Integrated enhanced oil recovery process

Abstract

The present invention relates to an enhanced oil recovery process that is integrated with a synthesis gas generation process, such as gasification or reforming, and an air separation process for generating (i) an oxygen stream for use, for example, in the syngas process or a combustion process, and (ii) a nitrogen stream for EOR use.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 287,571 (filed 17 Dec. 2009), the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes as if fully set forth.[0002]This application is related to commonly-owned U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 12 / 906,552 (attorney docket no. FN-0055 US NP1, entitled INTEGRATED ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY PROCESS) and 12 / 906,547 (attorney docket no. FN-0056 US NP1, entitled INTEGRATED ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY PROCESS), both of which were filed 18 Oct. 2010; and ______ (attorney docket no. FN-0058 US NP1, entitled INTEGRATED ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY PROCESS), filed concurrently herewith.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates to an enhanced oil recovery process that is integrated with a synthesis gas generation process, such as gasification or reforming, and an air separation process for generating (i) an oxygen stream for use, fo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019](1) injecting a pressurized nitrogen stream into the underground hydrocarbon reservoir to enhance production of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid from the underground hydrocarbon reservoir via the hydrocarbon production well;

[0043](B) an injection well in fluid communication with an underground hydrocarbon reservoir comprising a hydrocarbon-containing fluid, the injection well adapted to inject a pressurized nitrogen stream into the underground hydrocarbon reservoir for enhanced oil recovery;

Problems solved by technology

After some period of production, the natural pressure of the oil reservoir decreases and production dwindles.

One difficulty with the use of nitrogen and optionally CO2 to increase oil production is that it requires large quantities of both gases, and the availability of such large quantities is limited.

Nitrogen is generally available from air separation processes, but it is not considered economical to utilize air separation processes solely for the generation of nitrogen for EOR.

CO2 from natural sources can be utilized, but generally requires the natural source to be in the proximity of the oil reservoir to avoid the construction and use of pipelines, which could make such use uneconomical.

Use of CO2 from combustion sources (such as power plants) has also been considered (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,299,868 and publications cited therein), but the separation of CO2 from the combustion gases is difficult and generally not considered economical.

A disadvantage in this operation is the pipeline, as supercritical CO2 is considered a hazardous material.

The construction, permitting, operation and maintenance of a supercritical CO2 pipeline, particularly one as long as 205 miles, is expensive.

Another disadvantage to the use of CO2 for EOR is that, as more CO2 is pumped into an oil reservoir, more CO2 is also produced along with the other liquids and gases that come out of the well.

Traditionally, CO2 that is co-produced with oil is separated and vented to the atmosphere; however, as with synthesis gas production operations, environmental concerns make this CO2 venting undesirable.

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