Electric Resistive Heating and Solvent Injection for Low-Pressure Oil Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy oil production using SAGD processes is not economically viable in formations with low operating pressure, where steam cannot achieve sufficient temperature for hydrocarbon mobilization, and alternative methods are needed to enhance oil recovery efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A method involving an array of horizontal wells with heater strings and producer wells, where heating elements and solvent injection create voidage and mobilize hydrocarbons, allowing for the use of solvents like dimethyl ether and carrier gases to promote hydrocarbon production, even at lower pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If steam injection is used for heavy oil production, then hydrocarbon mobility is improved through heating, but the process becomes economically unviable in low-pressure formations where steam cannot achieve sufficient temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the steam injection system with an electric resistive heating system. Instead of using steam to heat the formation, electric heating elements are inserted into the formation to directly heat hydrocarbons. This substitution allows effective heating in low-pressure formations where steam cannot achieve sufficient temperature due to pressure constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the heating mechanism from thermal energy transfer via steam to direct electrical energy conversion to heat. By using electric resistive heating, the system can achieve the necessary temperature for hydrocarbon mobility without requiring high formation pressure, thus resolving the contradiction between temperature achievement and pressure constraints.
2Productivity
If traditional SAGD processes are used, then hydrocarbon production is achieved, but the method is not economically viable for low-pressure formations requiring alternative recovery methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the steam generation and injection infrastructure with electric heating elements and solvent injection systems. This substitution eliminates the need for large-scale steam generation facilities, reducing capital costs and making the process economically viable for low-pressure formations while maintaining hydrocarbon production capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental approach from thermal steam-based recovery to electric heating combined with solvent extraction. This parameter change in the recovery mechanism enables economically viable operation in low-pressure formations by avoiding the high infrastructure costs associated with traditional SAGD steam systems.
3Productivity
If solvent injection is used to create voidage and mobilize hydrocarbons, then production efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases with multiple injection ports and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the injection system into multiple segments with separate injection ports spaced along the heater string length. Each port can be independently controlled to inject solvent at specific locations, allowing precise control over solvent distribution and improving production efficiency while managing system complexity through modular segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality control by allowing different injection rates and timing at different ports along the heater string. This enables tailored solvent injection strategies for different formation zones, optimizing mobilization efficiency in each local area while maintaining overall system manageability through distributed control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables effective hydrocarbon production at lower pressures by creating voidage and reducing viscosity, offering an alternative to SAGD and surface mining for oil sands recovery, improving production efficiency and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
activating the heating element of the heater string to heat the formation sufficient to produce hydrocarbons from the formation
Implementation Method 2
the solvent may be injected into the heater string as a liquid and may be vapourized prior to injection into the voidage
Data Source
AI summary
A method of producing hydrocarbons from an underground formation having an array of horizontal wells has the steps of: inserting one or more heater strings into at least one heater well section, the heater string comprising a heating element and a flow passage for transporting fluid from a fluid input to at least one injection port; activating the heating element of the heater string to heat the formation sufficient to produce hydrocarbons from the formation immediately adjacent to the at least one heater well section; heating and injecting a solvent into the at least one heater well in the gaseous phase through the at least one injection port of the heater string such that the solvent is injected into the voidage in the at least one heater well section created by the produced hydrocarbons; and producing hydrocarbons from at least one producer well.