| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
|---|
| 20080196894 | Process for Recovering Heavy Oil Using Multiple Effect Evaporation - A method for recovering heavy oil including recovering an oil-water mixture from a well and separating oil from the oil-water mixture to produce an oil product and produced water. The produced water is separated into a series of produced water streams. Each produced water stream is directed into each of a plurality of interconnected evaporators in a multiple effect evaporator. A first produced water stream is heated and vaporized to form a first vapor stream. The first vapor stream then heats and vaporizes a second produced water stream to form a second vapor stream. This process may continue wherein the second vapor stream heats and vaporizes a third produced water stream. The vapor streams are condensed to form a distillate that is directed to a steam generator. The steam generator then heats the distillate and produces steam to inject into an oil injection well. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080289821 | INTEGRATED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STEAM-ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE (SAGD)-HEAVY OIL PRODUCTION USING LOW QUALITY FUEL AND LOW QUALITY WATER - A process for producing steam for extracting heavy bitumen includes the steps of mixing carbon or hydrocarbon fuel said fuel being crud oil, VR, Asphaltin, or coke with an oxidation gas, said gas being oxygen, oxygen enriched air or air-combusting the mixture under high pressure and high temperature and mixing low quality contaminated water containing organics and inorganic with the combusted mixture so as to control combustion temperature and to generate steam. The liquid phase is transferred to a gas phase so as to contain steam and carbon dioxide. The solids are separated from the gas phase. The super heated dry steam and gas mixture is ejected into an underground reservoir. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080289822 | INTEGRATED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STEAM-ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE (SAGD)-HEAVY OIL PRODUCTION TO PRODUCE SUPER-HEATED STEAM WITHOUT LIQUID WASTE DISCHARGE - A method and system for producing steam for extraction of heavy bitumen including the steps of mixing carbon or hydrocarbon fuel. The fuel is crude oil, vacuum residue, asphaltin, petcoke or coal. The oxidation gas includes oxygen, oxygen enriched air or air-combustion of the mixture under high pressure and high temperature. The fuel is mixed with low quality contaminated water containing organics and inorganics. The liquid phase transferred to a gas phase includes steam and carbon dioxide, wherein solids are separated from the gas phase. The gas phase is mixed with saturated water to scrub the remaining solids and produce saturated steam. The solid rich water is recycled back for combustion. The saturated steam super-heated dry steam and gas mixture is send to an enhanced oil recovery facility for injection into an underground reservoir. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20090056944 | Enhanced oil recovery system for use with a geopressured-geothermal conversion system - A system and series of methods, which utilize Geopressured-Geothermal (GPGT) energy for the enhanced recovery of formation crude oil. The system is designed to interface with a conversion system which concentrates the GPGT brine while recovering H2O distillate and gas, e.g., as taught by Nitschke in U.S. Pat. No. Re. 36,282. The system promotes enhanced oil recovery (EOR) from an oil formation via steamflood and optional gas injection, powered by the GPGT gas and using the recovered H2O distillate for source water. The system optionally reuses the bulk of the injected EOR fluids via thermal regeneration and volume replenishing, alleviating disposal costs and environmental stresses. The system manages the concentrated GPGT brine byproduct by optionally producing solid salt for sale, flowing to an appropriate end-user, or disposing in a suitable subterranean formation. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090056945 | Process for Removing Silica in Heavy Oil Recovery - A process for recovery oil includes recovering an oil/water mixture from an oil well. Thereafter, the method includes separating oil from the oil/water mixture to produce an oil product and produced water having dissolved silica therein. The produced water is directed to an evaporator and produces steam and a concentrated brine. The method or process entails mixing a precipitant or crystallizing reagent with the produced water or the concentrated brine and causing the silica to precipitate from the produced water or the concentrated brine. Steam produced by the evaporator is condensed to form a distillate which is directed to steam generator. At the steam generator the distillate is heated to produce steam which is injected into an injection well, giving rise to the formation of the oil/water mixture. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090250215 | Method for induced production of petroleum by means of horizontal fractures - The present invention relates to a method for produce viscous oil in wells through steam injection into horizontal fractures. The objective of the method is achieved through fracturing operations that form a horizontal fracture being this fracture sustained by a sustaining agent, for example, by a bauxite-type, that is resistant to steam in areas of the well ( | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090260810 | METHOD FOR TREATING A HYDROCARBON CONTAINING FORMATION - Methods of generating subsurface heat for treatment of a hydrocarbon containing formation are described herein. Methods include providing steam to at least a portion of a hydrocarbon containing formation from a plurality of locations in a wellbore. The steam is hotter than a temperature of the portion. The steam is heated in the wellbore by combusting a stream comprising hydrogen sulfide in the wellbore. Heat from the combustion transfers to the steam. The steam provided the portion at a first location in the wellbore is hotter than steam provided at a second location in the wellbore along the length of the wellbore, where the first location is further from a surface of the formation than the second location along the length of the wellbore. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090260811 | METHODS FOR GENERATION OF SUBSURFACE HEAT FOR TREATMENT OF A HYDROCARBON CONTAINING FORMATION - Methods of generating subsurface heat for treatment of a hydrocarbon containing formation are described herein. Steam is provided to at least a portion of a hydrocarbon containing formation from a plurality of substantially horizontal steam injection wells. A mixture comprising hydrogen sulfide and an oxidant is combusted in one or more flameless distributed combustors positioned in one or more substantially vertical wellbores to generate heat. At least one of the substantially vertical wellbores is within ten meters of an end of at least one of the substantially horizontal steam injection wells, and at least a portion of the generated heat is transferred to a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation located between at least one of the substantially horizontal steam injection wells and at least one of the substantially vertical heater wells to mobilize formation fluids for recovery. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090283267 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR MONITORING AND RECOVERY OF PETROLEUM FROM EARTH FORMATIONS - A system for production of petroleum from an earth formation. The system includes: an injection assembly disposable within a first borehole for injecting a thermal source into the formation, the injection assembly including an injector extending from a distal end of the assembly; and a production assembly disposable within a second borehole for recovering material including the petroleum from the formation, the production assembly including a collector extending from a distal end of the assembly. At least one of the injector and the collector includes at least a first conduit and at least a second conduit concentric with the first conduit, the first conduit having a first distal end and the second conduit having a second distal end, the first and second distal ends located at different locations along a length of at least one of the first and second borehole. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090283268 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR MONITORING AND RECOVERY OF PETROLEUM FROM EARTH FORMATIONS - A system for production of petroleum from an earth formation includes: an injection assembly disposable within a first borehole for injecting a first thermal source into the formation, the injection assembly including an injector extending from a distal end of the assembly; a production assembly disposable within a second borehole for recovering the petroleum from the formation, the production assembly including a production conduit and a collector extending from the distal end of the assembly; and a thermal injection conduit extending through at least a portion of the production conduit and the collector for regulating a thermal property of the petroleum. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090288827 | In Situ Thermal Process For Recovering Oil From Oil Sands - A method of recovering oil from an oil sands reservoir comprises first applying cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) to a series of generally horizontally extending wells in the reservoir; then applying steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) to at least one vertically-spaced well pair in which one well in each well pair is part of the series of wells to which CSS was applied, while producing oil from at least one single well in the series of wells. In this case, each single well is adjacent to and offset from at least one of the well pairs. The method can then further comprise applying a SAGD blowdown to an injector well of each well pair and producing oil from a producer well of each well pair and from the single well to economic limit. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20100101790 | CYCLIC STEAM STIMULATION METHOD WITH MULTIPLE FRACTURES - A cyclic steam soak (CSS) stimulation method for producing heated hydrocarbons from a viscous hydrocarbon-containing formation comprises the steps of: a) drilling a well ( | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100101791 | ENHANCED CRUDE OIL RECOVERY METHOD AND SYSTEM - An enhanced crude oil recovery method comprises:
| 04-29-2010 |
