Oilfield application of solar energy collection

An oil recovery system, comprising:

• an automatic control system coupleable to at least one of a solar steam generator or a fuel-fired steam generator which in turn coupled to a steam distribution system that (a) receives steam from both the solar steam generator and the fuel-fired steam generator, and (b) is coupled to at least one oilfield steam injection well, the automatic control system being programmed with instructions that, when executed:
• receive an input;
• in response to the input, direct an incoming volume of water to be heated to steam by only the solar steam generator or only the fuel-fired steam generator;
• and
• direct the steam to the oilfield injection well via the steam distribution system.

An oil recovery system, comprising:

• a solar steam generator, comprising:
• a reflector positioned to receive and redirect solar radiation;
• and
• a receiver positioned to receive radiation redirected by the reflector;
• at least one fuel-fired steam generator coupled to the solar steam generator, the at least one fuel-fired steam generator including at least one burner;
• a steam distribution system operatively coupled to both the solar steam generator and the at least one fuel-fired steam generator to receive steam from both the solar steam generator and the fuel-fired steam generator, the steam distribution system being coupled to at least one oilfield steam injection well;
• and
• an automatic control system coupled to the at least one fuel-fired steam generator and programmed with instructions that, when executed:
• reduce a steam output of the at least one fuel-fired steam generator by changing the output setting of the at least one burner from a first fixed output setting to a second fixed output setting, the first fixed output setting corresponding to a first heat output level and the second fixed output setting corresponding to a second heat output level less than the first;
• and
• direct an incoming volume of water to be heated by only the solar steam generator or only the fuel-fired steam generator.

An oil recovery system, comprising:

• a solar steam generator, comprising:
• a reflector positioned to receive and redirect solar radiation;
• and
• a receiver positioned to receive radiation redirected by the reflector;
• at least one fuel-fired steam generator coupled to the solar steam generator, the at least one fuel-fired steam generator including at least one burner;
• and
• a steam distribution system operatively coupled to both the solar steam generator and the at least one fuel-fired steam generator to receive steam from both the solar steam generator and the fuel-fired steam generator, the steam distribution system being coupled to at least one oilfield steam injection well;
• and
• an automatic control system coupled to the at least one fuel-fired steam generator and programmed with instructions that, when executed:
• reduce a steam output of the fuel-fired steam generator by changing the output setting of at least one of the burners from a first fixed output setting to at least one of a second fixed output setting and a third fixed output setting, the first fixed output setting corresponding to a first heat output level, the second fixed output setting corresponding to a second heat output level less than the first, and the third fixed output setting corresponding to a third heat output level less than the second;
• and
• direct an incoming volume of water to be heated by only the solar steam generator or only the fuel-fired steam generator.

A method for controlling an oil recovery automatic control system, comprising:

• programming the automatic control system with instructions that, when executed:
• receive an input;
• in response to the input, direct an incoming volume of water to be heated to steam by only a solar steam generator or only a fuel-fired steam generator;
• and
• direct the steam to an oilfield injection well via a steam distribution system, wherein the automatic control system is coupleable to at least one of the solar steam generator or the fuel-fired steam generator, which are in turn operatively coupled to the steam distribution system, and wherein the steam distribution system (a) receives steam from both the solar steam generator and the fuel-fired steam generator, and (b) is coupled to the oilfield steam injection well.