Distinct, Separate Injection And Producing Wells Patents (Class 166/268)
  • Patent number: 7721807
    Abstract: A method for managing hydrates in a subsea production system is provided. The system has at least one producing subsea well, a jumper for delivering produced fluids from the subsea well to a manifold, a production line for delivering produced fluids to a production gathering facility, and an umbilical for delivering chemicals to the manifold. The subsea well has been shut in, leaving produced fluids in a substantially uninhibited state. The method generally comprises the steps of pumping a displacement fluid into the chemical injection tubing, pumping the displacement fluid through a chemical injection tubing provided in the umbilical, further pumping the displacement fluid through the manifold and into the production line, and pumping the displacement fluid through the production line so as to displace the produced fluids before hydrate formation may begin. Preferably, a chemical inhibitor is placed in the chemical injection tubing before the displacement fluid is pumped into the chemical injection tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Richard F. Stoisits, David C. Lucas, Jon K. Sonka
  • Patent number: 7717175
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved method for extracting heavy oil or bitumen contained in a reservoir. The invention involves directing the formation of a solvent fluid chamber through the combination of directed solvent fluid injection and production at combinations of horizontal and/or vertical injection wells so as to increase the recovery of heavy oil or bitumen contained in a reservoir. The wells are preferably provided with flow control devices to achieve uniform production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Nexen Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard Compton Chung, Mintu Bose, Stewart Allan Morton, Kenneth James Elkow, Ed Erlendson, Frances Lai, David Peter Meeks, Kenneth Myron Oberg, Louis Chiu-Hung Leung, James Nelson Ireland
  • Publication number: 20100108315
    Abstract: A process to reduce the hydrogen sulfide content of a hydrogen sulfide-containing subterranean formation and of products recovered from the subterranean formation by injecting sulfur dioxide into the subterranean formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: David K. Stevens, Peter D. Clark, Justin A. Lamar
  • Publication number: 20100101788
    Abstract: A technique enables injection of treatment chemicals at a plurality of desired locations along a well. A multi-point chemical injection system is connected and deployed into a wellbore. The multi-point chemical injection system delivers one or more treatment chemicals along the wellbore to the desired locations at a plurality of injection zones. A single control line is run from a surface location down through the wellbore to the plurality of injection zones. The single control line is used to deliver the treatment chemical to each of the injection zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rex C. Mennem, Dinesh R. Patel, David Himmel, Angel R. Reyes
  • Patent number: 7707013
    Abstract: A method for estimating minimum miscibility enrichment (MME) for an injectant used in gas flooding of a reservoir at a given operating pressure comprising performing a plurality of slim tube simulations for the reservoir, determining minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) for a plurality of injected gases, creating a plot of recovery factor (RF) vs. 1?(MMP?P)/MMP wherein P is the operating pressure of the reservoir having at least one of the plurality of injected gases, wherein 1?(MMP?P)/MMP is a dimensionless pressure, wherein the plot has a y-intercept and slope, obtaining a recovery factor equation RF=i+s(1?(MMP?P)/MMP) wherein i is the y-intercept and s is the slope, determining a value for i, determining a value for s and calculating the recovery factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Ŕaul Valdez, Peter Harold Doe, Tak Siang Kho
  • Patent number: 7703528
    Abstract: A method of reducing CO2 emission from a wellsite diesel engine includes the steps of: providing the wellsite diesel engine operatively coupled to a wellsite apparatus for transmission of power from the wellsite diesel engine to the wellsite apparatus; and injecting at least one component of natural gas into the wellsite diesel engine, thereby combusting the natural gas component in the wellsite diesel engine. A system for supplying power to a wellsite apparatus includes a wellsite diesel engine operatively coupled to the wellsite apparatus for transmission of power to the wellsite apparatus; a diesel fuel supply; a natural gas component fuel supply which supplies at least one component of natural gas; and each of the diesel and natural gas component fuel supplies being connected to the wellsite diesel engine for combustion therein of a mixture of diesel fuel and the natural gas component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Schultz, Lewis Norman
  • Publication number: 20100096146
    Abstract: The invention describes a method for injecting a fluid into a crude oil-containing layer of rock or earth by means of a suitable line, wherein the line is introduced into the layer of rock or earth and the fluid is injected for the purpose of an enhanced crude oil production from the crude oil-containing layer of rock or earth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Michael Heisel, Werner Ernst
