CA2697808A1 - Method and apparatus for in situ extraction of bitumen or very heavy oil - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for in situ extraction of bitumen or very heavy oil Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2697808A1 CA2697808A1 CA2697808A CA2697808A CA2697808A1 CA 2697808 A1 CA2697808 A1 CA 2697808A1 CA 2697808 A CA2697808 A CA 2697808A CA 2697808 A CA2697808 A CA 2697808A CA 2697808 A1 CA2697808 A1 CA 2697808A1
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- Prior art keywords
- pipe
- reservoir
- extraction
- injection pipe
- injection
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Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/16—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
- E21B43/24—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection
- E21B43/2401—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection by means of electricity
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B36/00—Heating, cooling, insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones
- E21B36/04—Heating, cooling, insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones using electrical heaters
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/16—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
- E21B43/24—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection
- E21B43/2406—Steam assisted gravity drainage [SAGD]
- E21B43/2408—SAGD in combination with other methods
Abstract
In prior art processes for extracting bitumen or very heavy oil in situ from surface-near oil sand deposits, energy is introduced via a first injection pipe, and the liquefied bitumen or very heavy oil is recovered by means of an extraction pipe, both pipes being arranged on top of each other. According to the invention, energy is introduced via at least two pipes at a given, repeatable distance from the reservoir, a predefined geometry being maintained in relation to the well pair. The associated apparatus comprises at least one additional pipe (106, 107, 108, 109, 111) which is alternatively designed as an electrode or also for feeding vapor and is placed above the injection pipe (101) that is also used in prior art.
Description
PcT/EP2008/060817./ 2007P17352w0US
Description Method and apparatus for in situ extraction of bitumen or very heavy oil The invention relates to a method for the in situ extraction of bitumen or very heavy oil from reservoirs in the form of oil sand deposits close to the surface, thermal energy being supplied to the reservoir to reduce the viscosity of the bitumen or very heavy oil, to which end elements are used to introduce energy into the reserve and extraction pipes are used to recover the liquefied bitumen or very heavy oil. The invention also relates to the associated apparatus, with at least one element for introducing energy and also an extraction pipe.
During the in situ breaking down of bitumen from oil sand by means of steam and horizontal bore holes according to the SAGD
(Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage) method the problem arises with thin bitumen strata in particular that only an economically limited quantity of bitumen can be tapped. In the most favorable instance this is around 40 to 60 % of the bitumen present in the reservoir but much less in the case of thin strata. The reason for this is the limited width of the growing steam chamber, which is typically around twice as wide as it is high. For a high yield in flat reservoirs (20 to 30 m) this means that an injection pipe must be provided to introduce energy every 40 to 60 m above the extraction pipe.
The two pipes, one on top of the other, are known in the pertinent prior art as so-called well pairs.
A specific SAGD method for extracting very heavy oil is known from US 6 257 334 B1, in which, in addition to a so-called PCT/EP2008/060817=/ 2007P17352WOUS
Description Method and apparatus for in situ extraction of bitumen or very heavy oil The invention relates to a method for the in situ extraction of bitumen or very heavy oil from reservoirs in the form of oil sand deposits close to the surface, thermal energy being supplied to the reservoir to reduce the viscosity of the bitumen or very heavy oil, to which end elements are used to introduce energy into the reserve and extraction pipes are used to recover the liquefied bitumen or very heavy oil. The invention also relates to the associated apparatus, with at least one element for introducing energy and also an extraction pipe.
During the in situ breaking down of bitumen from oil sand by means of steam and horizontal bore holes according to the SAGD
(Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage) method the problem arises with thin bitumen strata in particular that only an economically limited quantity of bitumen can be tapped. In the most favorable instance this is around 40 to 60 % of the bitumen present in the reservoir but much less in the case of thin strata. The reason for this is the limited width of the growing steam chamber, which is typically around twice as wide as it is high. For a high yield in flat reservoirs (20 to 30 m) this means that an injection pipe must be provided to introduce energy every 40 to 60 m above the extraction pipe.
The two pipes, one on top of the other, are known in the pertinent prior art as so-called well pairs.
