U.S. patent number 3,848,671 [Application Number 05/409,063] was granted by the patent office on 1974-11-19 for method of producing bitumen from a subterranean tar sand formation.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Atlantic Richfield Company. Invention is credited to Loyd Rupert Kern.
United States Patent |
3,848,671 |
Kern |
November 19, 1974 |
METHOD OF PRODUCING BITUMEN FROM A SUBTERRANEAN TAR SAND
FORMATION
Abstract
A method of recovering bitumen from a subterranean tar sand
formation characterized by a plurality of steps. First, a plurality
of wells comprising at least one injection well and at least one
production well are drilled from the surface and completed in the
tar sand formation. Next, the bitumen and the tar sand formation
are heated between the respective injection and production wells
sufficiently to render the bitumen feasibly mobile in the tar sand
formation. The heating is effected by passing a predetermined
electrical current between the wells for a predetermined time.
Thereafter, a fluid is injected into the injection well and the
bitumen is produced from the production well. The fluid is
preferably hot, for example an aqueous fluid such as steam or hot
water. Also disclosed are specific details of the respective
operational steps, including determining the predetermined time
interval of electrical heating; and the use of alternate and/or
simultaneous steps of heating with electrical energy and injection
and production.
Inventors: |
Kern; Loyd Rupert (Irving,
TX) |
Assignee: |
Atlantic Richfield Company (Los
Angeles, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
23618907 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/409,063 |
Filed: |
October 24, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/248;
166/272.3; 24/115M |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
43/2401 (20130101); E21B 43/24 (20130101); Y10T
24/3996 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
43/24 (20060101); E21B 43/16 (20060101); E21b
043/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;166/248,272,268,303 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Leppink; James A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wofford, Felsman, Fails &
Zobal
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of producing bitumen from a subterranean tar sand
formation containing viscous bitumen comprising the steps of:
a. drilling and completing a plurality of at least two wells
extending from the surface into said tar sand formation for
production of said bitumen therefrom; at least one said well being
completed as an injection well and at least one said well being
completed as a production well; said wells being spaced apart and
arranged in a predetermined pattern;
b. pre-heating said tar sand formation and sand bitumen
intermediate said wells sufficiently to render said bitumen mobile
within said tar sand formation; said pre-heating being effected by
passing a predetermined electrical current from one of said wells
to the other of said wells for a predetermined time interval;
c. thereafter injecting a fluid that is immiscible with said
bitumen through said injection well and into said tar sand
formation; and
d. producing said bitumen from said production well.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined time interval
is sufficient to heat said formation and said bitumen to a
temperature that will allow a throughput rate of at least 10
barrels per day that is sustained by injection of said fluid in the
one or more injection wells adjacent said production well.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined electrical
current is maintained low enough to prevent drying said tar sand
formation around said wells and said tar sand formation around said
wells is maintained electrically conductive.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid is steam.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid is hot water.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid comprises a mixture of
steam and hot water.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid is injected for a time
interval and stopped; and electrical heating is again begun and
continued for a predetermined time interval; and said injection of
said fluid is again commenced; and wherein the steps of said
heating and of said injection of said fluid are effected
alternately until a desired rate of flow through said formation is
effected.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrical pre-heating is
continued after said fluid is begun to be injected such that said
steps of electrical pre-heating and of injecting of said fluid are
carried out simultaneously until a desired throughput rate is
effected.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of wells are
completed so as to be operable as either injection or production
wells and wherein the injection and production patterning is
altered after predetermined production intervals to effect a more
nearly complete sweep of said bitumen from said tar sand
formation.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid is liquid water at
ambient earth surface temperature.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein electrolyte is employed in at
least one well to improve the electrical conductivity in and around
said well.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein electrolyte is employed in at
least one injection well and in at least one production well.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein electrolyte is injected into said
tar sand formation for increased electrical conductivity between
injection and production wells.
14. The method of claim 7 wherein electrolyte is injected into said
tar sand formation for increased electrical conductivity during
said alternate electrical heating steps.