  • Publication number: 20100071899
    Abstract: A system for powering wellsite surface equipment comprises at least one prime mover in communication with a fuel source for powering the prime mover and having at least one heat source, at least one pump arranged to be driven by the prime mover, the at least one pump in fluid communication with at least one wellbore and at least one fluid for use in the wellbore, and at least one auxiliary system in communication with the heat source from the at least one prime mover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Laurent Coquilleau, Edward Leugemors, William Marshall, Rod Shampine, Philippe Gambier, Hubertus V. Thomeer
  • Publication number: 20100065268
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an in situ reservoir recovery process that uses a horizontal well located near the top of a reservoir and an inclined production well to extract bitumen or heavy oil from a reservoir. In a first stage, the top well is used for cold production of reservoir fluids to the surface, in which, reservoir fluids are pumped to the surface in the absence of stimulation by steam or other thermal and/or solvent injection. A lower production well is drilled into the formation below the top well. The top well is converted to an injection well or, if no cold production then a top well is drilled as an injector well. A portion of the bottom well is inclined so that one end of the incline is closer to the injector well than the other end of the incline. In the process, steam circulation creates a heated zone at the point of the two wells that are closest together in the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: UTI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Ian Donald GATES, Stephen Richard Richard Larter, Jennifer Jane ADAMS
  • Publication number: 20100059222
    Abstract: The present invention relates to device for increasing the production flow in a production tubing, comprising at least one inlet for adding a fluid medium and means to provide the added fluid at an angle ? between 90 and zero degrees with a longitudinal axis of the tubing. This effect is further enhanced by means for rotating the added fluid medium. A method for increasing the production flow in a production tubing is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY COMPANY AS
    Inventors: Magnar Tveiten, David Hutchinson, Egil Josefsen, Kristian Harestad
  • Publication number: 20100038082
    Abstract: The Portable Renewable Energy System for Enhanced Oil Recovery (“PRESEOR”) is a truck mobile system that reforms biomass into CO2 and hydrogen, following which the gases are separated, with the CO2 sequestered underground for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and the hydrogen used to generate several megawatts of carbon-free electricity. In contrast to large central power plants that are generally not well-located to support EOR, the small PRESEOR can go directly to the oilfields where it is needed, and do so in a timely manner. The PRESEOR sequesters more biomass-derived carbon than is released by the burning of the oil it yields, thereby producing not only carbon-free electricity but carbon-free oil. Using PRESEOR, over 80 billion barrels of U.S. oil would be made recoverable, without the need to drill new wells in pristine areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Robert M. Zubrin, Mark H. Berggren
  • Publication number: 20100031653
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a device for utilizing supercritical subsurface steam as combined supercritical thermal and hydraulic power stations at an efficiency of 50 percent, using molten bath superdeep drilling technology, a hydrofrac process, and the special properties of the supercritical subsurface steam, such as the drastic increase in the thermal capacity, reduced viscosity, and inorganic solubility. The multifunctional use of said technologies and physical properties of supercritical subsurface steam in the inventive method allows a supercritical subsurface boiler to be tapped rapidly and at a low cost at a great depth while making it possible to produce electricity, power, process steam, and heat almost anywhere at one tenth of the cost of conventional fuel technologies and comparable expenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventor: Werner Foppe
  • Patent number: 7654330
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems for extracting oil or natural gas from a well using a portable coal reformer. In one example, the method may include reforming coal by reaction with water to generate driver gas (comprising carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas), and injecting the driver gas into the well. The driver gas reduces the viscosity and pressurizes the oil to help extract the oil from the oil well. The coal reforming operation may include combusting coal or other combustible material with ambient oxygen to release energy, and heating coal and water with the energy released to a temperature above that required for the coal reforming reaction to proceed, thereby reforming coal and water into driver gas. The driver gas may be purified by filtering out particles and sulfur before injecting into the well. A portion of the hydrogen gas may be separated from the driver gas and used to generate electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Pioneer Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Zubrin, Mark H. Berggren
  • Patent number: 7654320
