U.S. patent application number 11/601921 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-22 for enzyme enhanced oil recovery (eeor) for cyclic steam injection.
Invention is credited to John L. Gray, Philip Y. Lau.
Application Number | 20080115945 11/601921 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39415778 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080115945 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lau; Philip Y. ; et
al. |
May 22, 2008 |
Enzyme enhanced oil recovery (EEOR) for cyclic steam injection
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to the release or recovery of
subterranean hydrocarbon deposits and, more specifically, to a
system for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), by utilizing enzymatic
fluid and cyclic injection of steam or heated fluid into
subterranean formations.
Inventors: |
Lau; Philip Y.; (Houston,
TX) ; Gray; John L.; (Houston, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GUERRY LEONARD GRUNE
784 S VILLIER CT.
VIRGINIA BEACH
VA
23452
US
|
Family ID: |
39415778 |
Appl. No.: |
11/601921 |
Filed: |
November 20, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/400 ; 166/57;
507/201 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C09K 8/582 20130101;
E21B 43/24 20130101; E21B 43/2406 20130101; C09K 8/592
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/400 ;
507/201; 166/57 |
International
Class: |
E21B 43/22 20060101
E21B043/22 |
Claims
1. An enzymatic fluid for enhanced recovery of oil or other
hydrocarbon deposits in a subterranean formation, wherein said
deposits are releasable by initially adding said enzymatic fluid
directly to a pump for pumping said fluid into said formation
followed by a period of time allowing said fluid to soak said
formation, followed by injection of either water or steam or both
into said formation, followed by an additional period of time
allowing water, steam, and enzymatic fluid to soak within said
formation, followed by recovery of said deposits by pumping or
other means.
2. The enzymatic fluid of claim 1, wherein said fluid is
GREENZYME.RTM. and wherein said deposits include crude oil.
3. The enzymatic fluid of claim 1, wherein the method for injecting
said enzymatic fluid includes a process referred to as cyclic steam
stimulation (CSS).
4. The enzymatic fluid of claim 1, wherein said fluid is used for
pre-treatment and treatment between steam injection cycles or
treatment of the subterranean formation during a steam injection
cycle wherein said enzymatic fluid is injected as a heated liquid
into said formation.
5. The enzymatic fluid of claim 1, wherein said enzymatic fluid is
heated to at least 80 degrees Celsius before injection into a well
thereby minimizing heat loss downhole and allowing maximize
penetration of injected steam.
6. The enzymatic fluid of claim 1, wherein said fluid is diluted
with water in a range of 0.01 to 99 percent and more specifically
is diluted within a working range of 3 to 10 percent of enzymatic
fluid in water.
7. The enzymatic fluid of claim 1, wherein said fluid is
incrementally diluted to stimulate wells that are at an
unacceptable level of production prior to restarting a cyclic steam
injection process.
8. The enzymatic fluid of claim 1, wherein said fluid is used for
pre-treatment or treatment of said formation during enhanced oil
recovery such that said fluid is injected and intermixed with water
which is sent into said formation and wherein said formation is a
well that is subsequently not used for a period of time allowing
for soaking of said well prior to another phase of enhanced oil
recovery including, but not limited to pumping and use of steam for
one or more cycles during said recovery.
9. The enzymatic fluid of claim 1, wherein said fluid is injected
into pipelines to clean plugged or restricted flow areas and to
prevent crude oil from plugging said pipelines.
10. The enzymatic fluid of claim 1, wherein said fluid reduces
asphaltenes and waxes at an injection wellbore prior to steam
injection as well as minimizing wellbore build up during production
that occurs at an end of an enhanced oil recovery cycle, wherein
said cycle includes a cyclic steam cycle.
11. The enzymatic fluid of claim 1, wherein during cyclic steam
operations said fluid does not affect the normal heat transfer
provided by the steam to surrounding well formations or to said
deposits, wherein said deposits include crude oil.
12. The enzymatic fluid of claim 1,wherein said enzymatic fluid
including GREENZYME.RTM., is introduced into cyclic steam
operations so that reduction of steamload is accomplished to impart
a favorable impact to the steam-to-oil ratio thereby increasing
crude oil recovery from a new or existing formation.
13. The enzymatic fluid of claim 1, wherein said enzymatic fluid
including GREENZYME.RTM., is introduced into cyclic steam
operations so that the same steamload as otherwise would be used
during enhanced oil recovery imparts a favorable impact to the
steam-to-oil ratio, thereby increasing crude oil recovery from a
new or existing formation.