| 20100108317 | Passive Heating Assisted Recovery Methods - A method for producing hydrocarbons from a region having adjacent strata divided by an impermeable or partially permeable barrier and, wherein at least one of the strata contains hydrocarbons, comprises of sufficiently heating one of the stratum to allow heat to be conducted to the hydrocarbon containing stratum and producing hydrocarbons therefrom. In one aspect, both strata contain hydrocarbons, such as bitumen, and heat is generated by a steam assisted gravity drainage process to the adjacent stratum. Heat may also be generated by in-situ combustion of hydrocarbons to preheat an adjacent stratum, or by electrical heating. Once pre-conditioned to a higher in-situ temperature, hydrocarbon production may be facilitated by diluting the target pre-heated hydrocarbon bearing stratum with solvent injection. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100108318 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE IN-SITU EXTRACTION OF A HYDROCARBON-CONTAINING SUBSTANCE, WHILE REDUCING THE VISCOSITY THEREOF, FROM AN UNDERGROUND DEPOSIT - A device for the in-situ extraction of a hydrocarbon-containing substance, while reducing the viscosity thereof, from an underground deposit, has at least one injection pipeline extending in the deposit and at least one production pipeline leading out of the deposit, which together form a so-called well pair. The injection and production pipelines each have a starting region extending above ground in some areas, and an active region connecting to the starting region inside the deposit. With the method, during a heating phase hot steam is applied to the injection and production pipelines, while during a production phase hot steam is applied only to the injection pipeline. Furthermore, the active region of the injection pipeline is additionally configured as an induction heater regarding the surrounding area in the deposit. In the associated device, for example, the well pair formed by the injection pipeline and production pipeline can be configured as electrodes. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100155062 | Use Of A Heavy Petroleum Fraction As A Drive Fluid In The Recovery of Hydrocarbons From A Subterranean Formation - A process is disclosed for using heavy petroleum fraction as a drive fluid in the recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. The hydrocarbons may be in the form of bitumen or heavy oil. The heavy petroleum fraction may be injected into at least one injection well and hydrocarbons produced out of at least one distinct production well. The heavy petroleum fraction may be co-injected together with steam and/or hot water and/or solvent. The heavy petroleum fraction may be a heavy fraction of a process used to upgrade crude oil, such as a heavy asphaltene fraction produced from solvent deasphalting crude oil produced by this recovery process. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100163229 | Methods and apparatuses for sagd hydrocarbon production - A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an in situ formation. The process includes the steps of injecting steam though an injection well into an underground extraction chamber having a hydrocarbon extraction interface, warming the hydrocarbons at the extraction interface to cause the hydrocarbons to flow downwardly by gravity drainage and to release dissolved hydrocarbon gases and moving the hydrocarbon gases from the extraction interface to improve heat transfer from said steam to said interface. The last step is to recover liquids such as hydrocarbons and water through a production well. The invention provides adding a buoyancy modifying agent to the steam to cause the hydrocarbon gases to accumulate in the well in a preferred location. The preferred location is at the top of the chamber where the gases protect the top of the chamber from being extracted to the point of breakthrough. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100181069 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DOWNHOLE STEAM GENERATION AND ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY - A burner with a casing seal is used to create a combustion cavity at a temperature sufficient to reservoir sand. The burner creates and sustains hot combustion gases at a steady state for flowing into and permeating through a target zone. The casing seal isolates the combustion cavity from the cased wellbore and forms a sealed casing annulus between the cased wellbore and the burner. Water is injected into the target zone, above the combustion cavity, through the sealed casing annulus. The injected water permeates laterally and cools the reservoir adjacent the wellbore, and the wellbore from the heat of the hot combustion gases. The hot combustion gases and the water in the reservoir interact to form a drive front in a hydrocarbon reservoir. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100193188 | INTEGRATED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STEAM-ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE (SAGD)-HEAVY OIL PRODUCTION TO PRODUCE SUPER-HEATED STEAM WITHOUT LIQUID WASTE DISCHARGE - A method and system for producing steam for extraction of heavy bitumen including the steps of mixing carbon or hydrocarbon fuel. The fuel is crude oil, vacuum residue, asphaltin, petcoke or coal. The oxidation gas includes oxygen, oxygen enriched air or air-combustion of the mixture under high pressure and high temperature. The fuel is mixed with low quality contaminated water containing organics and inorganics. The liquid phase transferred to a gas phase includes steam and carbon dioxide, wherein solids are separated from the gas phase. The gas phase is mixed with saturated water to scrub the remaining solids and produce saturated steam. The solid rich water is recycled back for combustion. The saturated steam super-heated dry steam and gas mixture is send to an enhanced oil recovery facility for injection into an underground reservoir. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100200231 | Method and System for Recovering Oil and Generating Steam from Produced Water - A method of recovering oil from an oil well and producing steam for injection into an injection well is provided. After recovering an oil-water mixture from the oil well, oil is separated from the mixture to produce an oil product and produced water. In one process, the produced water is directed to an indirect fired steam generator which is powered by an independent boiler or steam generator. As water moves through the indirect fired steam generator, the same is heated to produce a steam-water mixture. The steam-water mixture is directed to the steam separator which separates the steam-water mixture into steam and water. The separated water is directed from the steam separator back to and through the indirect fired steam generator. This separated water is continued to be recycled through the indirect fired steam generator. Steam separated by the steam separator is directed into the injection well. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100206565 | STEAM ASSISTED OIL RECOVERY AND CARBON DIOXIDE CAPTURE - Methods and systems relate to generating a flow of steam and splitting the flow of steam to enable both its injection into a formation to assist in oil recovery and its introduction into a pathway where the steam is used for generating electricity and capturing carbon dioxide (CO | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100212894 | STEAM GENERATION FOR STEAM ASSISTED OIL RECOVERY - Methods and apparatus relate to both generating steam for injection into a wellbore and capturing carbon dioxide (CO | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100230097 | HYDROCARBON PRODUCTION PROCESS - Methods and apparatus relate to producing hydrocarbons. Injecting a fluid mixture of steam and carbon dioxide into a hydrocarbon bearing formation facilitates recovery of the hydrocarbons. Further, limiting amounts of non-condensable gases in the mixture may promote dissolving of the carbon dioxide into the hydrocarbons upon contact of the mixture with the hydrocarbons. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100243249 | METHOD FOR ACCELERATING START-UP FOR STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE OPERATIONS - The present embodiment discloses a method for decreasing the time required for a start-up phase in a steam assisted gravity drainage production. The present method describes forming a steam assisted gravity drainage production well pair within a formation comprising an injection well and a production well, beginning a preheating stop by introducing heat between the injection well and the production well, beginning a steam squeeze stage by injection steam into the formation and beginning the steam assisted gravity drainage production. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100258308 | Water Integration Between An In-Situ Recovery Operation And A Bitumen Mining Operation - The present invention relates to a method and system for integrating water between an in-situ bitumen recovery operation and a bitumen mining operation for improving efficiencies and synergies there between. A method of integrating water between a bitumen mining and extraction operation and an in-situ bitumen recovery operation comprises a) providing water associated with the bitumen mining and extraction operation; and b) directing the water, or boiler feed water or steam generated therefrom, to the in-situ bitumen recovery operation for use therein. Steam generated is used to assist in bitumen recovery at the in-situ facility. A basic system for integrating water between a bitumen mining and extraction operation and an in-situ bitumen recovery operation comprises a) a bitumen mining and extraction facility having a source of water; b) an in-situ bitumen recovery facility; c) a transporter for transporting the water, or boiler feed water or steam generated therefrom, to the in-situ bitumen recovery facility for use in an in-situ bitumen recovery operation. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100258309 | HEATER ASSISTED FLUID TREATMENT OF A SUBSURFACE FORMATION - A method for treating a tar sands formation includes providing heat from a first heater located between a steam injection well and a production well in a hydrocarbon containing layer. The first heater, the steam injection well, and the production well are located substantially horizontally in the layer. Heat is provided from a second heater horizontally offset from the first heater. The second heater is located vertically above an injection/production well and substantially horizontally in the layer. Steam is injected into the layer through the steam injection well after a selected amount of heat is provided from the first heater. Hydrocarbons are produced from the layer through the production well. Steam is injected and hydrocarbons are produced alternately through the injection/production well after a selected amount of heat is provided from the second heater. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100276140 | Method for Viscous Hydrocarbon Production Incorporating Steam and Solvent Cycling - A method for producing hydrocarbons from a reservoir containing the hydrocarbon comprises a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) incorporating cyclic steam, heavy (e.g. greater than C4) solvent and light (e.g. C2 to C4) solvent injection. The method involves a series of steps wherein the injection of the respective streams is varied. The method provides a significant improvement in hydrocarbon extraction efficiency as compared to a SAGD process alone and mitigates many of the drawbacks associated with typical SAGD operations. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100276141 | CREATING FLUID INJECTIVITY IN TAR SANDS FORMATIONS - Methods for treating a tar sands formation are described herein. Methods for treating a tar sands may include heating a portion of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from one or more heaters located in the portion. The heat may be controlled to increase the permeability of at least part of the portion to create an injection zone in the portion with an average permeability sufficient to allow injection of a fluid through the injection zone. A drive fluid and/or an oxidizing fluid may be provided into the injection zone. At least some hydrocarbons including mobilized hydrocarbons are produced from the portion. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100326656 | PATTERN STEAMFLOODING WITH HORIZONTAL WELLS - Processes and systems comprising a five-spot pattern of multiple horizontal wells for increasing the efficiency of heated vapor-assisted hydrocarbon recovery from subterranean viscous hydrocarbon formations. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110000666 | Vitiated Steam Generator - The device of the present invention belongs to the field of the steam generators devices. Specifically, the device described herein is based constructively in a rocket-type engine for generates instantaneously a vitiated steam, which is a mix of water steam with combustion gases. The device described herein is a modular device whose each module may be changed in case of break or clogging. The device of this invention provides energy for the operation of different steam equipment, such as turbines, engines, locomotives, among other possible, as well as the combination of them. The device of this invention may also be attached in petroleum wells, making feasible the extraction of petroleum from the mature wells. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110005749 | WATER PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A system comprising a well drilled into an underground formation comprising hydrocarbons; a water supply; a steam production facility, the steam production facility comprising a filter to remove at least 80% of a quantity of divalent cations in the water supply; an exchange resin to remove at least 80% of a quantity of divalent cations in a filtered water stream that has already passed through the filter; a steam injection facility connected to the well and the steam production facility, adapted to inject the steam into the well. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110005750 | OIL SAND PRODUCTION WITHOUT CO2 EMMISSION - A plant for generation of steam for oil sand recovery from carbonaceous fuel with capture of CO | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110017449 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY WITH A ONCE-THROUGH STEAM GENERATOR - A once-through steam generator including one or more steam-generating circuits extending between inlet and outlet ends thereof and including one or more pipes, the steam-generating circuit having a heating segment at least partially defining a heating portion of the once-through steam generator, and one or more heat sources for generating heat to which the heating segment is subjected. The steam-generating circuit is adapted to receive feedwater at the inlet end, the feedwater being subjected to the heat from the heat source to convert the feedwater into steam and water. The pipe has a bore therein at least partially defined by an inner surface, and at least a portion of the inner surface has ribs at least partially defining a helical flow passage. The helical flow passage guides the water therealong for imparting a swirling motion thereto, to control concentrations of the impurities in the water. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110042085 | Method and Apparatus for In Situ Extraction of Bitumen or Very Heavy Oil - A method to extract bitumen or very heavy oil in situ from oil sand seams close to the Earth's surface is provided. Energy is introduced via at least two pipes at a given, repeatable distance from the seam, a predefined geometry is maintained in relation to the well pair. The associated apparatus includes at least one additional pipe which is alternatively designed as an electrode or also for feeding vapor and is placed above the injection pipe. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110061868 | System and Method for Enhanced Oil Recovery from Combustion Overhead Gravity Drainage Processes - A pre-ignition heat cycle (PIHC) using cyclic steam injection and steam flood techniques is described that improves the recovery of viscous hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir using an overhead in-situ combustion technique such as combustion overhead gravity drainage (COGD). The PIHC, by developing horizontal and vertical transmissive zones, predisposes a viscous oil reservoir to develop a conformable combustion chamber. Good conformance of the combustion chamber enhances recovery factor and improves well operations in the field for in-situ combustion applications. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110094739 | OIL RECOVERY PROCESS - A method for recovering heavy oil in a stratum with an injection well, a production well and a steam generator. The method begins by injecting steam from the steam generator into a horizontal portion of the injection well followed by soaking the stratum with the steam from the injection well for a predetermined period of time; and producing heavy oil from the stratum with the production well. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110108273 | Method and apparatus for in situ extraction of bitumen or very heavy oil - A method for the in situ extraction of bitumen or very heavy oil from oil sand deposits close to the surface, where thermal energy is introduced into the deposit to reduce the viscosity of the bitumen or very heavy oil is provided. Condensed water is used that is introduced into the deposit via an injection pipe and is horizontally conducted inside the pipe within the deposit such that the water can evaporate in situ and the heat can be applied to the deposit. An apparatus including an injection pipe, an extraction pipe, a converter and electrical conductors are also provided. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110120709 | STEAM-GAS-SOLVENT (SGS) PROCESS FOR RECOVERY OF HEAVY CRUDE OIL AND BITUMEN - Methods relate to a steam-gas-solvent (SGS) process for recovery of heavy crude oil and bitumen. The methods include injecting a steam-gas-solvent mixture to mobilize hydrocarbons in a formation and producing from the formation the hydrocarbons that are mobilized. The steam-gas-solvent mixture includes steam, a gas non-condensable under reservoir operating conditions and a solvent condensable under reservoir operating conditions. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110120710 | IN SITU HEATING FOR RESERVOIR CHAMBER DEVELOPMENT - Methods and apparatus relate to systems and methods of recovering oil from a formation. In operation, a steam chamber develops as a result of steam injection into the formation and the recovery of fluids including the oil through a production well. An auxiliary well spaced in a lateral direction from the production well helps ensure development of the steam chamber as desired. The auxiliary well may enable heating of the formation through establishing an electric potential between the auxiliary well and the production well or by resistive heating of material forming the auxiliary well. Further, the auxiliary well may provide a flow path for solvent or gas injection to facilitate the recovery through the production well. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110127033 | SINGLE WELL DUAL/MULTIPLE HORIZONTAL FRACTURE STIMULATION FOR OIL PRODUCTION - A method of producing oil which begins by drilling, casing and inserting a tubing string in a wellbore. The method then perforates both an upper portion and a lower portion of the casing to establish communication between the wellbore with a upper horizontal fracture and a lower horizontal fracture. A retrievable packer or a seal assembly is inserted horizontally between the tubing string and the casing and vertically between the upper horizontal fracture and the lower horizontal fracture for heat isolation. Steam is then injected into the wellbore both into the upper horizontal fracture and the lower horizontal fracture. Heavy oil is then produced from the lower horizontal fracture while injecting steam into the upper horizontal fracture | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110139453 | Fluid flow control device - A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising providing a fluid diode in fluid communication with the wellbore, and transferring a fluid through the fluid diode. A fluid flow control tool, comprising a tubular diode sleeve comprising a diode aperture, a tubular inner ported sleeve received concentrically within the diode sleeve, the inner ported sleeve comprising an inner port in fluid communication with the diode aperture, and a tubular outer ported sleeved within which the diode sleeve is received concentrically, the outer ported sleeve comprising an outer port in fluid communication with the diode aperture, wherein a shape of the diode aperture, a location of the inner port relative to the diode aperture, and a location of the outer port relative to the diode aperture provide a fluid flow resistance to fluid transferred to the inner port from the outer port and a different fluid flow resistance to fluid transferred to the outer port from the inner port. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110186292 | PROCESSES OF RECOVERING RESERVES WITH STEAM AND CARBON DIOXIDE INJECTION - Methods and systems relate to recovering petroleum products from an underground reservoir. Injection of steam along with carbon dioxide into the reservoir facilitates the recovering, which is further influenced by operating pressure for the injection. Absorption of the carbon dioxide by the products and heat transfer from the steam to the products act to reduce viscosity of the products in order to aid flowing of the products. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110226473 | Deep Steam Injection Systems and Methods - Systems and methods for creating high-pressure mixtures of steam and one or more noncondensable gas species, which may be injected into deep, high-pressured oil reservoirs to supply heat and aid oil recovery. These systems and methods may include generating these mixtures, also referred to as a combined stream, controlling the total pressure of the combined stream, controlling the partial pressure of steam within the combined stream, supplying the combined stream to a subterranean formation that includes hydrocarbons, such as viscous oil, reducing the viscosity of the oil, and/or producing oil from the subterranean formation. In some embodiments, the total pressure of the combined stream may approach or even exceed the critical pressure of water while still retaining significant amounts of latent heat for delivery. In some embodiments, the partial pressure of steam may be less than the critical pressure of water. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110253367 | PROCESS FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF HEAVY OIL USING MICROWAVES - A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110253368 | PROCESS FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF HEAVY OIL USING MICROWAVES - A process for utilizing microwaves to heat solvent within a subterranean region wherein the heated solvent, vapor, contacts heavy oil in the subterranean region to lower the viscosity of the heavy oil and improve production of the heavy oil. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110253369 | PROCESS FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF HEAVY OIL USING MICROWAVES - A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110253370 | PROCESS FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF HEAVY OIL USING MICROWAVES - A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110259585 | PROCESS FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF HEAVY OIL USING MICROWAVES - A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110278001 | THERMAL MOBILIZATION OF HEAVY HYDROCARBON DEPOSITS - A method is provided for applying a thermal process to a lower zone underlying an overlying hydrocarbon zone with thermal energy from the thermal process mobilizing oil in the overlying zone. The lower zone itself could be a hydrocarbon zone undergoing thermal EOR. Further, one can economically apply a thermal EOR process to an oil formation of low mobility and having an underlying zone such as a basal water zone. Introduction gas and steam, the gas having a higher density than the steam, into the underlying zone displaces the basal water and creates an insulating layer of gas between the steam and the basal water maximizing heat transfer upwardly and mobilizing viscous oil greatly reducing the heat loss to the basal water, economically enhancing production from thin oil bearing zones with underlying basal water which are not otherwise economic by other known EOR processes. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110297374 | METHOD FOR RECOVERING HYDROCARBONS USING COLD HEAVY OIL PRODUCTION WITH SAND (CHOPS) AND DOWNHOLE STEAM GENERATION - A method for recovering oil from a reservoir comprises performing a first CHOPS process in one or more first wells, performing a second CHOPS process in one or more second wells that are laterally offset from the first wells, and injecting gas and/or steam into the one or more second wells after the CHOPS processes are at least partially completed. A plurality of channels that extend from the one or more first and second wells may be created as a result of the CHOPS processes. The gas and/or steam may be injected into the channels of the one or more second wells via a downhole steam generator that is located in the one or more second wells. The gas and/or steam may form a gas and/or steam front that drives reservoir products into the channels of the one or more first wells. The reservoir products may be recovered to the surface through the one or more first wells. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20120067572 | RADIO FREQUENCY ENHANCED STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE METHOD FOR RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBONS - A method for heating a hydrocarbon formation is disclosed. A radio frequency applicator is positioned to provide radiation within the hydrocarbon formation. A first signal sufficient to heat the hydrocarbon formation through electric current is applied to the applicator. A second or alternate frequency signal is then applied to the applicator that is sufficient to pass through the desiccated zone and heat the hydrocarbon formation through electric or magnetic fields. A method for efficiently creating electricity and steam for heating a hydrocarbon formation is also disclosed. An electric generator, steam generator, and a regenerator containing water are provided. The electric generator is run. The heat created from running the electric generator is fed into the regenerator causing the water to be preheated. The preheated water is then fed into the steam generator. The RF energy from power lines or from an on site electric generator and steam that is harvested from the generator or provided separately are supplied to a reservoir as a process to recover hydrocarbons. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120067573 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING VISCOUS HYDROCARBON USING STEAM AND CARBON DIOXIDE - A downhole burner is used for producing heavy-oil formations. Hydrogen, oxygen, and steam are pumped by separate conduits to the burner, which burns at least part of the hydrogen and forces the combustion products out into the earth formation. The steam cools the burner and becomes superheated steam, which is injected along with the combustion products into the earth formation. Carbon dioxide is also pumped down the well and injected into the formation. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120073810 | SITU HYDROCARBON UPGRADING WITH FLUID GENERATED TO PROVIDE STEAM AND HYDROGEN - Methods and apparatus relate to recovery of in situ upgraded hydrocarbons by injecting steam and hydrogen into a reservoir containing the hydrocarbons. A mixture output generated as water is vaporized by direct contact with flow from fuel-rich combustion provides the steam and hydrogen. The steam heats the hydrocarbons facilitating flow of the hydrocarbons and reaction of the hydrogen with the hydrocarbons to enable hydroprocessing prior to recovery of the hydrocarbons to surface. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120080187 | PROCESS FOR PRODUCING MINERAL OIL FROM UNDERGROUND MINERAL OIL DEPOSITS - A process for producing mineral oil from mineral oil deposits, in which the mineral oil yield is increased by blocking highly permeable regions of the mineral oil formation by separate injection of at least one acidic formulation which comprises water-soluble Al(III) salts, and one urea- or urea derivative-comprising formulation into the deposit, said formulations not mixing with one another until within the deposit, and the mixture forming highly viscous gels under the influence of the deposit temperature. The process can be used especially in the final stage of deposit development, when watering out in production increases, and particularly after the steam flooding of the deposits. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120085536 | METHOD AND COMPOSITION TO DIVERT FLUIDS AT HIGH TEMPERATURES - Methods of treating a subterranean formation as a portion of steam-assisted gravity drainage operation including providing a fluid containing a diverting agent, injecting the fluid into a first wellbore, allowing the diverting agent to divert fluid placement, performing steam-assisted gravity drainage, and producing formation fluids from a second wellbore. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120085537 | HEAVY OIL RECOVERY USING SF6 AND RF HEATING - A method of producing heavy oil by first injecting water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules into a region. The method then introduces electromagnetic waves such as microwaves and/or radio frequencies into the region at a frequency sufficient to excite the water and the sulfur hexafluoride molecules and increase the temperature of at least a portion of the water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules within the region to produce heated water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules. At least a portion of the heavy oil is heated in the region by contact with the heated water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules to produce heated heavy oil. The heated heavy oil is then produced. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120103605 | METHOD FOR INCREASING THE RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBONS - Embodiments of the invention relate to methods for increasing the recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir. In one embodiment, a method for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir is provided. The method includes positioning a first device into a first horizontal well, injecting a first fluid into the first horizontal well through the first device, producing hydrocarbons from a second horizontal well disposed below the first well, injecting a second fluid into a third well laterally offset from each of the first and second wells to drive fluids in the reservoir toward the second well while continuing to produce hydrocarbons from the second well, and selectively ceasing injection into the first well when the second well is in fluid communication with the third well. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120125610 | Combustion Thermal Generator and Systems and Methods for Enhanced Oil Recovery - An apparatus for combustion steam generation is provided, which includes a combustion chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end; a manifold at the inlet end configured to introduce a fuel and an oxidizer into the combustion chamber; an outer casing defining a coolant chamber between the outer casing and the combustion chamber; and a plurality of converging coolant inlets for conducting coolant from the coolant chamber into the combustion chamber at or near the outlet end of the combustion chamber. The converging coolant inlets are radially disposed around the combustion chamber and preferably configured to produce a converging-diverging nozzle from the coolant conducted into the combustion chamber. The device may be used in systems and methods for enhanced recovery of subterranean hydrocarbons, by deployment into and operation in a wellbore, where the produced steam and combustion gases are injected into a hydrocarbon formation to enhance hydrocarbon recovery. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120193094 | MULTIPLE INFILL WELLS WITHIN A GRAVITY-DOMINATED HYDROCARBON RECOVERY PROCESS - A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir by operating a substantially gravity-controlled recovery process with two adjacent well pairs. Each well pair includes an injector well and a producer well. A mobilized zone forms around each well pair through the gravity-controlled recovery process, and a bypassed region forms between the adjacent well pairs when the respective mobilized zone of each well pair merge to form a common mobilized zone. A plurality of infill producer wells are provided in the bypassed region. The plurality of infill producer wells are operated to establish fluid communication between the plurality of infill producer wells and the common mobilized zone. Once fluid communication is established, the plurality of infill producer wells and the adjacent well pairs are operated under a substantially gravity-controlled recovery process, and hydrocarbons are recovered from the plurality of infill producer wells and from the producer wells. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20120227964 | CARBON DIOXIDE GAS MIXTURE PROCESSING WITH STEAM ASSISTED OIL RECOVERY - Methods and apparatus relate to processing flue gas from oxy-fuel combustion. Steam generated without contact of the steam with the flue gas combines with the flue gas for injection into a formation to facilitate oil recovery from the formation. Fluids produced include the oil and carbon dioxide with a lower concentration of oxygen than present in the flue gas that is injected. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120227965 | METHOD FOR ACCELERATING START-UP FOR STEAM-ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE (SAGD) OPERATIONS - A method for accelerating start-up for steam assisted gravity drainage operations comprising the steps of: forming a steam-assisted gravity drainage production well pair comprising an injection well and a production well within a formation; beginning a pre-soaking stage by soaking one or both of the wellbores of the well pair with a solvent; beginning a pre-heating stage by heating the wellbores of the well pair; beginning a squeezing stage by injecting steam into the wellbores of the well pair; and beginning steam-assisted gravity drainage production. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120227966 | IN SITU CATALYTIC UPGRADING - A system and method for in situ upgrading of crude oil is provided. The system includes at least one injection well, at least two first production wells, and at least one second production well. The at least one injection well has a vertical portion and a plurality of non-vertical portions connected to the vertical portion. The at least two first production wells are preferably equi-spaced and each has a horizontal portion with a first axial direction, wherein each said horizontal portion of the first production wells is horizontally spaced apart. The at least one second production well has a horizontal portion with a second axial direction. The catalytic reactor is placed at the horizontal portion of the at least one second production well such that oil coming through the second production well will first go through the catalytic reactor for hydroprocessing. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120234537 | GRAVITY DRAINAGE STARTUP USING RF & SOLVENT - The method begins by forming a gravity drainage production well pair within a formation comprising an injection well and a production well. The pre-soaking stage begins by soaking at least one of the wellbores of the well pair with a solvent, wherein the solvent does not include water. The pre-heating stage begins by heating the soaked wellbore of the well pair to produce a vapor. The squeezing stage begins by introducing the vapor into the soaked wellbore of the well pair, and can thus overlap with the pre-heating stage. The gravity drainage production begins after the squeezing stage, once the wells are in thermal communication and the heavy oil can drain to the lower well. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20120247760 | DUAL INJECTION POINTS IN SAGD - A method for recovering petroleum from a formation, wherein at least two injection wells and at least one production well are in fluid communication with said formation, comprising: introducing a gaseous mixture into a first and a second injection well at a temperature and a pressure, wherein said gaseous mixture comprises steam and non-condensable gas (NCG); and recovering a fluid comprising petroleum from said production well, wherein said injection wells and a production well are horizontal wells, and wherein said first injection well is disposed 1-10 meters above said production well, and said second injection well is disposed at least 5 meters above said first injection well. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120255730 | PARTIAL SOLUTION MINING OF HYDROCARBON CONTAINING LAYERS PRIOR TO IN SITU HEAT TREATMENT - A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing layer in a subsurface formation is described. The method may include removing at most about 20% by weight of the nahcolite from one or more intervals in the hydrocarbon containing layer that include at least about 40% by weight nahcolite. Heat may be provided from a plurality of heaters to the hydrocarbon containing layer such that at least some hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing layer are mobilized. At least some mobilized hydrocarbons may be produced through at least one production well. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20120261121 | METHOD OF REDUCING OIL BENEATH THE GROUND - A system and method for cracking, hydrogenating and extracting oil from underground deposits is presented. A method for extracting oil from underground deposits includes generating a high pressure, high temperature syngas. The method injects the syngas into a deposit of oil under the ground to crack and hydrogenate the oil to produce upgraded oil with a reduced density and viscosity. The reduced density and viscosity oil is extracted from the underground deposits to transport the reduced viscosity oil aboveground. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120261122 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING LOW VISCOSITY OIL FROM AN OIL FIELD - A system, apparatus and method for cracking, hydrogenating and extracting oil from underground deposits is presented. An apparatus for extracting low viscosity oil from an oil field includes a gasification unit to generate syngas adapted to hydrogenate and hydrocrack high viscosity oil to produce low viscosity oil. At least one injection well injects the syngas belowground to a location near an upper portion of an oil deposit. At least one production well for recovering and bringing aboveground at least some low viscosity oil that was high viscosity oil that was at least partially hydrogenated and cracked by the syngas to produce the low viscosity oil. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120261123 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A VOLUME OF HYDROGEN INPUT AND THE AMOUNT OF OIL TAKEN OUT OF A NATURALLY OCCURRING OIL FILED - A system and method for cracking, hydrogenating and extracting oil from underground deposits is presented. A method includes injecting a mixture of oxygen, steam and oil into an injection well to upgrade oil in an oil deposit below ground to decrease the viscosity of the oil to product upgraded oil. The upgraded oil is extracted with a production well to bring upgraded oil aboveground. The method monitors at least one characteristic of the upgraded oil to determine when the at least on characteristic exceed a threshold. The mixture of oxygen, steam and oil is adjusted when the at least one characteristic exceeds the threshold value so that the mixture of oxygen, steam and oil does not exceed the threshold. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120273195 | METHOD FOR STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE WITH PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL INJECTION - A process for recovering hydrocarbons with steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) with pressure differential injection. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120312532 | ADDITIVES FOR IMPROVING HYDROCARBON RECOVERY - Processes for recovering hydrocarbons from subterranean formations are disclosed. The hydrocarbon can be contacted with water or steam and one or more additives, and subsequently recovered. The hydrocarbon can be selected from heavy or light crude oil, bitumen, an oil sand ore, a tar sand ore, and combinations thereof. The additive can be, for example, a fluorinated hydrocarbon. Compositions or mixtures including hydrocarbons, water or steam, and additives are also disclosed. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120312533 | ADDITIVES FOR IMPROVING HYDROCARBON RECOVERY - Processes for recovering hydrocarbons from subterranean formations are disclosed. The hydrocarbon can be contacted with water or steam and one or more additives, and subsequently recovered. The hydrocarbon can be selected from heavy or light crude oil, bitumen, an oil sand ore, a tar sand ore, and combinations thereof. The additive can be, for example, an aromatic hydrocarbon. Compositions or mixtures including hydrocarbons, water or steam, and additives are also disclosed. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120312534 | ENHANCED HYDROCARBON RECOVERY THROUGH GAS PRODUCTION CONTROL FOR NONCONDENSABLE SOLVENTS OR GASES IN SAGD OR ES-SAGD OPERATIONS - Methods are provided for enhancing hydrocarbon recovery through gas production control for noncondensable gases in SAGD or ES-SAGD operations. Steam may be injected into one or more injection wells to heat the hydrocarbons and reduce their viscosity to more easily produce the hydrocarbons. A noncondensable gas may be injected into the injection wells to beneficially reduce the steam-to-oil ratio, improving economic recovery. Unfortunately, excessive production of noncondensable gases can adversely suppress hydrocarbon production rates. To counteract this problem, gas production rates at the production wells may be controlled to optimize hydrocarbon output by limiting the produced gas-to-water ratio to certain limited ranges. The noncondensable gas may optionally comprise a combustion gas such as flue gas. By providing a useful application of existing combustion gases, green house gases emissions may be reduced. Advantages include higher efficiencies, lower costs, reduced hydrocarbon extraction time, and in some embodiments, reduced greenhouse gas emissions. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120325470 | PENTANE-HEXANE SOLVENT IN SITU RECOVERY OF HEAVY OIL - An integrated thermal recovery process using a solvent of a pentane or hexane or both as an additive to, or sole component of, a gravity-dominated process for recovering bitumen or heavy oil from a reservoir. A pentane-hexane specific solvent fraction is extracted at surface from a diluent stream. That pentane-hexane solvent fraction is then injected into the reservoir as part of a gravity-dominated recovery process within the reservoir, and when that solvent fraction is subsequently produced as part of the oil or bitumen blend, it is allowed to remain within the blend to enhance the subsequent blend treating and transportation steps. Meanwhile, the remainder of the diluent from which the solvent stream had been extracted is utilized at surface as a blending stream to serve as an aid in treating of produced fluids and also to serve as a means of rendering the bitumen or heavy oil stream pipelineable. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20130000897 | RECYCLING CO2 IN HEAVY OIL OR BITUMEN PRODUCTION - A method relates to improving production rate and recovery of heavy oil or bitumen and reducing heat loss to over and under burden in a steam-assisted production process. The method includes strategically injecting recycled carbon dioxide into the reservoir between production wells. The heat insulation and solvent effects provided by carbon dioxide dissolved in the oil phase facilitate the desired improvement on oil recovery, and simultaneously sequester the CO | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130008651 | METHOD FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY USING SAGD AND INFILL WELLS WITH RF HEATING - A method for hydrocarbon resource recovery in a subterranean formation may include forming spaced apart injector/producer well pairs in the subterranean formation, with each well pair including a laterally extending producer well and a laterally extending injector well spaced thereabove. The method may also include forming laterally extending infill wells in the subterranean formation, with each infill well being located between respective adjacent injector/producer well pairs. The method may also include recovering hydrocarbon resources from the producer wells based upon Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) via the injector/producer well pairs, and recovering hydrocarbon resources from the infill wells based upon RF heating regions of the subterranean formation surrounding the respective infill wells. | 01-10-2013 |
| 20130037266 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING VISCOUS HYDROCARBON USING STEAM AND CARBON DIOXIDE - A method for producing hydrocarbons from a reservoir is provided. The method includes positioning a burner having a combustion chamber in a first well, supplying a fuel, an oxidant, and one of water or steam from the surface to the burner in the first well, supplying a viscosity-reducing gas from the surface to the reservoir in a conduit separate from the fuel, igniting the fuel and the oxidant in the combustion chamber to generate heat and steam in the burner, injecting the viscosity-reducing gas and steam into the reservoir to reduce the viscosity of and heat hydrocarbons within the reservoir, and recovering hydrocarbons from the reservoir. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130043024 | PROCESS FOR PRODUCING VISCOUS MINERAL OIL FROM UNDERGROUND DEPOSITS - The present invention relates to a process for producing mineral oil from mineral oil deposits, in which the mineral oil yield is increased by blocking high-permeability regions of the mineral oil formation by injecting at least one formulation into the deposit, the formulation not being brought to a temperature at which the viscosity increases significantly until within the deposit, by injection of steam. The process can be used especially in the final stage of deposit development between water flooding and steam flooding of the deposits. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130048278 | METHOD FOR HYDROCARBON RESOURCE RECOVERY BY REPAIRING A FAILED HYDROCARBON RECOVERY ARRANGEMENT - A method of hydrocarbon resource recovery from a subterranean formation may include forming a plurality of spaced apart injector/producer well pairs in the subterranean formation, each injector/producer well pair including a laterally extending producer well, and a laterally extending injector well spaced thereabove. The method may include determining a failed injector/producer well pair from among the plurality thereof. The method may further include repairing the failed injector/producer well pair by at least forming a repair well adjacent the failed injector/producer well pair, and applying radio frequency (RF) heating from the repair well to the subterranean formation adjacent the failed injector/producer well pair. The method may further include recovering hydrocarbon resources from the plurality of injector/producer well pairs including the repaired injector/producer well. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130068458 | HEAT RECOVERY METHOD FOR WELLPAD SAGD STEAM GENERATION - The invention provides a method of recovering heat from hot produced fluids at SAGD facilities that utilize wellpad steam generation such as Direct Steam Generators (DSG). | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130098610 | METHOD FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY USING HEATED LIQUID WATER INJECTION WITH RF HEATING - A method for hydrocarbon resource recovery in a subterranean formation includes forming a laterally extending injector well in the subterranean formation and forming a laterally extending producer well spaced below the injector well. The method may also include radio frequency (RF) heating the subterranean formation to establish hydraulic communication between the injector well and the producer well. The method may further include injecting heated liquid water into the injector well to recover hydrocarbon resources from the producer well based upon the hydraulic communication therebetween. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130105156 | ARTIFICIAL LIFT SYSTEM FOR WELL PRODUCTION | 05-02-2013 |