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for treating a mixture of hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide gas produced from a hydrocarbon reservoir. The system includes a gas power turbine adapted to burn the produced gas mixture of hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide gas with oxygen as an oxidizing agent and a capture system to collect the exhaust gas from the power turbine. An inlet compressor receives exhaust gas from the capture system and compresses the exhaust gas for injection of the exhaust gas into a hydrocarbon reservoir and for recycle to the power turbine. The system may further include a membrane system that preferentially removes carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from the produced gas stream before said stream is used as fuel gas in the power turbine. The carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide removed by the membrane system is combined with the exhaust gas, and the combined gas is injected into a hydrocarbon reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Occidental Energy Ventures Corp.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Payton
  • Patent number: 7650939
    Abstract: An embodiment is a portable, modular apparatus, having one or more modules, for recovering oil from an oil well and generating electric power, and including a chassis to support a fuel reformer, a gas separator, a power generator, and/or a compressor. The fuel reformer module is adapted to react a fuel source with water to generate driver gas including a mixture of carbon dioxide gas and hydrogen gas. The gas separator module is operatively coupled to the reformer module and is adapted to separate at least a portion of the hydrogen gas from the rest of the driver gas. The power generator module is operatively coupled to the gas separator module and is adapted to generate electric power using a portion of the separated hydrogen gas. The compressor module is operatively coupled to the reformer module and is adapted to compress a portion of the driver gas, and to eject the driver gas at high pressure into the oil well for enhanced oil recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Pioneer Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Zubrin, Mark H. Berggren, Douwe Bruinsma
  • Patent number: 7648946
    Abstract: Methods of degrading filter cakes in subterranean formations are provided. An example of a method is a method of drilling a well bore in a subterranean formation. Another example of a method is a method of degrading a filter cake in a subterranean formation, the filter cake comprising an inorganic portion and an organic portion, and having been established in the formation by a well drill-in and servicing fluid that comprises a delayed-release acid component. An example of a composition is a well drill-in and servicing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Trinidad Munoz, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100006285
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a method of Enhanced Petroleum Recovery (EPR) combining technical, economic, environmental and social effectiveness to increase the recovery factor of onshore or offshore fields having a high degree of exploitation, more precisely through the use of a substance miscible with the diverse types of petroleum of low fluidity found in various regions. More specifically, the present invention refers to the use of solvents such as light liquid fractions of petroleum, for example diesel oil and gas oil, a light petroleum, and the essential oils derived from renewable sources such as for example biodiesel, used pure or mutually admixed in any proportion, for injection into a geological formation through an injection well, there resulting a final mixture (petroleum/injected solvent) presenting much lower viscosity and much greater fluidity than the original petroleum, having an impact throughout the petroleum production chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras
    Inventors: Ivonete Pereira Gonzalez DA SILVA, Maria Aparecida De Melo, Amaury De Azevedo Aguiar, Ana Paula Silva Conceicao De Santana, Andre Luis Mynssen Ferreira, Viviane Rezende Prates
  • Publication number: 20100000732
    Abstract: Processes relating to the production of methane, carbon dioxide, gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons, and other valuable products from subterranean carbon bearing formations, in-situ, are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, such production utilizes indigenous and/or non-indigenous microbial consortia that are capable of converting a carbon bearing material such as shale or coal to desired products. In a particularly preferred embodiment there is provided a process for bioconverting a carbon-bearing subterranean formation, wherein the process comprises injecting fluid into a carbon bearing deposit with at least one injection well and removing injected fluid and product from the deposit through at least one production well, and controlling fluid pressure within at least a portion of the deposit by use of the injected fluid, the pressure being controlled such that the fluid pressure within at least a portion of the deposit exceeds the fluid pressure that normally exists in that portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventor: Robert A. Downey
  • Patent number: 7640980