14. A method for enhanced recovery of oil or other hydrocarbon
deposits in a subterranean formation using an enzymatic fluid,
wherein said deposits are releasable by initially adding said
enzymatic fluid directly to a pump for pumping said fluid into said
formation followed by a period of time allowing said fluid to soak
said formation, next injecting either water or steam or both into
said formation, next allowing an additional period of time for
soaking by water, steam, and enzymatic fluid within said formation,
followed by recovery of said deposits by pumping or other
means.
15. The method of claim 15, wherein said fluid is initially diluted
or heated or both prior to adding said fluid to said formation.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein adding said fluid after initial
steam injection or cycling of said steam is accomplished.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein said fluid is GREENZYME.RTM.
and wherein said deposits include crude oil.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the method for injecting said
enzymatic fluid includes a process referred to as cyclic steam
stimulation (CSS).
19. The method of claim 15, wherein using said fluid for
pre-treatment and treatment between steam injection cycles or
treatment of said subterranean formation during a steam injection
cycle wherein said enzymatic fluid is injected as a heated liquid
into said formation, is accomplished.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein said enzymatic fluid is heated
to at least 80 degrees Celsius before injecting into a well,
thereby minimizing heat loss downhole and allowing maximize
penetration of injected steam.
21. The method of claim 15, wherein diluting said fluid with water
in a range of 0.01 to 99 percent and more specifically diluting
within a working range of 3 to 10 percent of enzymatic fluid in
water is acceptable.
22. The method of claim 15, wherein said fluid is incrementally
diluted to stimulate wells that are at an unacceptable level of
production prior to restarting a cyclic steam injection
process.
23. The method of claim 15, wherein using said fluid for
pre-treatment or treatment of said formation during enhanced oil
recovery such that injecting said fluid and intermixing with water
is accomplished and said fluid and water are sent into said
formation and wherein said formation is a well that is subsequently
not used for a period of time allowing for soaking of said well
prior to another phase of enhanced oil recovery including, but not
limited to pumping and using steam for one or more cycles during
said recovery.
24. The method of claim 15, wherein said injecting fluid into
pipelines to clean plugged or restricted flow areas and to prevent
crude oil from plugging said pipelines is accomplished.
25. The method of claim 15, wherein said fluid provides a means for
reducing asphaltenes and waxes at an injection wellbore prior to
steam injection as well as minimizing wellbore build up during
production occurring at an end of an enhanced oil recovery cycle,
wherein said cycle includes a cyclic steam cycle.
26. The method of claim 15, such that during cyclic steam
operations said fluid does not affect the normal heat transfer
accomplished by providing steam to surrounding well formations or
to said deposits, wherein said deposits include crude oil.
27. The method of claim 1 5,wherein introducing said enzymatic
fluid including GREENZYME.RTM., into cyclic steam operations
reduces steamload to impart a favorable impact to the steam-to-oil
ratio thereby increasing crude oil recovery from a new or existing
formation.
28. The method of claim 15, wherein introducing said enzymatic
fluid including GREENZYME.RTM., into cyclic steam operations so
that the same steamload as otherwise would be used during enhanced
oil recovery imparts a favorable impact to the steam-to-oil ratio,
thereby increasing crude oil recovery from a new or existing
formation.
29. A system for enhanced recovery of oil or other hydrocarbon
deposits in a subterranean formation using an enzymatic fluid,
wherein said deposits are releasable by initially adding said
enzymatic fluid directly to a pump for pumping said fluid into said
formation followed by a period of time allowing said fluid to soak
said formation, next injecting either water or steam or both into
said formation, next allowing an additional period of time for
soaking by water, steam, and enzymatic fluid within said formation,
followed by recovery of said deposits by pumping or other means and
wherein said fluid is initially diluted or heated or both prior to
adding said fluid to said formation, and wherein adding said fluid
after initial steam injection or cycling of said steam is
accomplished.
30. The system of claim 31, wherein said fluid is GREENZYME.RTM.
and wherein said deposits include crude oil.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates to the release or recovery of
subterranean hydrocarbon deposits and, more specifically, to a
system for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), by utilizing enzyme
compositions and cyclic injection of steam or heated fluid into
subterranean formations.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] It is a common practice to treat production wells and other
subterranean formations with various methodologies in order to
increase petroleum, gas, oil or other hydrocarbon production using
enhanced (secondary or tertiary) oil recovery. Enhanced oil
recovery processes include cyclic steam, steamflood,
Water-Alternating-Gas (WAG), in-situ combustion, the addition of
micellar-polymer flooding, and microbial solutions.