15. The method of claim 8 wherein electrolyte is injected into said
tar sand formation for increased electrical conductivity during
said simultaneous steps of electrical pre-heating and injecting of
fluid.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein alternate slugs of hot fluid and
ambient earth surface temperature fluid are injected into said tar
sand formation.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of producing bitumen from a
subterranean tar sand formation in which the bitumen is in a
nonflowable, highly viscous state. More particularly, this
invention relates to a method of recovering the bitumen from the
subterranean tar sand formation by thermal means for increasing the
mobility of the bitumen in the tar sand formation and, thereafter,
driving the mobilized bitumen to one or more production wells.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Large deposits of bitumen in surface tar sands, and subterranean
tar sand formations have long been known to exist in several
nations of the world. These tar sands are discussed in detail in
Kirk-Othmer ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY, Second Edition,
Anthony Standen, Editor, Interscience Publishers, New York, 1969,
Vol. 19, Pages 682-732. That discussion points out that the bitumen
in the tar sand formations has been carelessly referred to by a
variety of names; such as, "tar," "hydrocarbons" and "crude oil;"
but that this is a misnomer, since the bitumen contains nitrogenous
compounds, as well as other constituents not usually found in the
named products. In fact, that discussion goes on to emphasize that
the recovery of "tar" from the tar sand has proved a fertile field
for inventors, since almost all of the methods of recovering
conventional hydrocarbons are inoperable in the tar sands because
of the problem of achieving mobility of the highly viscous bitumen.
All of the bitumen has a viscosity greater than at least 5,000
centipoises and the majority of the bitumen has a viscosity in the
range of 500,000 -5,000,000 centipoises at 50.degree. Fahrenheit
(.degree.F). The bitumen has a density greater than water at
60.degree.F, with a specific gravity equivalent to about
6.degree.-10.degree. API.
The bitumens are so different from crude oil that, not only are the
production problems different, but also the upgrading and refining
of the bitumen after being produced presents problems that are
unique. For example, the bitumen has to be upgraded by partial
coking, by delayed coking with catalytic hydrodesulfurization of
the coke or distillate, or by direct catalytic hydrovisbreaking to
be salable.
The geology of the subterranean tar sand formations is described in
detail at page 688 of the above referenced Kirk-Othmer
Encyclopedia. This discussion indicates that about only 10 percent
of the known bitumen is recoverable by conventional mining
techniques. The subterranean tar sand formation comprises about 99
percent quartz sand and clays. The sand particles are coated with a
connate water envelope. The bitumen exists in the interstices
intermediate the water enveloped sand grains. Ordinarily, the tar
sand formation 15 is underlaid and overlaid by impermeable shales
having different physical properties.
A large number of different techniques have been tried in
attempting to feasibly recover the bitumen from the tar sand
reservoirs. A large number of these earlier attempts and patent
references and the like are catalogued in a comprehesive
bibliography entitled "Preliminary Report 65--3, Athabasca Oil
Sands Bibliography (1789-1964)," M. A. Carrigy, comp., Research
Council of Alberta, Alberta, Canada 1965. The large number of
recovery processes have included a variety of flooding methods,
such as fire floods; exotic recovery schemes, such as emulsion
steam drives; and even atomic explosions and the like. Despite the
large number of processes tried, the only commercial processes are
those employing surface mining. Yet, surface mining of tar sand
having a 10 percent saturation requires handling about 2 tons of
tar sand per barrel of bitumen recovered. In the commercial
processes employing surface mining, the bitumen is recovered by
steam or hot water extraction and upgraded by processes comprising:
(1) thermal cracking and hydrotreating or (2) coking and
hydrotreating. Since the price of crude oil has been driven
upwardly by the energy storage in some of the more industralized
nations, such as the United States, there are pilot operations
being conducted at present to see if some recovery scheme effecting
in situ separation of the bitumen from the tar sand can be made
economically feasible. The pilot operations have employed a wide
variety of different techniques to try to pre-heat the bitumen to
attain a mobility sufficient to produce it from the tar sand
formation. For example, it has been known to inject hot water or
steam to heat soak around a given well and thereafter try to
produce the heated and "molten" bitumen, or bitumen of reduced
viscosity, from the same well.