    Abstract: A process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of a subsurface formation. Heat may transfer from one or more heaters to a part of a formation. In some embodiments, heat from the one or more heat sources may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in a part of a subsurface formation. Hydrocarbons and/or other products may be produced from a subsurface formation. Certain embodiments describe apparatus, methods, and/or processes used in treating a subsurface or hydrocarbon containing formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Mark Gregory Picha, Lanny Gene Schoeling
  • Publication number: 20090301714
    Abstract: A waxy oil-external emulsion is provided for injection into a selected zone of a subsurface formation. The selected zone is typically a high permeability zone. The emulsion generally comprises oil, added wax, and water. The emulsion may also include an emulsifying agent and a solvent. The emulsion is formulated to be a liquid at a temperature greater than a targeted temperature in the subsurface formation, but a solid at the targeted temperature. The targeted temperature is typically the maximum operating temperature for the formation. A method of formulating the emulsion is also provided. Further, a method of plugging a high permeability zone using the emulsion is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: James R. Bragg, Joseph P. Lederhos, Sergio A. Leonardi, Scott E. Hommema, Amy L. Chen, Shan H. Yang
  • Publication number: 20090301717
    Abstract: A method and a device (2) for destruction of organic material in injection water for an injection well (4), in which a means (10) for introduction of water in the injection well (4), and at least one electrochemical cell (16) with associated operating means are used for in situ electrolytic generation from water of at least short-lived, free hydroxyl radicals. The distinctive characteristic of the invention is that it comprises the following steps: (A) to connect the at least one electrochemical cell (16) to the injection well (4); and (B) by means of said operating means, to conduct the injection water through said cell (16) for in situ generation of at least free hydroxyl radicals from the injection water, insofar as free hydroxyl radicals immediately destruct organic material that they engage in the injection water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Helge Lunde, David Pinchin
  • Patent number: 7624801
    Abstract: A control system and control method for controlling a modular apparatus for extracting petroleum and/or generating electricity based on subsurface data as well as market prices of electricity and/or petroleum. One or more probes measure subsurface total pressure, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, partial pressure of hydrogen, oil flow rate, gas flow rate, underground temperature, and/or viscosity of the oil. The control system/method controls the apparatus based on the subsurface parameters by controlling an injection module and/or a gas separator module to increase or decrease output of driver gas. The control system/method may also control the injection module and/or the gas separator module to increase (or decrease) output of driver gas when the market price of electricity decreases (or increases) and/or petroleum increases (or decreases).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Pioneer Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Zubrin, Mark H. Berggren, Douwe Bruinsma
  • Publication number: 20090272532
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods for increasing the recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir. A method may include the steps of injecting a first fluid into a first horizontal well in the reservoir by a first device; producing hydrocarbons from a second horizontal well disposed below the first well; injecting a second fluid into a third well laterally offset from each of the first and second wells while continuing to produce hydrocarbons from the second well; and selectively ceasing injection into the first well when the second well is in fluid communication with the third well. The first and second fluid may comprise steam, carbon dioxide, oxygen, or combinations thereof. Injection into the first well selectively may be ceased when pressure in the first well is increased to a first injection pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: Myron I. Kuhlman
  • Publication number: 20090236093
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and apparatus for removing oil or natural gas from the ground. In one example, the method may include reforming a fuel source by reaction with water to generate driver gas, and injecting the driver gas into the oil well. The reforming operation may include causing the combustion of a combustible material with ambient oxygen for the release of energy; and heating a reforming reaction fuel and water sources, with the energy released from the combustion of the combustible material, to a temperature above that required for the reforming reaction wherein the fuel and water sources are reformed into driver gas. In one example, the amount of the combustible material combusted is sufficient to result in the release of enough energy to heat an amount of the reforming reaction fuel and water sources to the temperature above that required for the reforming reaction to proceed. The driver gas may be used to help extract oil from the ground and especially oil from depleted oil wells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: PIONEER ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Robert M. Zubrin, Mark H. Berggren