A specific SAGD method for extracting very heavy oil is known from US 6 257 334 B1, in which, in addition to a so-called PCT/EP2008/060817=/ 2007P17352WOUS
well pair consisting of pipes one on top of the other, further elements are also present, which are intended to improve the heating of the region. Also in WO 03/054351 Al a facility for the electrical heating of certain regions is described, with which a field is generated between two electrodes, heating the region in between them.
In the prior art the well pairs are provided at small intervals, incurring high costs for horizontal boring and piping. Alternatively high yields would have to be sacrificed to save costs.
On this basis the object of the invention is to propose an improved method for extracting bitumen or very heavy oil and to create an associated apparatus.
According to the invention the object in respect of the method is achieved by the measures of claim 1 and in respect of the apparatus by the features of claim 4. Developments of the method and the associated apparatus are set out in the subclaims.
With the invention the following method steps in particular are implemented:
- the energy is introduced in each instance in a predeterminable section of the reservoir by way of at least two separate elements, a predetermined geometry of the elements being maintained in relation to the extraction pipe;
- to introduce the energy by way of the separate elements, at least one further pipe is used to introduce steam and/or as an electrode for electrical energization;
- the injection pipe and the energization pipe are connected in the manner of an electrical conductor loop;
PCT/EP2008/060817./ 2007P17352WOUS
In the prior art the well pairs are provided at small intervals, incurring high costs for horizontal boring and piping. Alternatively high yields would have to be sacrificed to save costs.
On this basis the object of the invention is to propose an improved method for extracting bitumen or very heavy oil and to create an associated apparatus.
According to the invention the object in respect of the method is achieved by the measures of claim 1 and in respect of the apparatus by the features of claim 4. Developments of the method and the associated apparatus are set out in the subclaims.
With the invention the following method steps in particular are implemented:
- the energy is introduced in each instance in a predeterminable section of the reservoir by way of at least two separate elements, a predetermined geometry of the elements being maintained in relation to the extraction pipe;
- to introduce the energy by way of the separate elements, at least one further pipe is used to introduce steam and/or as an electrode for electrical energization;
- the injection pipe and the energization pipe are connected in the manner of an electrical conductor loop;
PCT/EP2008/060817./ 2007P17352WOUS
- outer regions of the reservoir are also supplied with thermal energy at least by way of the further pipe.
The energy can be introduced in a repeatable manner at predeterminable points of the reservoir. To this end the associated apparatus has at least one extraction pipe per defined unit of the reservoir, the extraction pipe running in a horizontal direction on the bottom of the reservoir, with at least two further energy introduction elements running in a horizontal direction above it at a predetermined upward distance and lateral distance from the extraction pipe.
The object of the invention is therefore to introduce thermal energy at precisely defined points of the reservoir, with separate paths being used to introduce the energy. This can be achieved in particular by introducing additional horizontal pipes into the reservoir and further heating the bitumen which would otherwise remain cold. Since only individual pipes are to be used for this rather than pipe pairs, relatively low costs can be anticipated.
Based on experience with the inductive heating of oil sand reservoirs, it has shown that bitumen heats up extensively and not only in the discrete environment of the electrodes. It can be deduced from this that bitumen and/or very heavy oil can be extensively melted by means of individual additional electrodes and its viscosity reduced, so that it can then flow into an existing SAGD well pair system with a steam bubble and be extracted.
The inventive procedure allows a significantly higher bitumen yield to be achieved. Economic viability calculations promise success. Heating by means of this additional horizontal pipe can take place from the start, continuously at comparatively PCT/EP2008/060817,/ 2007P17352WOUS
The energy can be introduced in a repeatable manner at predeterminable points of the reservoir. To this end the associated apparatus has at least one extraction pipe per defined unit of the reservoir, the extraction pipe running in a horizontal direction on the bottom of the reservoir, with at least two further energy introduction elements running in a horizontal direction above it at a predetermined upward distance and lateral distance from the extraction pipe.
The object of the invention is therefore to introduce thermal energy at precisely defined points of the reservoir, with separate paths being used to introduce the energy. This can be achieved in particular by introducing additional horizontal pipes into the reservoir and further heating the bitumen which would otherwise remain cold. Since only individual pipes are to be used for this rather than pipe pairs, relatively low costs can be anticipated.