To date, however, insofar as I am aware, none of the processes have
been provided economically feasible. Thus, it can be seen that the
processes that have achieved success in the recovering of the
bitumen from the tar sand formations are vastly different from
those employed in recovering conventional crude oil; and none of
the conventional oil recovery methods or methods attempting
separation of the bitumen from the tar sand in situ has proved
commercially successful.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a method
of recovering bitumen from a subterranean tar sand formation by
separating the bitumen from the sand in situ, without requiring
handling of the large mass of tar sand.
It is another object of this invention to provide a method of
recovering bitumen from a subterranean tar sand formation by
thermally mobilizing the bitumen within the tar sand formation such
that it can be separated from the tar sand formation in situ; and
then driving the mobilized bitumen toward one or more production
wells.
These and other objects will become apparent from the descriptive
matter hereinafter, particularly when taken in conjunction with the
drawings.
In accordance with this invention, bitumen is produced from a
subterranean tar sand formation by the following multi-step
process. First, a plurality of wells are drilled from the surface
into and completed in the tar sand formation in a predetermined
pattern, including at least one injection well and at least one
production well. Next, the bitumen and the tar sand formation are
pre-heated, to mobilize the bitumen in the tar sand formation, by
heating with a predetermined electrical current for a predetermined
time interval. Thereafter, a drive fluid is injected into the
injection well. The fluid can be at an ambient earth surface
temperature or heated above ambient but in any case is preferably
immiscible with bitumen and, ordinarily, will comprise steam or hot
water or a mixture thereof. An ambient earth surface temperature
fluid can be liquid water pumped from an unheated lake or other
water source on the earth's surface directly to an injection well.
Alternate slugs of heated fluid and ambient earth surface
temperature fluid can be injected. The bitumen is produced from the
production well.
The steps of pre-heating with the electrical energy and injecting
of the fluid may be employed once only, simultaneously, or
alternately as desired to attain the desired throughput rate and
production rate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly shcematic and partly in
section, illustrating one simplified embodiment of this
invention.
FIG. 2 is a profile of averaged temperatures through the formation
following the step of preheating with electrical energy, in
accordance with FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, a plurality of wells 11 and 13 have been
drilled into and completed within the subterranean tar sand
formation 15. Each of the wells 11 and 13 have been completed so
they may be operated as either injection or production wells.
Specifically, the wells have a string of casing 17 that is inserted
in the drilled bore hole and cemented in place with the usual foot
19. A perforate conduit 21 extends into the subterranean tar sand
formation 15 adjacent the periphery of the wellbore that was
drilled thereinto. Preferably, the perforate conduit 21 includes a
lower electrically insulated conduit for constraining the
electrically current flow to the subterranean tar sand formation as
much as practical. The perforate conduit 21 may be casing having
the same or a different diameter from casing 19, or it may be large
diameter tubing inserted through the casing 19. As illustrated, the
perforate conduit 21 comprises a separate string of conduit
extended from the surface for better preserving the heat content of
an injected hot fluid.
Each of the wells 11 and 13 has an electrode 23. The respective
electrodes 23 are connected via electrical conductors 25 and 27
with surface equipment 28 and a source of electrical current,
illustrated as alternating current (A.C.) source 29. The electrical
conductors 25 and 27 are insulated between the electrodes 23 and
the surface equipment. The surface equipment 28 includes suitable
controls that are employed to effect the predetermined current
flow. For example, a switch (SW) 31 and voltage control means, such
as rheostat 33, are illustrated for controlling the duration and
magnitude of the current flow between the electrodes 23 in the
wells 11 and 13 by way of the subterranean tar sand formation 15.