DEFINITIONS
[0003] One common practice is to treat viscous crude in
subterranean formations using cyclic steam to increase overall
recovery of original oil in place (OOIP) in wells or hydrocarbon
zones that otherwise have low recovery rates. A cyclic
steam-injection process includes three stages. The first stage is
injection, during which a slug of steam is introduced into the
reservoir. The second stage, or soak period, requires that the well
be shut in for several days to allow uniform heat distribution to
thin the oil. Finally, during the third stage, the thinned oil is
produced through the same well. The cycle is repeated as long as
oil production is profitable.
[0004] Cyclic steam injection is used extensively in heavy-oil
reservoirs, tar sands, and in some cases to improve injectivity
prior to steamflood or in-situ combustion operations.
[0005] Cyclic steam injection is also called steam soak or the huff
`n` puff (slang) method.
[0006] Steamflooding is a method of thermal recovery in which steam
generated at the surface is injected into the reservoir through
specially distributed injection wells.
[0007] When steam enters the reservoir, it heats up the crude oil
and reduces its viscosity. The heat also distills light components
of the crude oil, which condense in the oil bank ahead of the steam
front, further reducing the oil viscosity. The hot water that
condenses from the steam and the steam itself generate an
artificial drive that sweeps oil toward producing wells.
[0008] Another contributing factor that enhances oil production
during steam injection is related to near-wellbore cleanup. In this
case, steam reduces the interfacial tension that ties paraffins and
asphaltenes to the rock surfaces while steam distillation of crude
oil light ends creates a small solvent bank that can miscibly
remove trapped oil.
[0009] Steamflooding is also known as continuous steam injection or
steam drive.
[0010] Water alternating gas is an enhanced oil recovery process
whereby water injection and gas injection are alternately injected
for periods of time to provide better sweep efficiency and reduce
gas channeling from injector to producer. This process is used
mostly in CO.sub.2 floods to improve hydrocarbon contact time and
sweep efficiency of the CO.sub.2.
[0011] In-situ combustion is a method of thermal recovery in which
fire is generated inside the reservoir by injecting a gas
containing oxygen, such as air. A special heater in the well
ignites the oil in the reservoir and starts a fire.
[0012] The heat generated by burning the heavy hydrocarbons in
place produces hydrocarbon cracking, vaporization of light
hydrocarbons and reservoir water in addition to the deposition of
heavier hydrocarbons known as coke. As the fire moves, the burning
front pushes ahead a mixture of hot combustion gases, steam and hot
water, which in turn reduces oil viscosity and displaces oil toward
production wells.
[0013] Additionally, the light hydrocarbons and the steam move
ahead of the burning front, condensing into liquids, which adds the
advantages of miscible displacement and hot waterflooding.
[0014] In-situ combustion is also known as fire flooding or
fireflood.
[0015] Other types of in-situ combustion are dry combustion, dry
forward combustion, reverse combustion and wet combustion which is
a combination of forward combustion and waterflooding.
[0016] Micelles are a group of round hydrocarbon chains formed when
the surfactant concentration in an aqueous solution reaches a
critical point. The micellar costs depend upon the cost of oil,
since many of these chemicals are petroleum sulfonates.
[0017] Micellar-polymer flooding is an enhanced oil recovery
technique in which a micelle solution is pumped into a reservoir
through specially distributed injection wells. The chemical
solution reduces the interfacial and capillary forces between oil
and water and triggers an increase in oil production.
[0018] The procedure of a micellar-polymer flooding includes a
preflush (low-salinity water), a chemical solution (micellar or
alkaline), a mobility buffer and, finally, a driving fluid (water),
which displaces the chemicals and the resulting oil bank to
production wells.
[0019] In the previously defined methods for enhanced oil recovery
(EOR) all still leave residual hydrocarbons in the well. In some
EOR, processes are combined to compensate for inefficiencies in one
of more of the methods.
[0020] Hydraulic fracturing is accomplished by injecting a
hydraulic fracturing fluid into the well and imposing sufficient
pressure on the fracture fluid to cause formation breakdown with
the attendant production of one or more fractures. Usually a gel,
an emulsion or a foam, having a proppant, such as sand or other
suspended particulate material, is introduced into the fracture.
The proppant is deposited in the fracture and functions to hold the
fracture open after the pressure is released and fracturing fluid
is withdrawn back into the well. The fracturing fluid has a
sufficiently high viscosity to penetrate into the formation and to
retain the proppant in suspension or at least to reduce the
tendency of the proppant of settling out of the fracturing fluid.
Generally, a gelation agent and/or an emulsifier is used in the
fracturing fluid to provide the high viscosity needed to achieve
maximum benefits from the fracturing process.