Based on experience with the inductive heating of oil sand reservoirs, it has shown that bitumen heats up extensively and not only in the discrete environment of the electrodes. It can be deduced from this that bitumen and/or very heavy oil can be extensively melted by means of individual additional electrodes and its viscosity reduced, so that it can then flow into an existing SAGD well pair system with a steam bubble and be extracted.
The inventive procedure allows a significantly higher bitumen yield to be achieved. Economic viability calculations promise success. Heating by means of this additional horizontal pipe can take place from the start, continuously at comparatively PCT/EP2008/060817,/ 2007P17352WOUS
low power or with a time offset at appropriately higher power.
It is important that the conventional SAGD process with the growing steam chamber is not disrupted by early flooding.
The later connection of an additional heating unit should in particular also be seen as advantageous as a retrofitting solution for existing SAGD reservoirs, which only promise a low yield.
The additional heating pipe does not necessarily have to be electrically operated but can optionally also be an injection pipe operated in steam cycling mode, in other words the hot steam is not released into the reservoir but conveyed back there. This produces a heating process which is propagated into the volume simply by thermal conduction.
Further details and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description of figures of exemplary embodiments which follows based on the drawing in conjunction with the subclaims, in which drawing:
Figure 1 shows a sectional diagram through a deposit according to the prior art, Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional diagram of elementary units of the reservoir as an oil sand deposit and Figure 3 to Figure 6 respectively show cross-sections through the deposit according to Figure 1 with different arrangements of additional elements for introducing heat.
In Figure 1 a thick line E shows the ground surface, below which an oil sand deposit is located. Generally a superstructure of rock or other material is present below the ground surface, followed by a seam in the form of an oil sand PCT/EP2008/060817=/ 2007P17352WOUS
reservoir at a predetermined depth. The seam has a height or thickness h, a length 1 and a width w. The seam therefore contains the bitumen or very heavy oil and is referred to below as the reservoir 100. With the known SAGD method an injection pipe 101 for steam and an extraction pipe 102, also referred to as a production pipe, are routed horizontally on the base of the reservoir 100.
Figure 1 shows an outline of a method according to the prior art. Externally, i.e. above the ground, means are present for generating steam, which will not be examined in detail in the present context. The steam heats the area around the injection pipe 101 and reduces the viscosity of the bitumen or very heavy oil present in the oil sand. In the extraction pipe 102, which runs parallel to the injection pipe 101, the oil is recovered and fed back by way of the perpendicular region through the covering rock. Oil is then separated from the raw bitumen in a method-related installation 4 and further processing, e.g. flotation or the like, takes place.
Figure 2 shows an oil sand deposit, having a longitudinal extension 1 and a height h. A width w is defined, which is used to define an elementary unit 100 as a reservoir for oil sand. In the prior art the injection pipe 101 and the extraction pipe 102 are routed in a parallel manner on top of one another in a horizontal direction in the unit. The section from the oil reservoir is repeated a number of times on both sides.
Figures 3 to 6 respectively show cross-sections through the deposit according to Figure 1 (line IV-IV) or Figure 2 (view from front). The dimensions w x h and the arrangement of the extraction pipe 102 on the base of the reservoir 1 are the PCT/EP2008/060817./ 2007P17352W0US
same. Otherwise alternatives are respectively shown for the injection pipe and/or electrodes.
Figure 3 shows a horizontal pipe pair (well pair), in which the upper of the two pipes, i.e. the injection pipe 101, can optionally also be configured as an electrode. A further horizontal pipe 106 is also present here, being configured specifically as an electrode.
Electrodes 106', 10611, ... are also present in the adjacent sections, so that a regularly repeating structure results.
With the arrangement shown inductive energization takes place by means of the electrical connection at the ends of the additional electrode 106 and the injection pipe 101, resulting in a closed loop.
The horizontal distance between the electrode 106 and the extraction pipe is w/h; the vertical distance between the electrodes 106, 106', ... and the well pair, in particular the injection pipe, is 0.1 m to around 0.9 h. In practice distances between 0.1 m and 50 m result.
