Multilateral Wellbore Steam Injection for Heavy Oil Viscosity Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing heavy oil and minerals from subsurface formations are inefficient, as they lack effective means to reduce viscosity and extract resources using steam injection and chemical leaching, particularly in complex geological settings.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving the formation of lateral or radial injection and production passages from a wellbore, with steam injection or chemical leaching agents used to reduce viscosity and extract heavy oil or minerals, utilizing isolated compartments and flexible liners to manage pressure and flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If steam injection is used to reduce viscosity of heavy oil, then extraction efficiency is improved, but energy consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wellbore is divided into multiple lateral passages (injection and production) that extend into the formation, allowing distributed steam injection and production across multiple zones. This segmentation improves extraction efficiency by accessing more of the heavy oil reservoir while managing energy input across multiple controlled entry points rather than a single location.
Solution Approach 2:
Different lateral passages are assigned different functions (injection vs. production) and positioned at different locations within the formation. Steam is injected locally at specific zones where heavy oil needs viscosity reduction, while production occurs at separated zones, allowing targeted energy application where most needed.
2Productivity
If multiple lateral passages are formed for injection and production, then resource extraction efficiency is improved, but wellbore complexity and construction difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wellbore system is segmented into a main vertical wellbore with multiple lateral passages extending from it. This multilateral configuration allows the system to access a larger reservoir volume and improve extraction efficiency while maintaining a relatively simple construction approach by drilling from a single main wellbore rather than multiple separate wells.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral passages serve multiple functions: some are dedicated to steam injection while others are dedicated to production. This multi-functional arrangement within a single wellbore system allows simultaneous injection and production operations, improving overall extraction efficiency without requiring separate wells for each function.
3Productivity
If chemical leaching agents are used for mineral extraction, then mineral recovery is improved, but environmental impact and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Chemical leaching agents are injected through lateral passages into the formation to extract minerals from the rock matrix. The chemical agents react with and dissolve target minerals, which are then carried to production passages for recovery. This extraction process improves mineral recovery while containing the chemical agents within the formation rather than requiring open-pit mining that would have greater environmental impact.
Solution Approach 2:
Chemical leaching agents serve as intermediaries that facilitate mineral extraction by reacting with and dissolving minerals in the formation. These chemical mediators enable selective mineral recovery through the lateral passage system while allowing control over the extraction process and potential for environmental management of the leaching chemicals.
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 approach enhances the extraction of heavy oil and minerals by reducing viscosity with steam and leveraging chemical leaching, improving production efficiency and minimizing operational costs through effective fluid management and passage design.
Implementation Method 1
injecting steam into the subsurface oil bearing earth formation from a source at the surface via an injection conduit extending to a compartment within the well which is in communication with a plurality of lateral injection passages
Implementation Method 2
injecting a fluid material, gaseous material or gas/liquid mixture into the earth formation via a plurality of lateral injection passages... to reduce viscosity
Implementation Method 3
The scope of the present invention also concerns a method and apparatus for production of a wide variety of subsurface minerals from a subsurface earth formation, other than heavy crude oil, by means of chemical leaching
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for production of material from a subsurface earth formation being intersected by a wellbore that is lined with a well casing. After preparing the well casing by forming injection and production openings or removing a section of the casing to define a borehole interval, a plurality of lateral injection and production passages are formed that extend into the subsurface earth formation from the casing openings or borehole interval. Packers within the well casing define an injection compartment that is in communication with the lateral injection passages and a production compartment that is isolated from the injection compartment. Steam or other injection fluid is injected into the formation via an injection conduit extending from the surface to the injection compartment. Formation fluid migrating through the formation to the production passages is produced via a production conduit extending from the surface to the production compartment. For stabilization of the formation at the lateral injection and production passages a perforate liner is washed into place within each of the lateral passages.