[0021] After the high viscosity fracturing fluid has been pumped
into the formation and the fracturing has been completed, it is, of
course, desirable to remove the fluid from the formation to allow
hydrocarbon production through the new fractures. The removal of
the highly viscous fracturing fluid is achieved by "breaking" the
gel or emulsion or by converting the fracturing fluid into a low
viscosity fluid. The act of breaking a gelled or emulsified
fracturing fluid has commonly been obtained by adding "breaker",
that is, a viscosity-reducing agent, to the subterranean formation
at the desired time. This technique can be unreliable sometimes
resulting in incomplete breaking of the fluid and/or premature
breaking of the fluid before the process is complete reducing the
potential amount of hydrocarbon recovery. Further, it is known in
the art that most fracturing fluids will "break" if given enough
time and sufficient temperature and pressure.
[0022] Several proposed methods for the breaking of fracturing
fluids are aimed at eliminating the above problems such as
introducing an encapsulated percarbonate, perchlorate, or
persulfate breaker into a subterranean formation being treated with
the fracturing fluid. Various chemical agents such as oxidants,
i.e., perchlorates, percarbonates and persulfates not only degrade
the polymers of interest but also oxidize tubulars, equipment, etc.
that they come into contact with, including the formation itself.
In addition, oxidants also interact with resin coated proppants
and, at higher temperatures, they interact with gel stabilizers
used to stabilize the fracturing fluids which tend to be
antioxidants. Also, the use of oxidants as breakers is
disadvantageous from the point of view that the oxidants are not
selective in degrading a particular polymer. In addition, chemical
breakers are consumed stoichiometrically resulting in inconsistent
gel breaking and some residual viscosity which causes formation
damage.
[0023] The use of enzymes to break fracturing fluids may eliminate
some of the problems relating to the use of oxidants. For example,
enzyme breakers are very selective in degrading specific polymers.
The enzymes do not effect the tubulars, equipment, etc. that they
come in contact with and/or damage the formation itself The enzymes
also do not interact with the resin coated proppants commonly used
in fracturing systems. Enzymes react catalytically such that one
molecule of enzyme may hydrolyze up to one hundred thousand
(100,000) polymer chain bonds resulting in a cleaner more
consistent break and very low residual viscosity. Consequently,
formation damage is greatly decreased. Also, unlike oxidants,
enzymes do not interact with gel stabilizers used to stabilize the
fracturing fluids.
[0024] It has been discussed previously that there are several
methods of recovering oil from a well, however, there is no art
disclosed where an enzyme has been used either as a pre-treatment
for an oil reservoir or as an additive within a steam cycle for
secondary or tertiary oil recovery.
[0025] Therefore, there exists a need for a method of injecting an
enzyme composition used in conjunction with cyclic steam injection
having a wide temperature range for activity and being active at
temperatures for preheating up to and about 80 to 90 degrees
Celsius with additional subterranean liquid phase temperature
stability under pressure. The disclosure of the present application
provides several methods for injecting an enzyme composition as a
pretreatment for hydrocarbon deposits, that is not a breaker for
the dissolution of polymeric viscosifiers, but has the catalytic
ability to release oil from solid surfaces while reducing surface
tension and decreasing contact angle associated with the crude oil
flow.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
[0026] U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,813 to Brannon, et. al., and assigned to
BJ Services Company, describes a method for improving the
effectiveness of a well treatment in subterranean formations
comprising the steps of injecting a clean-up fluid into the well
wherein the clean-up fluid contains one or more enzymes in an
amount sufficient to degrade polymeric viscosifiers and contacting
the wellbore and formation with the clean-up fluid for a period of
time sufficient to degrade polymeric viscosifiers therein and
performing a treatment to remove non-polymer solids that may be
present; and removing the non-polymer solids in the well to improve
productivity or injectivity of the subterranean formation.
[0027] U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,995 to Tjon-Joe-Pin, et. al., and
assigned to BJ Services Company, describes a method of increasing
the flow of production fluids from a subterranean formation by
removing a polysaccharide-containing filter cake formed during
production operations and found within the subterranean formation
which surrounds a completed well bore comprising the steps of
allowing production fluids to flow from the well bore, a reduction
in the flow of production fluids from the formation below expected
flow rates, formulating an enzyme treatment by blending together an
aqueous fluid and enzymes, pumping the enzyme treatment to a
desired location within the well bore and allowing the enzyme
treatment to degrade the polysaccharide-containing filter cake,
whereby the filter cake can be removed from the subterranean
formation to the well surface.