It can be seen from Figure 3 that a predetermined region is heated by the well pair with the pipes 101, 102, the thermal distribution at a defined time being outlined roughly by the line A. The additional inductive heating between the pipes 101 and 106 advantageously results in the peripheral region in corresponding thermal distributions in the region outlined by the line B, which is asymmetrical in Figure 3.
PCT/EP2008/060817. / 2007P17352WOUS
Figure 4 is based on an arrangement as in Figure 3, with electrodes 107, 107' being respectively disposed above the well pair on a gap between two well pairs.
Figure 2 shows the section of the reservoir, which is repeated a number of times on both sides. The horizontal pair with the injection pipe 101 and production pipe 102 can be seen from the cross-section. The further horizontal pipe 107 is configured as an electrical conductor. Two conductors 107, 107' respectively represent the electrodes for inductive energization by means of electrical connection at the ends.
The connections here can be made outside the deposit, i.e.
above the ground.
With the arrangement according to Figure 4 the horizontal distance from the electrode 107 to the extraction pipe 102 dl = w/2. The vertical distance corresponds in turn to the one in Figure 2 with typical values of around 0.1 m to 50 m.
In Figure 4 the thermal distribution is similar to the one in Figure 3 but this time it is configured symmetrically.
In Figure 5 the arrangement according to Figure 2 is disposed so that there are two injection pipes 108 and 109 present per production pipe 101, which equally serve as electrodes. It is thus possible to effect an inductive energization between two adjacent electrodes, in so far as a conductor loop is formed.
In Figure 5 the horizontal distance between the injection pipes 108 and/or 109 and the extraction pipe 102 is around 0.1 w to 0.8 w, signifying values of typically 10 m to 80 m. The vertical distance between the injection pipes 108 and 109 and the extraction pipe 102 is 0.2 h to 0.9 h, corresponding to a value of 5 m to 60 m.
The thermal distribution resulting in Figure 5 corresponds to the outline A.
Finally Figure 6 shows an arrangement like the one in Figure 2, in which two injection pipes 111, 111' are also positioned above the well pair consisting of the injection pipe 101 and extraction pipe 102 on a gap between two well pairs, with no energization taking place here. The injection pipe is operated so that steam is fed back to the surface. This corresponds essentially to the cycling mode known from the prior art in its preheating phase.
The section from the oil reservoir 1 is again shown in detail, being repeated a number of times on both sides. The well pair consists of the injection pipe 101 and the extraction pipe 102 and the additional horizontal pipe 111 or 111' is operated in steam cycling mode. The repeating injection pipe 111' here acts for the adjacent section of the regularly repeating sections.
With the arrangement shown in Figure 6 the horizontal section of the further injection pipes to the extraction pipe is again w/h; the vertical distance between the additional injection pipes 111, 111' and the first injection pipe is roughly between 0.1 m to 0.9 h, which corresponds to values between 0.1 and 50 m.
In Figure 6 a thermal distribution with the outlines according to Figure 4 results with a symmetrical configuration due to PCT/EP2008/060817. / 2007P17352W0US
the injection pipes positioned on a gap and repeated to the well pair.
In the examples described above with reference to Figures 3 to 6 the inventive measures bring about improved thermal distributions over the cross-section, the outlay remaining reasonable. Efficiency improvements generally result, manifesting themselves in a higher oil extraction yield.
It is important that the conventional SAGD process with the growing steam chamber is not disrupted by early flooding.
The later connection of an additional heating unit should in particular also be seen as advantageous as a retrofitting solution for existing SAGD reservoirs, which only promise a low yield.
The additional heating pipe does not necessarily have to be electrically operated but can optionally also be an injection pipe operated in steam cycling mode, in other words the hot steam is not released into the reservoir but conveyed back there. This produces a heating process which is propagated into the volume simply by thermal conduction.
Further details and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description of figures of exemplary embodiments which follows based on the drawing in conjunction with the subclaims, in which drawing:
Figure 1 shows a sectional diagram through a deposit according to the prior art, Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional diagram of elementary units of the reservoir as an oil sand deposit and Figure 3 to Figure 6 respectively show cross-sections through the deposit according to Figure 1 with different arrangements of additional elements for introducing heat.