  • Publication number: 20090211757
    Abstract: Fluid is introduced to one or more underground fluid passages in thermal contact with a hot rock formation. Kinetic energy of the fluid being introduced is converted into electrical energy. The introduced fluid absorbs heat from the hot rock formation. That absorbed heat is extracted from the heated fluid for use in connection with a domestic or industrial application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventor: William Riley
  • Publication number: 20090211758
    Abstract: An improved method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation in which a solids-stabilized emulsion (SSE) is formed, the SSE comprising oil as a first liquid, droplets of a second liquid suspended in the oil, and solid particles that are insoluble in both the oil and the second liquid at the conditions of the subterranean formation. The SSE with dissolved gas is injected into the subterranean formation as a drive fluid, and at least a portion of the SSE is placed into one or more area of the subterranean formation having an in situ pressure sufficiently lower than the selected partial pressure to permit evolution of at least a portion of the gas from the oil. Furthermore, a method of making the foamy SSE is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: James R. Bragg, Robert D. Kaminsky, Sergio A. Leonardi
  • Publication number: 20090200024
    Abstract: A modified method of in situ recovery of hydrocarbon from an underground hydrocarbon-containing formation. An “L” shaped production well, having a vertical upper section, and a lower horizontally-extending leg which is positioned low in the hydrocarbon formation, is provided. The horizontal leg connects to the vertical section of the production well at a heel portion and has a toe portion at an opposite end thereof. An oxidizing gas is injected into the formation proximate the vertical section of the production well. A vertical combustion front is created which is caused to sweep outwardly therefrom and laterally within the formation above the horizontal leg, from the heel to the toe of the horizontal leg, causing hydrocarbons in the formation above the horizontal leg to be upgraded and liquify, and thereafter to drain downwardly into the horizontal leg which is permeable, where such liquified hydrocarbons are then delivered to surface via production tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Conrad Ayasse, Xinjie Wu, Chris Bloomer
  • Publication number: 20090200026
    Abstract: A method for recovering natural gas from a group of subterranean zones containing natural gas, including injecting an amount of a displacing gas into a first subterranean zone, producing a first produced gas from the first subterranean zone, collecting an amount of the first produced gas wherein the quality of the collected first produced gas is higher than or equal to a threshold production quality for the first produced gas, injecting an amount of the first produced gas into a second subterranean zone wherein the quality of the injected first produced gas is higher than or equal to a threshold injection quality for the first produced gas, producing a second produced gas from the second subterranean zone, and collecting an amount of the second produced gas wherein the quality of the collected second produced gas is higher than or equal to a threshold production quality for the second produced gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: ALBERTA RESEARCH COUNCIL INC.
    Inventors: Alex TURTA, Steve SIM, Ashok SINGHAL, Gary BUNIO, Blaine F. HAWKINS
  • Publication number: 20090188661
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon production apparatus comprises an injection well, perforated casing, hydrocarbon viscosity reducing fluid injection tubing, a first wellbore restrictor, and a production well. The injection well is bored above the production well within a hydrocarbon reservoir below a ground surface. The injection well comprises a heel end and a toe end. The perforated casing is positioned along a length of the injection well. The hydrocarbon viscosity reducing fluid injection tubing is disposed within the injection well and has a hydrocarbon viscosity reducing fluid injection end. The first wellbore restrictor is transversely disposed within the perforated casing to control hydrocarbon viscosity reducing fluid flow along the injection well, the first wellbore restrictor being spaced closer to the toe end of the injection well than the hydrocarbon viscosity reducing fluid injection end of the hydrocarbon viscosity reducing fluid injection tubing is to the toe end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventor: Dustin Bizon
  • Publication number: 20090188669
    Abstract: A system for producing oil and/or gas from an underground formation comprising a first array of wells dispersed above the formation; a second array of wells dispersed above the formation; wherein the first array of wells comprises a mechanism to inject a miscible enhanced oil recovery formulation into the formation while the second array of wells comprises a mechanism to produce oil and/or gas from the formation for a first time period; and wherein the second array of wells comprises a mechanism to inject a remediation agent into the formation while the first array of wells comprises a mechanism to produce the miscible enhanced oil recovery formulation from the formation for a second time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventor: Steffen BERG