[0028] U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,654 to Carter, et. al., and assigned to
Millmaster Onyx Group, Inc., describes a method of recovering oil
from an oil bearing formation by fracturing including the step of
inserting into the formation at high pressure an aqueous
composition comprising guar gum in water with the guar gum having
been first coated and impregnated while in the solid particulate
state with an aqueous solution of a hydrolytic enzyme.
[0029] U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,186 to Hunt, et. al., and assigned to
Haliburton Co., describes a method of breaking an aqueous
fracturing fluid comprising introducing the aqueous fracturing
fluid into contact with an encapsulated enzyme breaker. The enzyme
breaker comprises a particulate cellulose substrate having a
particle size in the range of from about 10 to 50 mesh, an enzyme
solution coated upon the substrate, with the enzyme solution
including a first micron-sized insert particulate having a particle
size below about 15 microns and present in an amount of from about
1 to about 15 percent by weight of the enzyme solution and a
membrane encapsulating the enzyme solution and substrate. The
membrane comprises a partially hydrolyzed acrylic cross-linked with
either an aziridine prepolymer or a carbodimide and having
imperfections through which an aqueous fluid can diffuse to contact
the enzyme and subsequently diffuse outward from the breaker with
the enzyme to contact and break the fracturing fluid.
[0030] U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,109 to Gupta, et. al., and assigned to
The Western Company of North America, describes a method of
fracturing a subterranean formation which surrounds a well bore
comprising the steps of injecting a fracturing fluid under pressure
into the well bore, injecting an enzyme breaker having activity
only above a selected temperature, the selected temperature being
at least equal to or greater than 100.degree. F., maintaining the
fluid in the well bore under sufficient pressure to fracture the
formation and breaking the fluid with the breaker.
[0031] U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,479 to Gupta, et. al., and assigned to
The Western Company of North America, describes a method of
fracturing a subterranean formation comprised of injecting a
fracturing fluid and a breaker system into a formation to be
fractured, with the breaker system comprised of an enzyme component
and .gamma.-butyrolactone and supplying sufficient pressure on the
formation for a sufficient period of time to fracture the
formation. After fracturing the pH of the fluid with
.gamma.-butyrolactone is adjusted whereby the enzyme component
becomes active and capable breaking the fluid with the enzyme
component and subsequently releasing the pressure on the
formation.
[0032] U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,153 to Cadmus, et. al., and assigned to
the USA Dept of Agriculture, describes a heat stable, salt-tolerant
xanthanase contained in, or recovered from, a fermentation broth of
a culture of NRRL B-18445 and characterized by the property of
retaining approximately 100% of its original activity upon being
heated at 55.degree. C. for 20 minutes.
[0033] U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,746 to Cadmus, et. al., and assigned to
the USA Dept of Agriculture, describes a mixed bacterial culture
having the identifying characteristics of ARS Culture Collection
Accession No. NRRL B-18445; said culture being capable of producing
xanthanase enzymes which are functional up to 65.degree. C.
[0034] U.S. Pat. No. 3,684,710 to Cayle, et. al., and assigned to
Baxter Laboratories, describes a dry enzyme composition having
improved pH stability and pH activity characteristics in aqueous
solution consisting essentially of galactomannan polymer in
combination with mannan depolymerase enzyme components. The enzyme
components are derived from two different species of
microorganisms.
[0035] U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,710 to Klinger, Barry, and assigned to
Applied Energy, Inc., describes a method of removing deposits
releasable a substance in a vapor phase from a subterranean area
below a surficial formation comprising in combination the steps of:
providing a hole through the surficial formation to the
subterranean formation; storing the substance at the surficial
formation in the form of a liquid convertible at the subterranean
formation to a vapor phase; providing a heating fluid heatable at a
surface of the surficial formation remote from the subterranean
formation to a temperature sufficient for a conversion of the
liquid to a vapor phase at said subterranean formation by a
transfer of heat from said heating fluid to said liquid; Heating of
the heating fluid at the surface of the surficial formation, remote
from the subterranean formation, to a heated state providing a
sufficient temperature and circulating the heating fluid in the
hole in a closed circuit extending the heated fluid to the
subterranean formation and then back to the surface for repeated
reheating. The heated state provides sufficient temperature and for
recirculation of the heating fluid at the heated state to the
subterranean formation. The convertible liquid is advanced to the
subterranean formation at the hole applying heat from the
recirculating heating fluid in the hole to the liquid. The liquid
is converted into a vapor by the application of heat from the
recirculating heating fluid in the hole, but preserving the heating
fluid against combustion and chemical reaction during the heating,
circulation, reheating and recirculation. During the application of
heat to, and conversion to, the vapor phase of the liquid and
preserving the heating fluid against escape into the subterranean
formation drives the vapor into the subterranean formation for
releasing the deposits with the vapor and removes the released
deposits from the subterranean formation.
