proximal portion in communication with an extraction pump;
- and
- a steam injection well having a horizontal distal portion above the horizontal distal portion of the production well and a vertical proximal portion in communication with a steam source;
- installing an oxygenatious gas injection well with a gas outlet in the reservoir above the horizontal distal portion of the production well, the oxygenatious gas injection well being separate from the SAGD system and horizontally spaced apart from the SAGD system;
- operating the SAGD system, comprising:
- injecting steam through the steam injection well to the horizontal distal portion thereof into the reservoir with the effect that steam heat and steam pressure are applied to the bitumen thereby reducing viscosity of the bitumen and mobilizing the bitumen to flow downward under gravity drainage;
- and
- extracting bitumen and water from the bitumen-comprising subterranean reservoir into the horizontal distal portion of the production well;
- operating the oxygenatious gas injection well by injecting oxygenatious gas through the gas outlet and igniting the bitumen in a combustion zone located below the top water layer, with the effect that one of:
- combustion heat energy;
- oxygenatious gas pressure;
- steam heat and steam pressure generated from vaporized water from the combustion zone;
- and combustion gas pressure is applied to the bitumen reducing viscosity of the bitumen and mobilizing the bitumen to flow downward under gravity drainage;
- and
- regulating the injection of oxygenatious gas to maintain a gas pressure within the reservoir to be in the range of 90% to 110% of the top water pressure.
13 more elements
A process to produce bitumen from a bitumen-comprising subterranean reservoir having a net pay thickness less than 15 meters, the process comprising:
- installing a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) system within the reservoir, the SAGD system comprising:
- a production well having a horizontal distal portion and a vertical proximal portion in communication with an extraction pump;
- and
- a steam injection well having a horizontal distal portion above the horizontal distal portion of the production well and a vertical proximal portion in communication with a steam source;
- installing an oxygenatious gas injection well with a gas outlet in the reservoir above the horizontal distal portion of the production well, the oxygenatious gas injection well being separate from the SAGD system and horizontally spaced apart from the SAGD system;
- operating the SAGD system, comprising:
- injecting steam through the steam injection well to the horizontal distal portion thereof into the reservoir with the effect that steam heat and steam pressure are applied to the bitumen thereby reducing viscosity of the bitumen and mobilizing the bitumen to flow downward under gravity drainage;
- and
- extracting bitumen and water from the bitumen-comprising subterranean reservoir into the horizontal distal portion of the production well;
- and
- operating the oxygenatious gas injection well by injecting oxygenatious gas through the gas outlet and igniting the bitumen in a combustion zone located above the production well, with the effect that one of:
- combustion heat energy;
- oxygenatious gas pressure;
- steam heat and steam pressure generated from vaporized water from the combustion zone;
- and combustion gas pressure is applied to the bitumen reducing viscosity of the bitumen and mobilizing the bitumen to flow downward under gravity drainage.
12 more elements
A process to produce bitumen from a bitumen-comprising subterranean reservoir having a vertical bitumen viscosity gradient wherein a bottom zone has a bitumen viscosity greater than that of a top zone, the process comprising:
- installing a top zone steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) system within the top zone of the reservoir, the top zone SAGD system comprising:
- a top zone production well having a horizontal distal portion and a vertical proximal portion in communication with an extraction pump;
- and
- a top zone steam injection well having a horizontal distal portion above the horizontal distal portion of the top zone production well and a vertical proximal portion in communication with a steam source;
- installing an oxygenatious gas injection well with a gas outlet in the reservoir above the horizontal distal portion of the top zone production well, the oxygenatious gas injection well being separate from the top zone SAGD system and horizontally spaced apart from the top zone SAGD system;
- operating the top zone SAGD system, comprising:
- injecting steam through the steam injection well to the horizontal distal portion thereof into the reservoir with the effect that steam heat and steam pressure are applied to the bitumen thereby reducing viscosity of the bitumen and mobilizing the bitumen to flow downward under gravity drainage;
- and
- extracting bitumen and water from the bitumen-comprising subterranean reservoir into the horizontal distal portion of the production well;
- operating the oxygenatious gas injection well by injecting oxygenatious gas through the gas outlet and igniting the bitumen in a combustion zone located above the top zone production well, with the effect that one of:
- combustion heat energy;
- oxygenatious gas pressure;
- steam heat and steam pressure generated from vaporized water from the combustion zone;
- and combustion gas pressure is applied to the bitumen reducing viscosity of the bitumen and mobilizing the bitumen to flow downward under gravity drainage.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.