  • Patent number: 7553800
    Abstract: Improved in-situ filter cake degradation compositions for use in subterranean formations, well drill-in and servicing fluids including such in-situ filter cake degradation compositions, and methods of using such in-situ filter cake degradation compositions and well drill-in and servicing fluids in subterranean operations are provided. An example of a method is a method for forming a self-degrading filter cake in a subterranean formation. Another example of a method is a method of drilling a well bore in a subterranean formation. Another example of a method is a method of degrading a filter cake in a subterranean formation. An example of a composition is a well drill-in and servicing fluid. Another example of a composition is an in-situ filter cake degradation composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Trinidad Munoz, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090139715
    Abstract: A process for upgrading whole crude oil utilizing a recovery fluid, depressurizing an extracted whole crude oil/recovery fluid mixture in a step-wise fashion, and subsequently contacting at least a portion of the whole crude oil with supercritical water fluid to produce high value crude oil having low sulfur, low nitrogen, and low metallic impurities for use as hydrocarbon feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Ki-Hyouk Choi
  • Patent number: 7527096
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved method for producing heavy oil or bitumen in a reservoir. The invention involves directing the formation of a solvent fluid chamber through the combination of directed solvent fluid injection and production at combinations of horizontal and/or vertical injection wells so as to increase the recovery of heavy oil or bitumen in a reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Nexen Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard Compton Chung, Mintu Bose, Stewart Allan Morton, Kenneth James Elkow, Ed Erlendson
  • Patent number: 7516795
    Abstract: A subsea petroleum production system for artificial lift, including a pumping module coupled to a flow base, the system being installed downstream of a Wet Christmas Tree (WCT) on the seabed. The pumping module includes at least one submersible centrifugal pump (SCP) inclined with respect to the vertical direction at an inclination of up to 85 degrees from the vertical direction, wherein a flow in said at least one pump is ascending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras
    Inventors: Mauro Luiz Lopes Euphemio, João Siqueira de Matos, Roberto Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 7506685
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for removing oil or natural gas from the ground. In one example, the method may include reforming a fuel source by reaction with water to generate driver gas, and injecting the driver gas into the oil well. The reforming operation may include causing the combustion of a combustible material with ambient oxygen for the release of energy; and heating a reforming reaction fuel and water sources, with the energy released from the combustion of the combustible material, to a temperature above that required for the reforming reaction wherein the fuel and water sources are reformed into driver gas. In one example, the amount of the combustible material combusted is sufficient to result in the release of enough energy to heat an amount of the reforming reaction fuel and water sources to the temperature above that required for the reforming reaction to proceed. The driver gas may be used to help extract oil from the ground and especially oil from depleted oil wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Pioneer Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Zubrin, Mark H. Berggren
  • Publication number: 20090056941
    Abstract: A method for producing oil and/or gas comprising a method for producing oil from an underground formation comprising injecting an enhanced oil recovery formulation and a gas into a first well in the formation; forming a mixture comprising the enhanced oil recovery formulation and the oil in the formation; forming a gas cap with the injected gas; forcing the formulation and oil mixture towards a second well in the formation; and producing the formulation and oil mixture from the second well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: Raul VALDEZ
  • Publication number: 20090044936
    Abstract: A method of operating a horizontal filter well. Water is transported into a well from at least one roughly horizontally arranged train and distributed further from there. Pressurized water is forced through the horizontal filter train in the reverse flow direction, as a means to free the horizontal filter train of blockages. The pressurized water exits through the inlet orifices of the horizontal filter train and passes into the aquifer. A vertical well provided in the vicinity of the horizontal filter train suctions off the water exiting from the horizontal filter train, along with impurities removed from the horizontal filter train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventor: Wilhelm Felix Schulz
  • Patent number: 7481275