In Figure 1 a thick line E shows the ground surface, below which an oil sand deposit is located. Generally a superstructure of rock or other material is present below the ground surface, followed by a seam in the form of an oil sand PCT/EP2008/060817=/ 2007P17352WOUS
reservoir at a predetermined depth. The seam has a height or thickness h, a length 1 and a width w. The seam therefore contains the bitumen or very heavy oil and is referred to below as the reservoir 100. With the known SAGD method an injection pipe 101 for steam and an extraction pipe 102, also referred to as a production pipe, are routed horizontally on the base of the reservoir 100.
Figure 1 shows an outline of a method according to the prior art. Externally, i.e. above the ground, means are present for generating steam, which will not be examined in detail in the present context. The steam heats the area around the injection pipe 101 and reduces the viscosity of the bitumen or very heavy oil present in the oil sand. In the extraction pipe 102, which runs parallel to the injection pipe 101, the oil is recovered and fed back by way of the perpendicular region through the covering rock. Oil is then separated from the raw bitumen in a method-related installation 4 and further processing, e.g. flotation or the like, takes place.
Figure 2 shows an oil sand deposit, having a longitudinal extension 1 and a height h. A width w is defined, which is used to define an elementary unit 100 as a reservoir for oil sand. In the prior art the injection pipe 101 and the extraction pipe 102 are routed in a parallel manner on top of one another in a horizontal direction in the unit. The section from the oil reservoir is repeated a number of times on both sides.
Figures 3 to 6 respectively show cross-sections through the deposit according to Figure 1 (line IV-IV) or Figure 2 (view from front). The dimensions w x h and the arrangement of the extraction pipe 102 on the base of the reservoir 1 are the PCT/EP2008/060817./ 2007P17352W0US
same. Otherwise alternatives are respectively shown for the injection pipe and/or electrodes.
Figure 3 shows a horizontal pipe pair (well pair), in which the upper of the two pipes, i.e. the injection pipe 101, can optionally also be configured as an electrode. A further horizontal pipe 106 is also present here, being configured specifically as an electrode.
Electrodes 106', 10611, ... are also present in the adjacent sections, so that a regularly repeating structure results.
With the arrangement shown inductive energization takes place by means of the electrical connection at the ends of the additional electrode 106 and the injection pipe 101, resulting in a closed loop.
The horizontal distance between the electrode 106 and the extraction pipe is w/h; the vertical distance between the electrodes 106, 106', ... and the well pair, in particular the injection pipe, is 0.1 m to around 0.9 h. In practice distances between 0.1 m and 50 m result.
It can be seen from Figure 3 that a predetermined region is heated by the well pair with the pipes 101, 102, the thermal distribution at a defined time being outlined roughly by the line A. The additional inductive heating between the pipes 101 and 106 advantageously results in the peripheral region in corresponding thermal distributions in the region outlined by the line B, which is asymmetrical in Figure 3.
PCT/EP2008/060817. / 2007P17352WOUS
Figure 4 is based on an arrangement as in Figure 3, with electrodes 107, 107' being respectively disposed above the well pair on a gap between two well pairs.
Figure 2 shows the section of the reservoir, which is repeated a number of times on both sides. The horizontal pair with the injection pipe 101 and production pipe 102 can be seen from the cross-section. The further horizontal pipe 107 is configured as an electrical conductor. Two conductors 107, 107' respectively represent the electrodes for inductive energization by means of electrical connection at the ends.
The connections here can be made outside the deposit, i.e.
above the ground.
With the arrangement according to Figure 4 the horizontal distance from the electrode 107 to the extraction pipe 102 dl = w/2. The vertical distance corresponds in turn to the one in Figure 2 with typical values of around 0.1 m to 50 m.
In Figure 4 the thermal distribution is similar to the one in Figure 3 but this time it is configured symmetrically.
In Figure 5 the arrangement according to Figure 2 is disposed so that there are two injection pipes 108 and 109 present per production pipe 101, which equally serve as electrodes. It is thus possible to effect an inductive energization between two adjacent electrodes, in so far as a conductor loop is formed.
