In situ catalytic upgrading
a technology of catalytic upgrading and hydrocarbons, which is applied in the direction of fluid removal, borehole/well accessories, insulation, etc., can solve the problems of high solvent-to-oil ratio, difficult access to heavy oils such as bitumen and oil sands, and no method currently exists that addresses all of the requirements of a commercially viable process, etc., to achieve easy dilution, facilitate the movement of the combustion front, and increase the mobility and quality of oil
Inactive Publication Date: 2012-09-13
CONOCOPHILLIPS CO
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Benefits of technology
[0016]In preferred embodiments, the present invention utilizes an injection well having a Fishbone configuration that facilitates the moving of a combustion front in the reservoir. In addition, by using two production wells having equi-spaced (parallel if only two) horizontal portions and another production well having a lower, but perpendicular horizontal portion, the mobilized oil can be more easily drained and produced through the lower production well, while gases escape through the higher production wells. In situ upgrading of the crude oil is realized by adding the catalytic reactor to the lower but perpendicular horizontal portion of the production well, so that the oil taken in the production well will first undergo hydro-processing in the catalytic reactor to further increase the mobility and quality of the oil. If desired, this lower portion can also be equipped with heaters to reduce oil viscosity and / or drive the catalytic reactions.
Problems solved by technology
Heavy oils such as bitumen and oil sands can be very difficult to access due to their high viscosity.
Although each of these attempts has shown some technical merit, no method currently exists which addresses all of the requirements of a commercially viable process.
Solvent to oil ratios are high, however, and make this process economically unfeasible.
In addition, as larger molecules precipitate, flocculation may occur which may lead to the clogging of the producing well.
This approach is limited to the amount of upgrading that may occur and does not utilize hydrogen.
Method used
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[0032]The present invention utilizes a novel well-configuration to facilitate the application of in situ combustion in a bitumen and / or heavy oil reservoir and offers a novel approach for upgrading the bitumen and / or heavy oil prior to surface production. The well configuration of interest is a fishbone well configuration as shown in FIG. 1.
[0033]At the beginning, wells are drilled in a fishbone pattern. A single vertical well from the surface can facilitate this drilling. Multiple wells at angles varying from 30 to 120 degree from vertical will be drilled into the reservoir from the single vertical well. Additionally, these vertically deviated wells may progress through the reservoir at angles that differ from the original angle. This will facilitate the best placement of the well within the reservoir. These wells will be placed anywhere within the reservoir with the exception that the lowest well should be at least five (5) meters above the bottom of the pay. In addition, this pro...
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A system and method for in situ upgrading of crude oil is provided. The system includes at least one injection well, at least two first production wells, and at least one second production well. The at least one injection well has a vertical portion and a plurality of non-vertical portions connected to the vertical portion. The at least two first production wells are preferably equi-spaced and each has a horizontal portion with a first axial direction, wherein each said horizontal portion of the first production wells is horizontally spaced apart. The at least one second production well has a horizontal portion with a second axial direction. The catalytic reactor is placed at the horizontal portion of the at least one second production well such that oil coming through the second production well will first go through the catalytic reactor for hydroprocessing.
Description
PRIOR RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a non-provisional application which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 450,872 filed Mar. 9, 2011, entitled “In Situ Catalytic Upgrading,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH STATEMENT[0002]Not applicable.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The invention relates to in situ hydrocarbon upgrading system and method, and more particularly to an in situ oil upgrading for upgrading the crude oil before production.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]Heavy oils such as bitumen and oil sands can be very difficult to access due to their high viscosity. In situ upgrading is an enhanced recovery technique that aims to upgrade heavy crude oil and bitumen while still within the subsurface of the earth, making the hydrocarbons easier to produce and transport. Attempts have been made to address this challenge by using in situ combustion approaches, solvent extracti...
Claims
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Login to View More IPC IPC(8): E21B43/24E21B43/12
CPCE21B43/12E21B43/243E21B43/24E21B36/04E21B43/305
Inventor DREHER, JR., WAYNE REIDALLISON, JOE D.MENARD, WENDELL P.WHEELER, THOMAS J.
Owner CONOCOPHILLIPS CO