| 20130118737 | METHOD FOR INITIATING CIRCULATION FOR STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE - A method for initiating steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) mobilization and recovery of hydrocarbons in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation includes initially forming a circulation path by connecting SAGD injection well and a circulation well. The circulation well can be a SAGD production well or a separate well completed adjacent a toe of the injection well. Initially, a thermal carrier such as steam or flue gases, is circulated, forming a thermal chamber about the injection well. One initial start-up is complete, the circulation path is decoupled for further propagating the thermal chamber and establishing steady-state SAGD operations. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130153218 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LIFTING FLUIDS FROM A RESERVOIR - 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. | 06-20-2013 |
| 20130175031 | SAGDOX GEOMETRY - A process to recover bitumen from a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir comprising the following steps:
| 07-11-2013 |
| 20130186623 | STEAM SPLITTER - The present invention generally relates to injecting steam into a wellbore using a device. The device includes a body having a bore configured to communicate steam through the body. The device also includes a sleeve movable in the bore of the body between a first position and a second position, wherein the sleeve in the first position blocks steam from exiting an opening of the body and the sleeve in the second position allows steam to exit the opening of the body. The device further includes a shroud disposed on a portion of the body such that an annulus is formed between the shroud and the body, wherein the annulus is configured to direct steam from the opening in the body toward steam outlets. In another aspect, a method of injecting steam into a wellbore using a steam tubular is provided. | 07-25-2013 |
| 20130213651 | MITIGATION OF H2S IN STEAM INJECTION TECHNOLOGY USING AMINES OF NATURAL ORIGIN - A method for mitigation of H | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130213652 | SAGD STEAM TRAP CONTROL - This present disclosure describes methods and systems related to SAGD injection and/or production wells that utilize flow distribution control devices. Additionally, methods and systems using limited vertical spacing separating the wells are described. These methods and systems improve steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) oil production, reduce SAGD start-up time and costs, and improve overall SAGD performance. | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130213653 | PRODUCER SNORKEL OR INJECTOR TOE-DIP TO ACCELERATE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAGD PRODUCER AND INJECTOR - Methods and systems relate to steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) utilizing well pairs that are at least initially in fluid communication through drilled bores toward their toe ends. At least one of a horizontal injection well and horizontal production well of such a well pair includes a hooked length toward toe ends of each other connecting said injection well and said production well. The methods and systems improve SAGD oil production, reduce SAGD start-up time and costs, and improve overall SAGD performance. | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130248177 | SAGDOX GEOMETRY FOR IMPAIRED BITUMEN RESERVOIRS - 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. | 09-26-2013 |
| 20130284435 | SATELLITE STEAM-ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE WITH OXYGEN (SAGDOX) SYSTEM FOR REMOTE RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBONS - A SAGDOX satellite system for recovering hydrocarbons includes a central SAGDOX site, at least one SAGDOX satellite site, and a pipeline corridor for communication between the central SAGDOX site and the SAGDOX satellite site. The satellite system is designed to recover hydrocarbons using a SAGDOX process at the satellite site and transfer recovered hydrocarbons to the central site. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130292115 | STEAM GENERATOR BLOWDOWN MANAGEMENT - Systems and methods relate to treating wastewater, such as blowdown from steam generators used in oil sands production. The systems rely on precipitation by acidification of the wastewater along with passing the wastewater at a pressure of at least 138 kilopascals through a multiphase centrifuge to remove at least partially organic and/or silica solids. A resulting treated aqueous stream may meet thresholds desired for injection into a disposal well. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20130312959 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ENHANCED DELIVERY OF THERMAL ENERGY FOR HORIZONTAL WELLBORES - Systems and methods for delivery of thermal energy to horizontal wellbores are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises heating a heat transfer fluid; circulating the heat transfer fluid into a vertical bore to a heat exchanger; advancing feedwater into the vertical bore to the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from the heat transfer fluid to the feedwater to generate steam; transmitting the steam from the heat exchanger into a horizontal wellbore to cause heating of a subterranean region; and returning the heat transfer fluid from the heat exchanger to the surface. The method may further comprise collecting liquefied formation in a second horizontal wellbore; and transmitting the liquefied formation to the surface through a production line. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20130319663 | SAGD WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method and system for treating a water stream which contains Fouling Organics, where the water stream is recovered from an underground hydrocarbon-containing formation during SAGD oil recovery operations conducted on said formation. The method comprises injecting an oxidizing agent, preferably air, into the water stream when first recovered from the underground formation, and using a porous membrane to separate oxidized Fouling Organics and/or filter separable compounds formed due to injection of the oxidizing agent into the water stream, prior to transferring the water stream to a boiler for re-heating the water stream and turning same to steam for re-injection into said formation. | 12-05-2013 |
| 20130327525 | THERMAL PULSING PROCEDURE FOR REMEDIATION OF COLD SPOTS IN STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE - A method for remediation of at least one cold spot in a producer well in a Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) process to increase hydrocarbon recovery from a hydrocarbon reservoir, wherein the SAGD process occurs at a site including an injection well, a production well and a steam chamber. The method includes shutting the production well and maintaining or increasing steam injection through the injection well until pressure in the steam chamber increases. The production well is then resumed while continuing steam injection at rates for normal SAGD or greater until reservoir pressure reaches normal operational pressure. Optionally, the injection/production is adjusted to return to normal SAGD operation. | 12-12-2013 |
| 20130333884 | SIDE-WELL INJECTION AND GRAVITY THERMAL RECOVERY PROCESSES - Methods and systems relate to recovering hydrocarbons with an injection well placed at a bottom of a reservoir some horizontal distance from a producer, such that the injection well and producer may both be in a common horizontal plane. For some embodiments, the process includes co-injection of steam with a non-condensable gas, such as methane, ethane, propane, carbon dioxide, combustion products and combinations thereof. The non-condensable gas provides additional solution gas drive while the location of the injection well beside, instead of above, the producer increases production time before a steam chamber reaches a top of the reservoir, increasing thermal and recovery efficiency of the process. | 12-19-2013 |
| 20130333885 | LATERAL WELLBORE CONFIGURATIONS WITH INTERBEDDED LAYER - Methods and systems relate to recovering hydrocarbons from within formations in which hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs are separated from one another by a fluid flow obstructing natural stratum. Relative to the reservoirs, the stratum inhibits or blocks vertical fluid flow within the formation. Lateral bores divert from lengths of injector and producer wells along where extending in a horizontal direction. These bores pass upward through the formation to intersect the stratum and provide an array of fluid flow paths through the stratum. In a side direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction of the wells, the lateral bores from the injector well pass through the stratum inside of where the lateral bores from the producer well pass through stratum. Fluid communication established by the bores limits counter-current flow through the bores in processes that rely on techniques such as gravity drainage. | 12-19-2013 |
| 20140000886 | PETROLEUM RECOVERY PROCESS AND SYSTEM | 01-02-2014 |
| 20140000887 | SAGDOX OPERATION IN LEAKY BITUMEN RESERVOIRS | 01-02-2014 |
| 20140000888 | UPLIFTED SINGLE WELL STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND PROCESS | 01-02-2014 |
| 20140048259 | PRECONDITIONING FOR BITUMEN DISPLACEMENT - Methods and systems produce petroleum products with multiple horizontal wells through which injection processes precondition and displace the hydrocarbons in a formation. The wells extend through the formation spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction. Before fluid communication is established between the wells, cyclic injections and production of resulting backflow initiates conditioning of immobile products. Alternating between injection and production at adjacent wells may then facilitate establishing the fluid communication. After the fluid communication is established, a displacement procedure sweeps the hydrocarbons from one of the wells used for injection toward an adjacent one of the wells used for production. | 02-20-2014 |
