IN-SITU EXTRACTION OF HYDROCARBONS FROM OlL SANDS

Abstract

A device and method of using the device enable the in-situ extraction of hydrocarbons from oil sands and other hydrocarbon resources. The preferred embodiment of the device includes at least two electrodes of tubular form wherein said electrodes are porous and capable of being inserted into the ground; a source of electrical current to apply to the electrodes; and a means for extracting the hydrocarbons from the tubular electrodes. In the preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the electrodes are inserted into the oil deposit and connected to an electrical potential difference sufficient to drive an electric current between in-ground electrodes. Current is then flowed between the electrodes. The pressure gradient, resulting from heating the oil-bearing fluid, drives product into the tubular electrodes where it is removed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. section 119(e), the present invention claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional application 60 / 767120 filed 4 Mar. 2006, the text of which is included by reference herein.FIELD OF INVENTION[0002]In the field of hydrocarbon extraction from in-ground oil sands or similar deposits, a device and method of using the device for the extraction of the hydrocarbons.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The invention is termed “IXOS,” an acronym of sorts derived from In-Situ Extraction of Hydrocarbons from Oil Sands.” IXOS employs an electric current between porous, tubular in-ground electrodes to flow hydrocarbons in a deposit into the electrode. Electric resistance heating of the oil-bearing fluid in the ground between the electrodes creates a pressure gradient, which drives hydrocarbon product into the electrodes. As long as the electrode is porous, then product can be collected from within the electrode. This me...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

An oil sands processing plant will typically consume over a million gallons of water every hour.

Of the water used typically, about 250,000 gallons per hour is too contaminated with dissolved hydrocarbons and minerals for recycling.

The wet sand and clay residues can also be caustic and require extensive and expensive neutralization.

This caustic aqueous residual often has a high Chemical Oxygen Demand, which robs the water of oxygen.

This, in turn, makes the ponds containing such residual, hypoxic and adverse to plant and animal life.

However, while improved, this process has many of the same shortfalls of the basic hot water process.

Aside from the cost, this much energy consumption translates to significant emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.

Five major disadvantages of producing oil from strip mined oil sands are (1) the need to consume large quantities of clean water resources, (2) the need to consume energy to heat the water, (3) the subsequent pollution of the water by chemicals extracted from the deposits, (4) a high cost of production; and (5) large up front capital investment is needed partly because very large separation plants are needed for processing the bitumen.

This in-situ technique suffers from the disadvantages noted in the preceding paragraph for the aboveground hot water process.

In addition there is a potential for pollution below the surface.

All of the existing methods of extracting oil from oil sands have a large environmental cost.

This leaves a significant tailings pile.

The water ponds required to dispose of the water used in the process are contaminated and consume large tracts of land.

Such underground processes also have potential to contaminate water aquifers.

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