[0036] U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,618 to Wu, et. al., and assigned to
Texaco Inc., describes a method of recovering viscous petroleum
from a subterranean, viscous petroleum-containing, permeable
formation penetrated by at least one injection well and by at least
one production well, in fluid communication with the formation,
comprising injecting a thermal recovery fluid comprising steam into
the formation and producing fluids from the formation via the
production well for a predetermined period of time, thereby forming
a steam-swept zone in the formation. The second step involves
injecting an emulsifying fluid into the steam-swept zone with the
emulsifying fluid comprising water having dissolved therein a
surfactant capable of forming a viscous emulsion with formation
petroleum at the temperature and water salinity present in the
steam-swept zone. The water, containing the emulsifying surfactant,
forms a viscous emulsion in the steam-swept zone with residual
petroleum present in that zone, thereby decreasing the permeability
of that zone with the surfactant comprising an organic sulfonate
selected from the group consisting of petroleum sulfonate having a
median equivalent weight from 325 to 475, and synthetic sulfonates
of the formula RSO3 X wherein R is an alkyl, linear or branched,
having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms or an alkylaryl including benzene
or toluene having attached thereto at least one alkyl group, linear
or branched, and containing from 6 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl
chain, and X is sodium, potassium, lithium or ammonium. The third
step is injecting steam into the formation well via the injection
well and recovering fluids including petroleum from the formation
via the producing well.
[0037] U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,508 to Kelly, et. al., and assigned to
Marathon Oil Co., describes a process of recovering hydrocarbon
from sub-surface tar sands having at least one injection means in
fluid communication with at least one production means and
comprising heating the tar sands to a temperature sufficient to
heat an incoming water-external micellar to a temperature above
about 100.degree. F. by the time the micellar dispersion travels
about 7.5 to about 15 feet into the tar sands. The water-external
micellar dispersion is injected into the tar sands displacing the
micellar dispersion toward the production means and recovering
hydrocarbon through the production means.
[0038] U.S. Pat. No. 3,800,873 to Kelly, et. al., and assigned to
Marathon Oil Co., describes a process of recovering hydrocarbon
from sub-surface tar sands having at least one injection means in
fluid communication with at least one production means comprising
heating the tar sands to a temperature sufficient to heat an
incoming oil-external micellar dispersion to a temperature above
about 100.degree. F. by the time the micellar dispersion travels
about 7.5 to about 15 feet into the tar sands. The oil-external
micellar dispersion is injected into the tar sands displacing the
micellar dispersion toward at least one of the production means and
recovering hydrocarbon through the production means.
[0039] U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,107 to Kriest, et. al., and assigned to
Biomanagement Services Inc., describes a process for treating a
zone of underground hydrocarbon contamination, above a certain
acceptable level of contamination, comprising the steps of
providing a fluid that aids in the degradation of petroleum or
chemical hydrocarbons; providing the fluid under pressure to
create, by fluid jetting a substantially vertical path through the
zone to saturate with the fluid and a core extending vertically
through the zone and horizontally outward from the path and
repeating steps at other locations to form a series of overlapping
cores that substantially includes all of the zone. Additionally the
degradation is allowed to occur, thereafter testing to determine
the degree of contamination remaining and, if above the acceptable
level, repeating steps all the steps until the contamination is
reduced to below the acceptable level.
[0040] U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,595 to Van Slyke, Donald, and assigned
to Union Oil Co., describes a process for reducing corrosion of
well tubing while recovering oil from an oil-bearing formation
using a carbon dioxide-steam co-injection method, the process
comprising the steps of: heating feedwater to generate steam;
injecting a carbonate-containing pH adjusting agent into the steam
to form a pH adjusting agent-containing steam; injecting carbon
dioxide into the pH adjusting agent-containing steam to form an
enhanced oil recovery composition having a pH of about 6.3 to less
than 7.5; injecting the enhanced oil recovery composition into at
least a portion of an oil-bearing formation and withdrawing oil
from the formation.
