E - Fixed Constructions – 21 – B
Patent
E - Fixed Constructions
21
B
E21B 43/22 (2006.01) E21B 43/16 (2006.01) E21B 43/17 (2006.01) E21B 43/30 (2006.01)
Patent
CA 2243105
A non-thermal vapour extraction method for the recovery of hydrocarbons from deep, high pressure hydrocarbon deposits, either previously exploited by cold flow or virgin deposits that may be underlain by active aquifers is described. The method, termed RASD-Vapex, utilizes a light hydrocarbon solvent vapour in a tailor- made mixture with reservoir natural gas so that the solvent dew point is adjusted to the reservoir conditions of temperature and pressure. The solvent is selected typically from the group of ethane, propane and butane and may be used by itself or combined in a solvent mixture. The surface facilities in which the dewpoint is adjusted to downhole conditions consist of a solvent stripper, separator, solvent injector, dew point controller, pumps and a control unit. The spent tail gas is analysed in-line for the active solvent component, enriched with the required amount of recycled solvent and reintroduced into the reservoir as an injection gas with solvent at its dew point. Both the recovered solvent and free gas are being continuously circulated through the reservoir. The extraction is a continuous process and is accomplished by either employing pairs of parallel horizontal injection/production wells that are spaced laterally apart and alternate or by converting existing vertical or inclined cold production wells into injectors and adding horizontal production wells. The horizontal producers are in communication with the reservoir fluids through slotted liners. The initial injectivity and a large solvent-oil mass transfer area required for an economically viable operation are accomplished by utilizing high permeability zones of the reservoir, such as fractures, channels left behind after cold flow production or aquifers. The horizontal producer may be located at the bottom of the pay zone just above the aquifer and the active aquifer between injection wells may also be receded deeper into the reservoir to control water production. The concept of reservoir adjusted solvent dew point makes this environmentally friendly extraction method amenable to a wide range of watered out reservoirs that have been abandoned, although only about 10% of the original oil in place had been recovered.
Mokrys Igor J.
Na
Vapex Technologies Intl. Inc.
LandOfFree
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