In Figure 5 the horizontal distance between the injection pipes 108 and/or 109 and the extraction pipe 102 is around 0.1 w to 0.8 w, signifying values of typically 10 m to 80 m. The vertical distance between the injection pipes 108 and 109 and the extraction pipe 102 is 0.2 h to 0.9 h, corresponding to a value of 5 m to 60 m.
The thermal distribution resulting in Figure 5 corresponds to the outline A.
Finally Figure 6 shows an arrangement like the one in Figure 2, in which two injection pipes 111, 111' are also positioned above the well pair consisting of the injection pipe 101 and extraction pipe 102 on a gap between two well pairs, with no energization taking place here. The injection pipe is operated so that steam is fed back to the surface. This corresponds essentially to the cycling mode known from the prior art in its preheating phase.
The section from the oil reservoir 1 is again shown in detail, being repeated a number of times on both sides. The well pair consists of the injection pipe 101 and the extraction pipe 102 and the additional horizontal pipe 111 or 111' is operated in steam cycling mode. The repeating injection pipe 111' here acts for the adjacent section of the regularly repeating sections.
With the arrangement shown in Figure 6 the horizontal section of the further injection pipes to the extraction pipe is again w/h; the vertical distance between the additional injection pipes 111, 111' and the first injection pipe is roughly between 0.1 m to 0.9 h, which corresponds to values between 0.1 and 50 m.
In Figure 6 a thermal distribution with the outlines according to Figure 4 results with a symmetrical configuration due to PCT/EP2008/060817. / 2007P17352W0US
the injection pipes positioned on a gap and repeated to the well pair.
In the examples described above with reference to Figures 3 to 6 the inventive measures bring about improved thermal distributions over the cross-section, the outlay remaining reasonable. Efficiency improvements generally result, manifesting themselves in a higher oil extraction yield.
Claims (14)
1. A method for the in situ extraction of bitumen or very heavy oil from oil sand deposits (seams) close to the surface, thermal energy being supplied to the seam to reduce the viscosity of the bitumen or very heavy oil, with at least a first injection pipe being used to introduce energy and below it an extraction pipe to recover the liquefied bitumen or very heavy oil, the two being disposed one on top of the other, characterized by the following method steps:
- the energy is introduced in each instance in a predeterminable section of the reservoir by way of at least two separate elements, a predetermined geometry of the elements being maintained in relation to the extraction pipe, - to introduce the energy by way of the separate elements, at least one further pipe is used to introduce steam and/or as an electrode for energization, to which end - the injection pipe and the energization pipe are connected in the manner of an electrical conductor loop, - with the result that outer regions of the reservoir are also supplied with thermal energy at least by way of the further pipe.
- the energy is introduced in each instance in a predeterminable section of the reservoir by way of at least two separate elements, a predetermined geometry of the elements being maintained in relation to the extraction pipe, - to introduce the energy by way of the separate elements, at least one further pipe is used to introduce steam and/or as an electrode for energization, to which end - the injection pipe and the energization pipe are connected in the manner of an electrical conductor loop, - with the result that outer regions of the reservoir are also supplied with thermal energy at least by way of the further pipe.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first injection pipe is equally used as a conductor for energization purposes.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the further pipe is also used as an injection pipe to introduce steam.
4. An apparatus for implementing the method as claimed in claim 1 or one of claims 2 or 3 with at least one extraction pipe per defined element unit of the reservoir, characterized in that the extraction pipe (102) runs in a horizontal direction on the bottom of the reservoir (100) and at least two further elements (101, 106; 107, 107', 108, 109, 111, 111') run in a horizontal direction above it at a predetermined upward distance and lateral distance from the extraction pipe (102) to introduce energy, with at least two of the further elements (101, 106; 107, 107', 108, 109, 111, 111') forming a conductor loop.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the element unit of the deposit has a cross-section of w x h, the upward distance of the injection pipe (101) from the extraction pipe (102) being between 0.2 h and 0.9 h (Figure 5).
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the lateral distance between the injection pipes (101) is between 0.1 W and 0.8 W (Figure 3).
