Patent classifications
E21B43/241
Enhanced methods for recovering viscous hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation as a follow-up to thermal recovery processes
Enhanced methods for recovering viscous hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation as a follow-up to thermal recovery processes. The methods include injecting a solvent flood vapor stream into a first thermal chamber, which extends within the subterranean formation, via a solvent flood injection well that extends within the first thermal chamber. The injecting includes injecting to generate solvent flood-mobilized viscous hydrocarbons within the subterranean formation. The methods also include, at least partially concurrently with the injecting, producing the solvent flood-mobilized viscous hydrocarbons from a second thermal chamber, which extends within the subterranean formation, via a solvent flood production well that extends within the second thermal chamber. The first thermal chamber was formed via a first thermal recovery process, and the second thermal chamber was formed via a second thermal recovery process, and the first thermal chamber and the second thermal chamber are in fluid communication with one another.
Method for solution mining and recovery of beneficial minerals
A method for selective solution mining mineral recovery may include heating a wellfield injection brine to a temperature from about 100? C. to about 250? C.; injecting the heated wellfield injection brine into an underground wellfield to dissolve soluble minerals therein, creating a hot brine solution; removing the hot brine solution from the underground wellfield; and recovering the soluble minerals from the hot brine solution by cooling the hot brine solution to a temperature of from about ?10? C. to about 5? C. and causing the soluble minerals to precipitate recovered minerals in a solid form.
Method for solution mining and recovery of beneficial minerals
A method for selective solution mining mineral recovery may include heating a wellfield injection brine to a temperature from about 100? C. to about 250? C.; injecting the heated wellfield injection brine into an underground wellfield to dissolve soluble minerals therein, creating a hot brine solution; removing the hot brine solution from the underground wellfield; and recovering the soluble minerals from the hot brine solution by cooling the hot brine solution to a temperature of from about ?10? C. to about 5? C. and causing the soluble minerals to precipitate recovered minerals in a solid form.
Method of forming subterranean barriers with molten wax
A method of permeating and infusing a formation around the borehole with wax by heating a formation surrounding a borehole and pumping molten wax into the formation, wherein the molten wax flows into and fills voids the formation without disrupting the formation is described. Also, a method of permeating and infusing a formation around the borehole with wax by heating a formation surrounding a borehole, pumping molten wax into the borehole, heating and circulating the molten wax vertically within the borehole for an extended period using a heater and pump attached to a circulation pipe extended to the bottom of a zone of the borehole to be heated, and recovering molten wax from the borehole by displacing it back to the surface with another material of different density is described. Additionally, a method of forming subterranean barriers by drilling multiple closely-spaced boreholes along a subterranean boundary, treating the boreholes with infusions of molten wax, and forming a hydraulic barrier along said boundary is described.
Method of forming subterranean barriers with molten wax
A method of permeating and infusing a formation around the borehole with wax by heating a formation surrounding a borehole and pumping molten wax into the formation, wherein the molten wax flows into and fills voids the formation without disrupting the formation is described. Also, a method of permeating and infusing a formation around the borehole with wax by heating a formation surrounding a borehole, pumping molten wax into the borehole, heating and circulating the molten wax vertically within the borehole for an extended period using a heater and pump attached to a circulation pipe extended to the bottom of a zone of the borehole to be heated, and recovering molten wax from the borehole by displacing it back to the surface with another material of different density is described. Additionally, a method of forming subterranean barriers by drilling multiple closely-spaced boreholes along a subterranean boundary, treating the boreholes with infusions of molten wax, and forming a hydraulic barrier along said boundary is described.
METHOD OF SOLVENT RECOVERY FROM A SOLVENT BASED HEAVY OIL EXTRACTION PROCESS
The present disclosure relates to production of a bitumen product from a subterranean reservoir with improved processes for solvent recovery at end of production or near end of production (i.e., late life) of heavy oil from a solvent-based heavy oil extraction process. The process include converting at least some of the wells in the subterranean reservoir, and injecting gas phase dilution agent into the reservoir, converting at least a portion of the liquid solvent to a gas phase, and recovering, in the vapor phase, at least a portion of the solvent remaining in the reservoir.
ENHANCED METHODS FOR RECOVERING VISCOUS HYDROCARBONS FROM A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THERMAL RECOVERY PROCESSES
Enhanced methods for recovering viscous hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation as a follow-up to thermal recovery processes. The methods include injecting a solvent flood vapor stream into a first thermal chamber, which extends within the subterranean formation, via a solvent flood injection well that extends within the first thermal chamber. The injecting includes injecting to generate solvent flood-mobilized viscous hydrocarbons within the subterranean formation. The methods also include, at least partially concurrently with the injecting, producing the solvent flood-mobilized viscous hydrocarbons from a second thermal chamber, which extends within the subterranean formation, via a solvent flood production well that extends within the second thermal chamber. The first thermal chamber was formed via a first thermal recovery process, and the second thermal chamber was formed via a second thermal recovery process, and the first thermal chamber and the second thermal chamber are in fluid communication with one another.
ENHANCED METHODS FOR RECOVERING VISCOUS HYDROCARBONS FROM A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THERMAL RECOVERY PROCESSES
Enhanced methods for recovering viscous hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation as a follow-up to thermal recovery processes. The methods include injecting a solvent flood vapor stream into a first thermal chamber, which extends within the subterranean formation, via a solvent flood injection well that extends within the first thermal chamber. The injecting includes injecting to generate solvent flood-mobilized viscous hydrocarbons within the subterranean formation. The methods also include, at least partially concurrently with the injecting, producing the solvent flood-mobilized viscous hydrocarbons from a second thermal chamber, which extends within the subterranean formation, via a solvent flood production well that extends within the second thermal chamber. The first thermal chamber was formed via a first thermal recovery process, and the second thermal chamber was formed via a second thermal recovery process, and the first thermal chamber and the second thermal chamber are in fluid communication with one another.
Steam-solvent-gas process with additional horizontal production wells to enhance heavy oil / bitumen recovery
A system and method of production of hydrocarbons, such as heavy oil or bitumen, by injection of steam, solvent and NCG is provided, which combines the benefits of SAGD, VAPEX, and the use of an additional producer, with specific timing specifications for the initiation of solvent injection prior to inter-chamber fluid communication.
Steam-solvent-gas process with additional horizontal production wells to enhance heavy oil / bitumen recovery
A system and method of production of hydrocarbons, such as heavy oil or bitumen, by injection of steam, solvent and NCG is provided, which combines the benefits of SAGD, VAPEX, and the use of an additional producer, with specific timing specifications for the initiation of solvent injection prior to inter-chamber fluid communication.