Oxy-boiler with steam assisted production

Abstract

Methods and systems relate to an oxy-boiler used to generate steam injected into a well for assisting recovery of hydrocarbons. Operating conditions of a burner for the oxy-boiler limits oxygen contamination in a resulting flue gas for carbon dioxide recovery and limits size of the oxy-boiler, which may thus be located proximate the well rather at a central processing facility. In contrast to a direct steam generation approach where resulting carbon dioxide is mixed with steam, the oxy-boiler also enables selection of a desired level of carbon dioxide injection, which may be provided with the flue gas that may be exhausted from the oxy-boiler at an injection pressure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a non-provisional application which claims benefit under 35 USC §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 837,686 filed Jun. 21, 2013 entitled “OXY-BOILER WITH STEAM ASSISTED PRODUCTION,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH[0002]None.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]Embodiments of the invention relate to generating steam for steam assisted production of hydrocarbons with an oxy-boiler operated to facilitate flue gas applications.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]Recovery of heavy oil reserves often requires use of steam to heat and mobilize the oil through processes such as steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD). Energy intensive steam generators produce the steam and resulting carbon dioxide emissions. Government regulations may make capture and sequestration of the carbon dioxide emissions necessary.[0005]Scrubbing flue gases of the steam generators with a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In one embodiment, a method of steam assisted oil recovery with carbon dioxide control includes generating steam in an oxy-boiler that combusts fuel with oxygen in an environment pressurized to at least 690 kilopascals for producing the steam separate from flue gas resulting from burning of the fuel. Injecting the steam into a formation assists in recovering the oil. The method further includes processing at least part of the flue gas to provide dehydrated and compressed carbon dioxide that is transported to a sequestration site different than the formation.

Problems solved by technology

Further, combustion at atmospheric pressure provides the flue gases at pressures too low for injection with the steam.

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