Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for recovering and processing a hydrocarbon mixture from a subterranean formation. The method comprises: (i) mobilizing said hydrocarbon mixture; (ii) recovering said mobilized hydrocarbon mixture; (iii) coking said recovered hydrocarbon mixture to produce decoked hydrocarbon and coke; (iv) combusting said coke to generate steam and/or energy and CO2; (v) upgrading said decoked hydrocarbon by hydrogen addition to produce upgraded hydrocarbon; and (v) adding a diluent to the decoked hydrocarbon prior to upgrading and/or adding a diluent to the upgraded hydrocarbon; wherein said method is at least partially self-sufficient in terms of steam and/or energy and diluent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for recovering and processing a hydrocarbon mixture from a subterranean formation. The method comprises: (i) mobilizing said hydrocarbon mixture; (ii) recovering said mobilized hydrocarbon mixture; (iii) deasphalting said recovered hydrocarbon mixture to produce deasphalted hydrocarbon and asphaltenes; (iv) gasifying said asphaltenes in a gasifier to generate hydrogen, steam and/or energy and CO2; (v) upgrading said deasphalted hydrocarbon by hydrogen addition to produce upgraded hydrocarbon; and (vi) adding a diluent to said upgraded hydrocarbon, wherein said method is at least partially self-sufficient in terms of hydrogen and diluent.

Abstract: A method of initiating or accelerating the establishment of fluid communication between injection and production wells located in a formation, including injecting sufficient solvent into the wellbores of the wells such that the solvent occupies more than the horizontal sections of the wells; pressurizing the solvent column in the injection wellbore and optionally also the solvent column in the production wellbore by injecting gas such that the pressures at the toe and heel of the horizontal section of the injection well and optionally the production well are greater than a fracture pressure of the formation; maintaining the pressure in the injection wellbore and optionally also the production wellbore; depressurizing the injection wellbore and optionally the production wellbore, either simultaneously or consecutively in the case where both wellbores have been pressurized; and repeating the pressurization and depressurization steps for at least one more cycle to generate pressure swings.

Abstract: A steam-based method and system for recovering and processing a hydrocarbon mixture from a subterranean formation. Steam is injected into the subterranean formation to mobilize said hydrocarbon mixture, then the mobilized hydrocarbon mixture is recovered, a self-sufficient diluent is added, and the mixture is separated to produce separated water and separated hydrocarbon. The separated hydrocarbon is deasphalted to produce a deasphalted hydrocarbon and asphaltenes, which is combusted in an oxycombustion process to generate steam and/or energy and CO2, and said the steam is injected into the formation.

Abstract: There is provided a method of initiating or accelerating the establishment of fluid communication between injection and production wells located in a formation, including injecting sufficient solvent into the wellbores of the wells that the solvent more than occupies the horizontal sections of the wells; pressurising the solvent column in the injection wellbore and optionally also production wellbore by the injection of gas such that the pressures of the horizontal section of the injection well and optionally the production well are greater than the formation fracture pressure; maintaining the pressure in the injection wellbore and optionally also the production wellbore; depressurising the injection wellbore and, if pressurized, the production wellbore, the differentials in pressure between the two resulting in backflow of a mixture of solvent and heavy hydrocarbons into the horizontal sections of the production well and/or injection well; and repeating the pressurisation and depressurisation steps for at le

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improved gravity drainage in a hydrocarbon formation, the method comprising: drilling a production well along a substantially horizontal production layer of a reservoir; drilling a perforation well above the production well, either in the production layer or in a layer separated from the production layer by a fluid barrier; perforating the formation adjacent the perforation well to provide a fluid flow path to or within the production layer; inducing gravity drainage through the fluid flow path; and producing fluids collected in the production well.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a pipelineable hydrocarbon mixture from a crude heavy hydrocarbon mixture comprising: —visbreaking said crude heavy hydrocarbon mixture at a temperature of 350 to 440° C. and a pressure of 20 to 150 bar for 0.5 to 15 minutes to produce a visbroken hydrocarbon mixture; and —mixing said visbroken hydrocarbon mixture with a diluent to produce said pipelineable hydrocarbon mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for recovering and processing a hydrocarbon mixture from a subterranean formation. The method comprises: (i) mobilising said hydrocarbon mixture; (ii) recovering said mobilised hydrocarbon mixture; (iii) deasphalting said recovered hydrocarbon mixture to produce deasphalted hydrocarbon and asphaltenes; (iv) gasifying said asphaltenes in a gasifier to generate hydrogen, steam and/or energy and CO2; (v) upgrading said deasphalted hydrocarbon by hydrogen addition to produce upgraded hydrocarbon; and (vi) adding a diluent to said upgraded hydrocarbon, wherein said method is at least partially self-sufficient in terms of hydrogen and diluent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a steam-based method and system for recovering and processing a hydrocarbon mixture from a subterranean formation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for recovering and processing a hydrocarbon mixture from a subterranean formation. The method comprises: (i) mobilising said hydrocarbon mixture; (ii) recovering said mobilised hydrocarbon mixture; (iii) coking said recovered hydrocarbon mixture to produce decoked hydrocarbon and coke; (iv) combusting said coke to generate steam and/or energy and CO2; (v) upgrading said decoked hydrocarbon by hydrogen addition to produce upgraded hydrocarbon; and (v) adding a diluent to the decoked hydrocarbon prior to upgrading and/or adding a diluent to the upgraded hydrocarbon; wherein said method is at least partially self-sufficient in terms of steam and/or energy and diluent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improved gravity drainage in a hydrocarbon formation, the method comprising: drilling a production well along a substantially horizontal production layer of a reservoir; drilling a perforation well above the production well, either in the production layer or in a layer separated from the production layer by a fluid barrier; perforating the formation adjacent the perforation well to provide a fluid flow path to or within the production layer; inducing gravity drainage through the fluid flow path; and producing fluids collected in the production well.