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the additional injection pipe (101) is used to apply steam (Figure 6).
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the additional injection pipe (101) serves as an electrode for energization purposes, with at least two horizontally routed electrodes being present (Figures 3, 4).
9. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the extraction pipe (102) forms a pair with the injection pipe (101) (so-called well pair), the upper pipe (101) also being configured as an electrode and forming a unit for energization purposes with the horizontal pipe (106) at a distance from it.
10. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the horizontal pipe pair (well pair) consists of a production pipe (102) and an injection pipe (101) above it and that the additional horizontal pipe (106, 107) is configured as an electrode and forms an energization arrangement with the horizontal pipe (106, 107) of the adjacent element unit.
11. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that two injection pipes (103, 104) are present per extraction pipe (10), serving at the same time as electrodes for inductive energization.
12. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that an extraction pipe (102) and an injection pipe form a pipe pair (well pair) and an additional injection pipe is respectively disposed above the well pair on a gap between two well pairs, above which steam is introduced.
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that steam is fed back to the surface of the reservoir (1).
14. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 5 to 13, characterized in that the predetermined unit of the reservoir (1) with the oil reservoir is repeated a number of times on both sides.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE102007040606A DE102007040606B3 (en) | 2007-08-27 | 2007-08-27 | Method and device for the in situ production of bitumen or heavy oil |
| DE102007040606.3 | 2007-08-27 | ||
| PCT/EP2008/060817 WO2009027262A1 (en) | 2007-08-27 | 2008-08-19 | Method and apparatus for in situ extraction of bitumen or very heavy oil |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2697808A1 true CA2697808A1 (en) | 2009-03-05 |
| CA2697808C CA2697808C (en) | 2013-02-19 |
Family
ID=40096627
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2697808A Expired - Fee Related CA2697808C (en) | 2007-08-27 | 2008-08-19 | Method and apparatus for in situ extraction of bitumen or very heavy oil |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US8113281B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2697808C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE102007040606B3 (en) |
| RU (1) | RU2436942C1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2009027262A1 (en) |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE102008062326A1 (en) | 2008-03-06 | 2009-09-17 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Arrangement for inductive heating of oil sands and heavy oil deposits by means of live conductors |
| EA019751B1 (en) | 2008-04-18 | 2014-06-30 | Шелл Интернэшнл Рисерч Маатсхаппий Б.В. | Method and system for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation |
| US8261832B2 (en) | 2008-10-13 | 2012-09-11 | Shell Oil Company | Heating subsurface formations with fluids |
| US8128786B2 (en) | 2009-03-02 | 2012-03-06 | Harris Corporation | RF heating to reduce the use of supplemental water added in the recovery of unconventional oil |
| US9034176B2 (en) | 2009-03-02 | 2015-05-19 | Harris Corporation | Radio frequency heating of petroleum ore by particle susceptors |
| US8494775B2 (en) | 2009-03-02 | 2013-07-23 | Harris Corporation | Reflectometry real time remote sensing for in situ hydrocarbon processing |
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| US4116273A (en) * | 1976-07-29 | 1978-09-26 | Fisher Sidney T | Induction heating of coal in situ |
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| RU9008U1 (en) | 1998-04-24 | 1999-01-16 | Открытое акционерное общество Нефтяная компания "Приобье" | INSTALLATION FOR ELECTRIC INFLUENCE ON OIL LAYERS |
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2008
- 2008-08-19 CA CA2697808A patent/CA2697808C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2008-08-19 WO PCT/EP2008/060817 patent/WO2009027262A1/en active Application Filing
- 2008-08-19 US US12/674,763 patent/US8113281B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2008-08-19 RU RU2010111787/03A patent/RU2436942C1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
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| CA2697808C (en) | 2013-02-19 |
| US8113281B2 (en) | 2012-02-14 |
| WO2009027262A1 (en) | 2009-03-05 |
| RU2010111787A (en) | 2011-10-10 |
| US20110042085A1 (en) | 2011-02-24 |
| DE102007040606B3 (en) | 2009-02-26 |
| RU2436942C1 (en) | 2011-12-20 |
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