It is preferred that the alternating current source 29 be adjusted
to provide the correct voltage for effecting the currentl flow
through the subterranean tar sand formation 15 without requiring
much power loss in surface control equipment, exemplified by
rheostat 33. The respective electrical conductors 25 and 27 are
emplaced in their respective wells 11 and 13 with conventional
means. As illustrated, they are run through lubricators 35 in order
to allow alternate or simultaneous heating, and injection and
production; without having to alter the surface accessories; such
as, changing the configuration of the well head 37, with its valves
and the like.
As illustrated, the well 11 is connected with a hot fluid injection
system by way of suitable insulated surface conduit 39. The
illustrated hot fluid injection system comprises a boiler system 41
for injecting steam of slightly less than 100 percent quality. More
specifically, the boiler system 41 comprises one or more field
boilers with feed pumps and inlet water surge tanks. A minimal
water treating facility may be employed if necessary for a
particular water source. The boiler system 41 is constructed and
operated in accordance with conventional engineering technology
that does not, per se, form part of this invention and is well
known and is not described in detail herein. The conventional
boiler system technology is contained in a number of printed
publications which are incorporated herein by reference for
details.
The perforate conduit 21 in well 13 is connected to surface
production facilities by way of a second surface conduit 45. The
production facilities are those normally employed for handling
normally viscous crude oils and are not shown, since they are well
known in the art. The production facilities include such
conventional apparatus as heater treaters, separators, and heated
storage tanks, as well as the requisite pumping and flow facilities
for handling the bitumen. The production facilities also are
connected with suitable conventional bitumen processing facilities
(also not shown); such as are employed in the conventional
processing of the bitumen after it is recovered from the tar sand
formation by surface mining techniques, or otherwise. Since these
production and processing facilities do not, per se, form a part of
this invention, they are not described in detail herein.
Operation: In operation, the wells 11 and 13 are completed in the
tar sand formation 15 in accordance with conventional technology.
Specifically, bore holes are drilled, at the desired distance and
patterning, from the surface into the subterranean tar sand
formation 15. Thereafter, the casing 17 is set into the formation
to the desired depth. As illustrated, the casing 17 may comprise a
surface string that is cemented into place immediately above the
tar sand formation. Thereafter, a second string of casing,
including an insulated perforate conduit 21 is emplaced in the
respective bore holes and completed in accordance with the desired
construction. For example, a perforate conduit 21 may have its foot
cemented in place, or it may be installed with a gravel pack or the
like to allow for expansion and contraction and still secure the
desired injectivity and productivity.
In any event, the electrodes are thereafter placed in respective
wells. For example, the tar sand formation may be from 100 to 300
feet thick and the respective electrodes 23 may be from 50 to 100
feet or more in length. The electrodes 23 are continuously
conductive along their length and are connected with the respective
electrical conductors 25 and 27 by conventional techniques. For
example, the electrodes 23 may be of copper based alloy and may be
connected with copper based conductors 25 and 27 by suitable copper
based electrical connectors. Thereafter, the alternating current
source 29 is connected with the conductors 25 and 27 by way of the
surface control equipment, illustrated simply as switch 31 and
rheostat 33. If the desired current densities are obtainable
without the use of the rheostat, it is set on the zero resistance
position to obtain the desired current flow between the wells.
Since there will be a high current density immediately adjacent
each of the electrodes 23, the temperature will tend to increase
more rapidly in this area. Accordingly, it may be desirable to
periodically interrupt the flow of current and inject a small
amount of electrolyte around each of the wells in order to keep the
conductivity high in this region. The current flow through the tar
sand formation to heat the tar sand formation 15 and the bitumen
therewithin depends on the connate water envelopes surrounding the
sand grains. Accordingly, the temperature in the regions of highest
current densities; for example, in the regions immediately about
and adjoining the wells; must not be so high as to cause
evaporation of the water envelopes at the pressure that is
sustainable by the over burden. Expressed otherwise, the
predetermined electrical current is maintained low enough to
prevent drying of the tar sand formation 15 around the wells 11 and
13.