[0041] U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,385 to Angstadt, et. al., and assigned
to Sun Refining and Marketing Co., describes an improved method for
the enhanced recovery of oil from subterranean formations whereby
steam is injected into the formations, the improvement comprising
incorporating in the steam an effective amount of a mixture
comprising about a 1:0.05-0.5:2.0 weight ratio of a C14-20 alkyl
toluene sulfonate, a C14-20 ethylbenzene sulfonate, or a C14-20
alkyl benzene sulfonate and a hydrotrope selected from the group
consisting of alkali metal xylene sulfonates, alkali metal toluene
sulfonates, alkali metal cumene sulfonates, alkali metal benzene
sulfonates, alkali metal isethionantes, alkali metal butane
sulfonates and alkali metal hexane sulfonates.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0042] One embodiment of the disclosure includes a method and
system of removing petroleum, oil and other hydrocarbon deposits
releasable by a substance from a subterranean formation below a
surficial formation. The method and system according to this
disclosure comprises, in combination, the steps of providing a hole
through the surficial formation to the subterranean formation,
injecting an enzyme through the surficial formation to the
subterranean formation, storing the substance at the surficial
formation in the form of a liquid at the subterranean formation.
Also, for steam injection, providing a heating fluid heatable at
either the surface or at the surficial formation remote from the
subterranean formation to a temperature sufficient for sustained
liquid phase of the enzymatic fluid under pressure at the
subterranean formation. The ability to drive the liquid into the
subterranean formation for releasing hydrocarbon deposits with that
liquid, and removing such released deposits from the subterranean
formation is also part of the present disclosure.
[0043] Another embodiment of the disclosure is a method and system
for injecting an enzyme composition into a well as a treatment for
enhanced oil recovery (EOR) within a steam cycle including a
process sometimes referred to as cyclic steam stimulation
(CSS).
[0044] Another embodiment of the disclosure is the use of
GREENZYME.RTM. as the enzyme composition for treatment of an oil
well.
[0045] Another embodiment is the use of an enzyme composition for
pre-treatment and treatment between steam injection cycles or
treatment of the well during the steam injection cycle where the
enzyme is injected as a heated liquid into the well.
[0046] Another embodiment is the use of an enzyme heated to 80 to
90 degrees Celsius before injection into a well to minimize heat
loss downhole and to maximize penetration of the injected
steam.
[0047] Another embodiment is the use of an enzyme diluted to a
range of 0.01 to 100 percent and a working range of 3 to 10
percent.
[0048] Another embodiment is the use of incrementally diluted
enzyme to stimulate wells that are at an unacceptable level of
production prior to restarting a cyclic steam injection
process.
[0049] Another embodiment is the use an enzyme composition for
pre-treatment or treatment of the well during EOR where an enzyme
is injected intermixed with water into the well and the well is
shut down for a period of time ranging from on or about 1 day to
about 270 days. In California, the injected steam volume is of the
order of 10,000 barrels per cycle injected over about 2 weeks. In
Cold Lake, Alberta, with oil viscosities that are 10-20 times
higher than California, steam injection volumes are larger--perhaps
30,000 barrels per cycle injected over a month.
[0050] Another embodiment is the use of an enzyme composition used
to be injected into pipelines to clean plugged or restricted flow
areas and to prevent heavy crude oil from plugging the
pipelines.
[0051] Another embodiment is the use of an enzyme composition for
reducing asphaltenes and waxes at the injection wellbore prior to
steam injection as well as minimizing wellbore build up during
production and at the end of the cycle.
[0052] Another embodiment is the use of an enzyme in cyclic steam
operations such that the enzyme does not affect the normal heat
transfer provided by the steam into the surrounding well formations
or the oil.
[0053] Another embodiment is the use of enzymatic fluid (ie: like
GREENZYME.RTM.), in cyclic steam operations so that the reduction
of steamload is accomplished to recover oil and impart a favorable
impact to the steam-to-oil ratio (SOR).
[0054] Another embodiment is the use of enzymatic fluid in cyclic
steam operations so that increased oil production is achieved for
the same steamload which imparts a favorable impact to the
steam-to-oil ratio (SOR).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0055] FIG. 1 is a schematic for cyclic steam injection stages with
a pretreatment stage using GREENZYME.RTM..
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0056] Disclosed is an improvement to cyclic steam stimulation
(CSS) processes for secondary and/or tertiary oil recovery that
utilizes an enzyme composition. In particular an enzyme trademarked
as GREENZYME.RTM., by Apollo Separation Technologies, Inc. of
Houston, Tex. GREENZYME.RTM. is a biological enzyme that is a
protein based, non-living catalyst for penetrating and releasing
oil from solid surfaces and demonstrates the following attributes:
GREENZYME.RTM. has the effect of increasing the mobility of the oil
by reducing surface tension, decreasing contact angles and
preventing crude oil that has become less viscous by heating or
other means, from re-adhering to itself as it cools.