| 20140060825 | DIRECT STEAM GENERATION CO2 OUTPUT CONTROL - Methods and systems generate steam and carbon dioxide mixtures suitable for injection to assist in recovering hydrocarbons from oil sands based on concentration of the carbon dioxide in the mixtures as influenced by temperature of water introduced into a direct steam generator. Increasing temperature of the water to above 200° C. before introduction into the direct steam generator may utilize heat from an electrical power generation unit. Enthalpy of this preheated water impacts amount of fuel needed to burn in the direct steam generator and hence the concentration of the carbon dioxide, which may be below 11% by mass percent of the steam. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140076555 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF OPTIMIZED STEAM-ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE WITH OXYGEN ("SAGDOXO") FOR OIL RECOVERY - A steam assisted gravity drainage with injected oxygen (SAGDOX) process to recover hydrocarbons in a hydrocarbon reservoir including:
| 03-20-2014 |
| 20140083694 | Methods and Systems for Providing Steam - A system is provided for improved steam generation. The system includes at least two steam systems, wherein a wet steam output from a first steam system is passed through a first separator. The first separator configured to separate dry steam from condensate, and a piping connection is configured to blend the condensate with a boiler feed water stream at the inlet of a second steam system. | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140096960 | USE OF STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE WITH OXYGEN ("SAGDOX") IN THE RECOVERY OF BITUMEN IN THIN PAY ZONES - A SAGDOX process to recover liquid hydrocarbons from at least one thin pay zone in a hydrocarbon bitumen reservoir, via a substantially horizontal production well, where the hydrocarbon bitumen reservoir has a top and a bottom. The process includes:
| 04-10-2014 |
| 20140096961 | THERMAL MOBILIZATION OF HEAVY HYDROCARBON DEPOSITS - A method is provided for applying a thermal process to a lower zone underlying an overlying hydrocarbon zone with thermal energy from the thermal process mobilizing oil in the overlying zone. The lower zone itself could be a hydrocarbon zone undergoing thermal EOR. Further, one can economically apply a thermal EOR process to an oil formation of low mobility and having an underlying zone such as a basal water zone. Introduction gas and steam, the gas having a higher density than the steam, into the underlying zone displaces the basal water and creates an insulating layer of gas between the steam and the basal water maximizing heat transfer upwardly and mobilizing viscous oil greatly reducing the heat loss to the basal water, economically enhancing production from thin oil bearing zones with underlying basal water which are not otherwise economic by other known EOR processes. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140096962 | STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE WITH ADDED OXYGEN ("SAGDOX") IN DEEP RESERVOIRS - A process to recover hydrocarbons, from a hydrocarbon reservoir having a bottom, using a substantially horizontal production well, the substantially horizontal production well having a toe and a heel, the process including:
| 04-10-2014 |
| 20140102701 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY WITH A ONCE-THROUGH STEAM GENERATOR - A once-through steam generator including one or more steam-generating circuits extending between inlet and outlet ends thereof and including one or more pipes, the steam-generating circuit having a heating segment at least partially defining a heating portion of the once-through steam generator, and one or more heat sources for generating heat to which the heating segment is subjected. The steam-generating circuit is adapted to receive feedwater at the inlet end, the feedwater being subjected to the heat from the heat source to convert the feedwater into steam and water. The pipe has a bore therein at least partially defined by an inner surface, and at least a portion of the inner surface has ribs at least partially defining a helical flow passage. The helical flow passage guides the water therealong for imparting a swirling motion thereto, to control concentrations of the impurities in the water. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140166281 | LIQUID INDIRECT STEAM BOILER - Systems and methods generate steam in hydrocarbon recovery operations and may further enable emulsion separation and product upgrading. The methods rely on indirect boiling of water by contact with a thermal transfer liquid heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the water. Examples of the liquid include oils, recovered hydrocarbons, liquid metals and brine. Heating of the liquid may utilize circulation of the liquid across or through a furnace, heat exchangers, or a gas-liquid contactor supplied with hot gas. Further, a solvent for bitumen introduced into the water may also vaporize upon contact with the thermal transfer liquid. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140216737 | DOWNHOLE INJECTOR INSERT APPARATUS - An injector insert apparatus is provided. The injector insert apparatus includes a body that has an inner oil passage that is configured and arranged to allow oil to pass there through. The body further has an annular chamber formed around the inner oil passage. The annular chamber has a chamber opening that is configured to be coupled to receive a flow of thermal gas medium. The body also has at least one injector orifice that provides a passage between the annular chamber and the inner oil passage. The at least one injector orifice is configured to inject the thermal gas medium into oil passing through the inner oil passage. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140216738 | BOTTOM-UP SOLVENT-AIDED PROCESS AND SYSTEM FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY - Solvent may be injected into a hydrocarbon reservoir at an increasingly elevated vertical level to allow vapor of the solvent to contact and mobilize viscous hydrocarbons in the reservoir, for producing mobilized hydrocarbons. Solvent may be injected into a mobile zone below a viscous hydrocarbon zone, to allow solvent vapor to ascend to mobilize viscous hydrocarbons in the viscous hydrocarbon zone. A vertical or slanted injection well may be used to inject the solvent into the reservoir, and a production well spaced horizontally apart from the injection well may be used to produce fluids from the reservoir. A bottom-up solvent-aided process may comprise injecting water and liquid solvent into the mobile zone, and then injecting heated water and solvent into the mobile zone. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140216739 | HEAT SCAVENGING METHOD FOR THERMAL RECOVERY PROCESS - Thermal recovery of oils is improved by capturing waste heat from a depleted steam chamber using steam plus foam and an optional gas to carry low quality steam deep into the chamber where the waste heat converts water to steam in situ. Thus, overall steam generation needs and thus costs are reduced. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140231081 | HYBRID STEAM GENERATION WITH CARBON DIOXIDE RECYCLE - Systems and methods relate to recovering hydrocarbons by injecting into a reservoir outputs from two different types of steam generators along with carbon dioxide. Synergistic results enable lower fuel consumption for such a hybrid based approach versus either type of steam generator alone. One steam generator vaporizes water by thermal transfer from combustion with exhaust from the combustion remaining separated from the steam. Since this type of steam generator outputs a limited carbon dioxide concentration with the steam, at least part of the carbon dioxide injected comes from recycling the carbon dioxide separated out of production fluids recovered from the reservoir. Another steam generator produces the steam by direct water contact with combustion products to produce a resulting fluid including the steam and additional carbon dioxide. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140246195 | SUPERCRITICAL BOILER FOR OIL RECOVERY - Method and systems relate to generating steam by transitioning water from supercritical conditions and injecting the steam that results into a formation to facilitate recovery of oil. Pressurizing and heating the water forms a supercritical fluid that may solvate impurities in the water and/or oxidize the impurities. Retaining the impurities in solution and/or oxidation of the impurities limits fouling problems associated with generating the steam from water recycled in thermal processes, such as steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), for recovering the oil. | 09-04-2014 |
| 20140246196 | THROTTLING BOILER FOR FOULING MITIGATION - Methods and systems generate steam for thermal oil recovery, such as a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) operation. Feedwater is first pressurized to a pressure above that desired for steam injection in the SAGD operation before being heated to avoid at least some nucleate boiling. After being throttled, the local boiling regime is beyond the nucleate boiling regime due to the local pressure drop and the enhanced mixing caused by the throttling process. Two-phase liquid may continue through the boiler generating higher quality steam. | 09-04-2014 |
| 20140251608 | SINGLE VERTICAL OR INCLINED WELL THERMAL RECOVERY PROCESS - The present disclosure describes a single well predominantly gravity-dominated recovery process for producing viscous hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil sands formation. The process operates a single vertical or inclined well within a formation, the wellbore having an injection means and a production means, the injection means being positioned in the wellbore closer to the surface than the production means. The process provides an area of high mobility adjacent the production means. A mobilizing fluid is injected through the injection means into the formation to mobilize the viscous hydrocarbons in the formation while substantially concurrently producing hydrocarbons through the production means. The gravity dominated process may be SAGD and the present process may be a single vertical or inclined well SAGD process. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140262257 | SMALL SUPERCRITICAL ONCE-THRU STEAM GENERATOR - A small supercritical once-through steam generator (OTSG) includes a radiant section with a furnace coil, and a convection section downstream of the radiant section that includes a superheater which is fluidically connected to the furnace coil. Optionally, the OTSG is devoid of a steam separator. An economizer can also be included downstream of the superheater. Supercritical steam can be generated using the OTSG, for use, among other things, in enhanced oil recovery applications. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140262258 | STEAM GENERATION METHOD AND METHOD FOR RECOVERING CRUDE OIL BY STEAM-ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE (SAGD) INCLUDING SAID STEAM GENERATION METHOD - The method include (a) compressing the feed water at a low pressure; (b) filtering the feed water; (c) compressing the filtered water stream at a medium pressure; (d) supplying the filtered water stream, compressed at a medium pressure, in the liquid phase of an instant expansion tank; (e) in the tank, heating the stream of step (d) by mixing with the recycled stream (h); (f) compressing again at a high pressure the liquid fraction in the tank and supplying it to the heat exchanger inlet; (g) heating the liquid fraction in the exchanger while maintaining the liquid fraction in the liquid state; (h) recycling the fraction from the step (g) in the tank; and (i) expanding the stream of the step (h) in the expansion tank, generating by instant expansion the searched steam; and (j) separating the solid particles formed as a second blowdown containing water and the particles. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140262259 | ROD DRIVEN CENTRIFUGAL PUMPING SYSTEM FOR ADVERSE WELL PRODUCTION - A downhole assembly of an artificial lift system includes: an adapter for connection to production tubing; a receptacle shaft; an up-thrust bearing; a centrifugal pump; and a down-thrust bearing. The receptacle shaft has a latch profile for receiving a latch fastener of a drive coupling and a torsional profile for mating with the coupling to longitudinally and torsionally connect thereto. The up-thrust bearing includes: a thrust driver longitudinally and torsionally connected to the receptacle shaft; and a thrust carrier connected to the adapter. The centrifugal pump includes: a diffuser connected to the adapter; a pump shaft torsionally connected to the receptacle shaft; and an impeller connected to the pump shaft. The down-thrust bearing includes: a thrust driver longitudinally and torsionally connected to the pump shaft; and a thrust carrier connected to the adapter. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140332210 | TOP-DOWN OIL RECOVERY - Methods relate to producing hydrocarbons, such as bitumen in an oil sands reservoir. The methods include utilizing an injector well with multiple horizontal laterals to provide downward fluid drive toward a producer well. Combined influence of gravity and a dispersed area of the fluid drive due to the laterals facilitate a desired full sweep of the reservoir. Fluids utilized for injection include water heated to less than 60 weight percent steam, solvent for the hydrocarbons and emulsifying agent for the hydrocarbons. The methods employing these fluids provide energy efficient recovery of the hydrocarbons. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20150013979 | HYDROCARBON RECOVERY SYSTEM USING RF ENERGY TO HEAT STEAM WITHIN AN INJECTOR AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A hydrocarbon resource recovery system is provided for a subterranean formation having an injector wellbore and a producer wellbore therein. The hydrocarbon resource recovery system includes a tubular producer positioned in the producer wellbore and a tubular injector positioned in the injector wellbore. A steam source is coupled to a proximal end of the tubular injector, and a radio frequency (RF) energy source is coupled to the proximal end of tubular injector. The tubular injector has spaced apart steam injector slots sized to allow steam to pass into the subterranean formation, while containing RF energy within the tubular injector to heat the steam. | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150027697 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING METHANE FROM A METHANE HYDRATE FORMATION - A completion system includes a first borehole structure having a first section formed proximate to a volume of methane hydrate located at a subsurface location. A second borehole structure has a second section formed proximate to the volume of methane hydrate, the first section positioned deeper than the second section with respect to gravity. A first string is positioned in the first borehole structure and arranged to convey a heat-bearing fluid through the first string into contact with a volume of methane hydrate in order to liberate methane from the methane hydrate. A second string is positioned in the second borehole structure and arranged to produce the methane. | 01-29-2015 |
| 20150041128 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DOWNHOLE THERMAL ENERGY FOR VERTICAL WELLBORES - Systems and methods for enhanced delivery of thermal energy to vertical wellbores are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises heating a heat transfer fluid; continuously circulating the heat transfer fluid into a vertical wellbore to a downhole heat exchanger; advancing hot feedwater into the vertical wellbore to the downhole heat exchanger, wherein the downhole heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from the heat transfer fluid to the hot feedwater to generate high-quality steam; transmitting the steam from the downhole heat exchanger into a subterranean formation, whereby thermal energy from the steam causes a reduction in viscosity of hydrocarbons in the subterranean formation; injecting an acid scale wash to counter scale buildup from the hot feedwater on the downhole heat exchanger; and returning the heat transfer fluid from the downhole heat exchanger to the surface thermal fluid heater for reheating and recirculation into the vertical wellbore. | 02-12-2015 |
| 20150041129 | STEAM INJECTION AND PRODUCTION COMPLETION SYSTEM - A completion for steam injection and production includes a production tubing connected to the stinger, a downhole steam generator (DSG) having a discharge connected to the production tubing through an inverted Y-tool, a fuel supply tubing extending between the DSG and a surface fuel supply and an air supply tubing extending between the DSG and a surface fuel supply. The completion can have an artificial lift device incorporated in the production tubing. | 02-12-2015 |
| 20150083412 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING CARBONIC SUBSTANCES FROM OIL SANDS - A device for obtaining carbonic substances, particularly bitumen, from oil sands is provided. The device has at least one steam generator, an injection pipeline and a production pipeline. Steam can be introduced into the oil sand via the injection pipeline, and the carbonic substance can be removed from the oil sand via the production pipeline. At least one steam turbine is arranged between the steam generator and the injection pipeline. A method for obtaining carbonic substances, particularly bitumen, from oil sands is also provided. | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150083413 | REDUCING SOLVENT RETENTION IN ES-SAGD - Hydrocarbons in a subterranean reservoir are recovered using Expanding Solvent-Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (ES-SAGD), including recovering hydrocarbons while reducing the solvent retention in the reservoir. Reducing solvent retention improves process economics. | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150096748 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCING STEAM DISTRIBUTION AND PRODUCTION IN SAGD OPERATIONS - A system for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation with steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) includes a steam injection well. The steam injection well includes a first portion extending from the surface through an unconsolidated layer of the formation to a consolidated layer of the formation, a second portion extending horizontally through the consolidated layer, and a plurality of third portions extending from the second portion. Each third portion extends upward from the second portion into the unconsolidated layer of the formation and a hydrocarbon reservoir in the unconsolidated layer of the formation. In addition, the system includes a production well. The production well includes a first portion extending from the surface through the unconsolidated and a second portion extending horizontally through the unconsolidated layer. The second portion of the production well is vertically positioned above the second portion of the steam injection well. | 04-09-2015 |
| 20150107833 | Recovery From A Hydrocarbon Reservoir - Methods and systems for recovering heavy oil, such as bitumen, by steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) from subterranean formations having a water and/or gas containing layer overlying a heavy oil containing layer. A fluid blocking agent is injected into the water and/or gas containing layer above at least one pair of horizontal wells. The blocking agent undergoes a change of density, viscosity or solidity when elevated to a temperature between an initial ambient reservoir temperature and 175 degrees by heat from steam used in the SAGD process, thereby creating a seal within the reservoir above the at least one pair of horizontal wells limiting or preventing movements of fluid through the seal. | 04-23-2015 |
| 20150107834 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING HEAVY OIL - A method is provided for production of heavy oil from a reservoir containing heavy oil, the method including the steps of: providing a plurality of wells into the formation; injecting into the plurality of wells a mixture comprising steam and a solvent; ceasing injection of the mixture; producing a mixture of heavy oil, solvent and condensed steam from the plurality of wells after injection of steam has ceased: and after production of the mixture of heavy oil, solvent and condensate from at least one of the plurality of wells has declined to a predetermined rate, injecting into the at least one well a stream consisting essentially of steam while at least one other well continues to operate as a producing well. | 04-23-2015 |
| 20150114637 | ALTERNATING SAGD INJECTIONS - Methods produce heavy oil with steam assisted gravity drainage. Such methods alternate a traditional steam injection with an injection of a steam-plus-non-condensable gas (such as CO | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150144337 | WASTE HEAT RECOVERY FROM DEPLETED RESERVOIR - A method of producing heated water from a reservoir having a hot bitumen-depleted zone adjacent to an aqueous mobile zone. The method includes generating fluid communication between the aqueous mobile zone and the hot bitumen-depleted zone. The method further includes driving water from the aqueous mobile zone through a portion of the hot bitumen-depleted zone to heat the water to produce heated water from a heated water production well. | 05-28-2015 |
| 20150144338 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF PRODUCING HYDROCARBON - Heated production well for enhancing production of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon reservoir are described. By heating the production well, heat is imparted to the reservoir and helps to mobilize the hydrocarbons and improve hydrocarbon production. A method of producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon reservoir, includes using a heated production well positioned in the hydrocarbon reservoir, the heated production well having a higher temperature than the ambient temperature of the hydrocarbon reservoir. | 05-28-2015 |
| 20150345270 | THERMALLY INDUCED EXPANSION DRIVE IN HEAVY OIL RESERVOIRS - Aspects of the disclosure involve the production of hydrocarbons from segregated reservoir compartments. Thermal recovery processes within one compartment are used so as to provide thermal energy to a second, adjoining but distinct compartment, increasing fluid pressures within the second compartment to drive hydrocarbons from the second compartment to the first compartment, so that hydrocarbons originating from the second compartment may be produced from the first compartment. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345271 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION GAS OUTPUT IN DIRECT STEAM GENERATION FOR OIL RECOVERY - An apparatus, system, and method for controlling combustion gas output in direct steam generation for oil recovery. A direct combustion steam generator burns a fuel and an oxygen-containing gas mixture to produce combustion products including steam, CO | 12-03-2015 |
| 20160076346 | DISTRIBUTED STEAM GENERATION PROCESS FOR USE IN HYDROCARBON RECOVERY OPERATIONS - A method and system for producing steam for use in heavy hydrocarbon recovery operations. In an arrangement with or without a central processing facility and/or a plurality of well pads in communication with the central processing facility, each well pad is provided with equipment for separation of materials produced from its respective wells, and steam generation equipment for that well pad, thus allowing for simplified piping transport. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160177691 | METHOD FOR UPGRADING IN SITU HEAVY OIL | 06-23-2016 |