    Abstract: A method for increasing oil recovery from an oil reservoir by injection of gas into the reservoir, is described. The method comprises separation of air into an oxygen-rich fraction and a nitrogen-rich fraction, reformation of natural gas together with oxygen to produce a synthesis gas for production of methanol or other oxygenated hydrocarbons or higher hydrocarbons. The raw synthesis products and a waste gas from the synthesis are separated, and the nitrogen-rich fraction and at least a part of the waste gas are injected into the oil reservoir to increase the oil recovery from the reservoir. A plant for performing the method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Statoil ASA
    Inventors: Ola Olsvik, Erling Rytter, Jostein Sogge, Jan Age Stensen
  • Publication number: 20090014170
    Abstract: An embodiment is an apparatus for generating a driver gas, for recovering fluid from the Earth's subsurface. The apparatus includes a fuel reformer, adapted to react a fuel with water to produce carbon dioxide gas and hydrogen gas; a compressor, adapted to compress a portion of the carbon dioxide gas and a portion of the hydrogen gas; a gas injection unit, adapted to inject the portion of the carbon dioxide gas and the portion of the hydrogen gas compressed by the compressor, into a subsurface reservoir; a gas capture unit, adapted to capture a portion of the carbon dioxide gas and the hydrogen gas, that emerges from the subsurface reservoir; and a control module capable of using subsurface data to regulate operation of the gas injection unit. The apparatus may also include a power generator adapted to utilize a portion of the hydrogen gas to generate power, hence producing electricity without greenhouse gas emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Robert M. Zubrin, Mark H. Berggren, Douwe Bruinsma
  • Patent number: 7472747
    Abstract: A method of microbial enhanced oil recovery for recovering oil from an oil-bearing rock formation is provided. The methodology uses a consortium of bacteria including a mixture of surfactant producing bacteria and non-surfactant enzyme producing bacteria which may release hydrocarbons from bitumen containing sands. The described bioprocess can work with existing petroleum recovery protocols. The consortium microorganisms are also useful for treatment of above oil sands, ground waste tailings, subsurface oil recovery, and similar materials to enhance remediation and/or recovery of additional hydrocarbons from the materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Robin L. Brigmon, Christopher J. Berry
  • Publication number: 20080308273
    Abstract: Produced natural gas containing carbon dioxide is dehydrated and chilled to liquefy the carbon dioxide and then fractionated to produce a waste stream of liquid carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Natural gas liquids may be first separated and removed before fractionation. After fractionation, the waste stream is pressurized and transmitted to a remote injection well for injection either for disposal of the waste stream and preferably to urge hydrocarbons toward the producing well. A hydrocarbon stream proceeds from fractionation to a methanol absorber system which removes carbon dioxide gas. The hydrocarbon stream is thereafter separated into at least hydrocarbon gas, nitrogen and helium. Some of the nitrogen is reintroduced into a fractionation tower to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons. A methanol recovery system is provided to recover and reuse the methanol. The hydrocarbons are sold as natural gas and the helium is recovered and sold. Excess nitrogen is vented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventor: Donald Leo Stinson
  • Patent number: 7464760
    Abstract: A process for inhibiting souring in a hydrocarbon reservoir provides a feed water including a plurality of phosphorous constituents and having an elevated phosphorous concentration. At least some of the phosphorous constituents are removed from the feed water to produce a treated injection water, which has a reduced phosphorous concentration less than the elevated phosphorous concentration. The treated injection water is injected into the reservoir via a first well and the hydrocarbon is produced from the reservoir via a second well. The process inhibits souring in the reservoir insofar as the treated injection water results in a lower level of souring in the reservoir over time than if the feed water had been injected into the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Company
    Inventor: John E. McElhiney
  • Patent number: 7451814
    Abstract: The system of subterranean wells includes a subsurface flow line 20 having at least a portion within or underlining one or more subterranean formations 12. One or more drainage wells 26, 28, 30, 32, and 34 each extend from the surface and intercept at least one of the subterranean formations at a respective interception location. A lower portion of each drainage well is in fluid communication with the subsurface flow line. A recovery well 42 extends from the surface and is also in fluid communication with the subsurface flow line, so that fluids entering the drainage well flow into the subsurface flow line and then into the recovery well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Dynamic Production, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Graham, Charles E. Graham, III, Jonathon G. Weiss
  • Publication number: 20080257551
    Abstract: A method of treating a hydrocarbon-containing formation including injecting a scale inhibiting well treating fluid into a well, wherein the well treating fluid includes a self-diverting acid that includes about 1% to 20% by volume of at least one viscoelastic surfactant selected from a family of compounds described by where R3 contains at least 10 carbon atoms, p=1-6, R2 contains 1-6 carbon atoms and R1 contains 1-6 carbon atoms; and up to about 20% by weight scale inhibitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: Liz Morris
