Method of recovering hydrocarbons from carbonate and shale formations

Abstract

A method to mobilize for production bitumen, kerogen, heavy oil, other hydrocarbons, and hydrogen contained in a subterranean formation comprised largely of silicate and carbonate minerals that are capable of generating a series of chemical reactions, that once induced are self-sustaining. Such formations include bitumen carbonates, unconventional oil or gas shales and oil shales. The induced silicate-reactions, carbonate-reactions and resulting hydrocarbon-reactions and heat generated in the formation are sufficient to chemically and physically decompose much of the rock structure so that it becomes porous and permeable. These reactions also convert the solid bitumen, heavy oil, kerogen and other hydrocarbons to fluid or gaseous forms and create formation fluids and reservoir pressure to help move hydrocarbons to production wells. Waste heat generated by the method may be used to generate electricity, or for other uses.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to methods and systems to mobilize and produce hydrocarbons and related by-products from various sub-surface formations, including in particular, hydrocarbon-bearing impermeable carbonate and shale formations.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]New sources of conventional oil reserves have been significantly declining for several decades while the demand for energy has continued to grow. Conventional deposits of gas and oil in North America have essentially been found and largely depleted. The increasing demand in North America has been generally met by a combination of unconventional oil and gas production and oil sands production.[0003]The unconventional, oil sands and bitumen carbonate hydrocarbons are much more difficult and expensive to produce. Mineable oil sands production is well known and successful, but environmentally is a problem. Deeper oil sands are currently being produced with SAGD and / or solvent methods. Bitumen...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0022]Resulting formation fluids, including mobilized hydrocarbons, move through the decomposed structure primarily driven by pressure differential and gravity, and are recovered by way of the production well. In another embodiment, formation material immediately adjacent to the injection well is fractured prior to injections to allow the induced reactions to take place quicker and more assuredly. In ye

Problems solved by technology

The unconventional, oil sands and bitumen carbonate hydrocarbons are much more difficult and expensive to produce.

Mineable oil sands production is well known and successful, but environmentally is a problem.

Bitumen carbonates, located in the center of oil sands area of Alberta, are huge, solid and impermeable deposits, and have no known economic method of production.

Oil shales, such as the Green River formation comprise solid kerogens and likewise have no known economic method of extraction.

The recovery methods available to date have been unsuccessful in economically recovering hydrocarbons from the vast amounts of heavy hydrocarbons contained in solid impermeable carbonate rock formations such as the Grosmont carbonates and other bitumen carbonates of northern Alberta and the Green River formation oil shales and other unconventional oil shales.

These methods are generally relatively expensive and are environmentally poor.

Fire flooding or in situ combustion systems, such as toe to heel air injection (THAI), have also been attempted, but with limited success.

All of the three initial basic methods have several major economic and environmental drawbacks: a) large amounts of injected energy is required to power the process, which is expensive; b) large amounts of scarce water is used and polluted; and c) large quantities of greenhouse gases are generated and released to the atmosphere.

For unconventional oil or gas production extensi

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