[0057] GREENZYME.RTM. is active in water and acts catalytically in
contacting and releasing oil from solid surfaces.
[0058] GREENZYME.RTM. is effective up to 270 degrees Celsius in
liquid phase under pressure and is not restricted by variations in
the American Petroleum Institute (API) specific gravity ratings of
the crude oil.
[0059] GREENZYME.RTM. is not an oil viscosity modifier nor does it
change the chemical composition of the oil.
[0060] GREENZYME.RTM. is not a live microbe and does not require
nutrients or ingest oil.
[0061] GREENZYME.RTM. does not trigger any other downhole
mechanisms, except to release oil from the solid substrates. (ie:
one function).
[0062] Other suitable enzymes other than GREENZYME.RTM. are also
the subject of the present disclosure and can be used
interchangeably or separately from GREENZYME.RTM. to meet the EOR
requirements of individual wells.
[0063] Referring to FIG. 1, in an overview, the cyclic steam and
enzyme system is comprised of four (4) stages. The first stage is
pre-treatment [10] followed by a steam injection stage [20], a
period of idle process known as the soak stage [30] followed by the
recovery stage [40]. This cyclic steam and enzyme system [10] is
sequential and repeated whenever recovery volumes diminish to a
calculated economic break-even point.
[0064] In the stage of pre-treatment [10], an enzyme composition
such as GREENZYME.RTM. [110] and described above, is diluted to
become a diluted enzymatic fluid [115] and sent to a heater [120]
to have the temperature of the diluted enzymatic fluid [115]
increased to between 80 to 90 degrees Celsius. The heated diluted
enzymatic fluid [122] is then transferred to an enzyme pump [125].
Alternatively, diluted enzymatic fluid [115] may be transferred
directly to the enzyme pump [125] bypassing the heater [120]. A
sufficient volume of the diluted enzymatic fluid [115] or heated
diluted enzymatic fluid [122] is then pumped through an injection
pipe [130] through the downhole well bore [125] and into the oil
well formation [140] so as to contact a desirable amount of
residual oil particles [142]. The stage of pre-treatment [10] may
last from 0-4 weeks before commencing the steam injection stage
[30]. During the stage of pre-treatment [10] the diluted
GREENZYME.RTM. fluid [115] or heated diluted enzymatic fluid [122]
acts to release the oil from solid surfaces, increase the mobility
of the oil by reducing surface tension, decreasing contact angles,
preventing crude oil that has become less viscous by heating or
other means, from re-adhering to itself as it cools and acts
catalytically in contacting and releasing oil from solid surfaces.
Blockages in the oil well formation [140] may be reduced or
eliminated as well.
[0065] In the steam injection stage [30], a steam generator [145]
combines heat and water to form steam [147]. Steam [147] is then
transferred to a steam/vapor pump [150] where it is then pumped
down an injection pipe [130], which may be the same as or different
from the one used by the enzyme pump [125], through the downhole
well bore [135] and into the oil well formation [140]. Steam [147]
then loses its heat into the oil well formation [140] warming the
oil particles [142] and the surrounding area oil well formation
[140] to a sufficient temperature to cause the oil particles [142]
to become less viscous. The steam [147] also acts to disperse the
diluted enzymatic fluid [115] or heated diluted enzymatic fluid
[122] further into the oil well formation [140] to further contact
oil particles [142] thereby increasing contact volume.
[0066] The heat available to be transferred to the oil well
formation [140] and oil particles [142] reacts over a period of
time while the well sits idle. The soak stage [30] as it is known,
allows the heat to permeate the oil well formation [140] and the
diluted enzymatic fluid [115] or heated diluted enzymatic fluid
[122] to reach maximum oil releasing efficiency. The diluted
enzymatic fluid [115] or heated diluted enzymatic fluid [122]
remains active in water or hot water included condensed steam [147]
and acts catalytically in contacting and releasing oil from solid
surfaces. It is not restricted by variations in the American
Petroleum Institute (API) specific gravity ratings of the crude
oil. The soak stage [30] lasts between 0-30 days depending on the
type and size of the oil well formation [140].
[0067] Following the soak stage [30] is the recovery stage [40] in
which an extraction pump [160] is connected to the oil well
formation [140] via a retrieval pipe [165] and an uphole well bore
[170]. In the recovery stage [40], the extraction pump [160] is
activated causing the oil particles [142] to be transferred from
the oil well formation [140] through the uphole well bore [170] and
retrieval pipe [165] to be transferred for refining.
* * * * *