  • Patent number: 7426959
    Abstract: A system including a mechanism for recovering oil and/or gas from an underground formation, the oil and/or gas comprising one or more sulfur compounds; a mechanism for converting at least a portion of the sulfur compounds from the recovered oil and/or gas into a carbon disulfide formulation; and a mechanism for releasing at least a portion of the carbon disulfide formulation into a formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Dean Chien Wang, Alexander Michiel Mollinger, Douglas Charlton McCammon, Raul Valdez, Johan Jacobus Van Dorp, Eric Johannes Puik, Michael Zvi Golombok, Willem Van Vark, Michiel Jan Groeneveld, Brendan Dermot Murray, Thomas Mikus
  • Publication number: 20080202748
    Abstract: A method of producing a well utilizes a submersible pump run on a line, such as braided wire rope, that includes power conductors. The operator sets a packer in the casing, the packer having a check valve and a tieback receptacle. The operator pressure tests the integrity of the casing above the packer, and if it passes, then runs the pump assembly on the line. The pump assembly has a shroud with a downward extending extension that seals to the passage of the packer. If the pressure test of the casing fails, the operator runs a liner into the well and engages the tieback receptacle. A smaller diameter pump is then lowered on a line into the liner and into engagement with the packer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Terry R. Bussear, Grant F. Smith
  • Publication number: 20080196892
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves the release or recovery of subterranean hydrocarbon deposits and, more specifically, to a system and method for secondary and/or enhanced oil recovery (EOR), by utilizing waterflooding compositions that include enzymes as well as methods for injecting waterflooding compositions into subterranean formations for oil recovery operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Philip Y. Lau, John L. Gray
  • Publication number: 20080173447
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a method of Enhanced Petroleum Recovery (EPR) combining technical, economic, environmental and social effectiveness to increase the recovery factor of onshore or offshore fields having a high degree of exploitation, more precisely through the use of a substance miscible with the diverse types of petroleum of low fluidity found in various regions. More specifically, the present invention refers to the use of solvents such as light liquid fractions of petroleum, for example diesel oil and gas oil, a light petroleum, and the essential oils derived from renewable sources such as for example biodiesel, used pure or mutually admixed in any proportion, for injection into a geological formation through an injection well, there resulting a final mixture (petroleum/injected solvent) presenting much lower viscosity and much greater fluidity than the original petroleum, having an impact throughout the petroleum production chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: PETROLEO BRASILEIRO S.A. -PETROBRAS
    Inventors: Ivonete Pereira Gonzalez Da Silva, Maria Aparecida De Melo, Amaury De Azevedo Aguiar, Ana Paula Silva Conceicao De Santana, Andre Luis Mynssen Ferreira, Viviane Rezende Prates
  • Publication number: 20080135242
    Abstract: A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean fracture is disclosed. The method comprises injecting well treatment fluid including proppant (16) and proppant-spacing filler material called a channelant (18) through a wellbore (10) into the fracture (20), heterogeneously placing the proppant in the fracture in a plurality of proppant clusters or islands (22) spaced apart by the channelant (24), and removing the channelant filler material (24) to form open channels (26) around the pillars (28) for fluid flow from the formation (14) through the fracture (20) toward the wellbore (10). The proppant and channelant can be segregated within the well treatment fluid, or segregated during placement in the fracture. The channelant can be dissolvable particles, initially acting as a filler material during placement of the proppant in the fracture, and later dissolving to leave the flow channels between the proppant pillars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Timothy Lesko, J. Ernest Brown, Dean M. Willberg, Ivan Kosarev, Anatoly Medvedev
  • Publication number: 20080115926
    Abstract: A collar assembly for inclusion with, or for a retrofit of, a chemical injection pump and method for manufacturing same. The collar assembly secures to a thrust rod of the chemical injection pump and may include a circular member having a central opening and a second opening offset from the central opening. The second opening receives a central portion of a continuous U-shaped member, wherein fingerlike extensions at opposite ends of the U-shaped member flank a toggle element of a switching mechanism. The fingerlike extensions actuate the toggle element so as to stroke the chemical injection pump. The collar assembly includes a reduced number of parts and a simplified manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Glenn Harold Middleton, David Eugene Lemier