The electrical current will flow primarily through the tar sand
formation, although some of the electrical energy will flow through
the bitumen-impermeable shales, as illustrated in the dashed lines
47. The voltage and current flow are adjusted to effect the desired
gradual increase in temperature of the tar sand formation 15 and
the bitumen therein without over heating locally at the points of
greatest current density, as indicated hereinbefore. For example,
the current may run from a few hundred to 1,000 or more amperes at
the voltage drop between the electrodes 23 in the wells 11 and 13.
This voltage drop may run from a few hundred volts to as much as
1,000 or more volts.
In any event, the pre-heating is continued for a predetermined
period of time. For example, the predetermined period of time may
be between 2 and 4 years. There will be temperature variations
throughout the formation. Even in averaged temperatures, such as
illustrated in FIG. 2, there is variance because of the distance
between wells and the differences in current densities. The larger
cross sectional areas near the midplane between the wells have less
current density and, hence, less temperature increase. Also, there
are variations because of the heterogeneities in the tar sand
formation 15. In any given tar sand formation 15, the period of
time may be determined empirically, if desired, to check the
theoretical, or projected, calculations of the temperature. The
empirical determinations resulting from a given test pattern can
then be extrapolated to larger production patterns in accordance
with conventional technology. Since the tar sand formation and the
bitumen therewithin do not behave in conventional manner, the
empirical approach is preferred over initiating a commercial
venture without a pilot and test pattern in a given tar sand
formation. The empirical testing may take the form of testing
mobility by the ultimate test of a "throughput" rate that is
sustainable between the injection and production wells. The
"throughput" is evidenced by the injection rate and the production
rate both remaining above an equivalent rate in barrels per day. On
the other hand, the empirical approach can be employed directly on
a commercial scale venture with assurance of ultimate success
because of the flexibility of operation inherent in the various
embodiments of this invention.
In any event, the theoretical calculations can be made using
conventional computer-based temperature formulae for heating
subterranean formations containing the bitumen. As the bitumen is
heated, it begins to have a greater mobility in the tar sand
formation 15. Once the yield point of the bitumen is reached in the
tar sand formation, or at least the temperature at which plastic
flow begins at the pressure that can be imposed at the injection
well, as described hereinafter, mobility begins to make feasible in
situ separation. The mobilities or high viscosities of bitumen in
the least heated part of the tar sand formation limits a
commercially feasible process. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the
temperature profile across the formation may be at some hot
temperature T.sub.6 adjacent the wells but will be at a relatively
significantly cooler temperature T.sub.1 at the midpoint between
the wells. Starting the injection of the hot fluid initiates a
complex series of events. These events are affected by the
temperatures that have been effected in the tar sand formation and
determine what overall throughput rate can be sustained between the
injection and production wells. Greatly simplified, the events are
about as follows. As the steam is injected at its injection
pressure, it will lose heat to the formation and condense. The
losing of the heat will tend to increase the mobility of the
bitumen, but the condensation of the steam to a liquid will tend to
decrease the overall mobility. Moreover, the different temperature
bitumen moving into different temperature formation creates complex
and interrelated pressure, temperature, mobility relationships that
are difficult to predict absolutely. The hotter bitumen from near
the injection well; for example, at D.sub.1 ; is forced into the
colder formation. It heats up that formation, but the heated
bitumen loses heat and becomes less mobile. The less heated bitumen
from the colder part of the formation; as from D.sub.2 ; moves, in
turn, into the formerly heated tar sand formation near the
production well. Consequently, there will be a decrease in the
mobility of the bitumen near the production well at D.sub.3 as the
bitumen starts to flow toward the production well.
The complicated and interrelated events that determine throughput;
and, hence, productivity; require that the predetermined time
interval for electrical heating must be long enough to get an
overall mobility of the bitumen that is high enough to sustain a
minimum flow through from the one or more injection wells to the
one or more production wells. If the predicted temperature at the
midpoint D.sub.2 intermediate the two wells is inadequate to
sustain the minimum flow through, the electrical heating will have
to be continued, with or without the simultaneous injection of
steam. Thus, empirically, once injection is started, if mobility of
the bitumen will sustain a minimum throughput of at least 10
barrels per day, the steam injection is economically preferable
over the electrical heating and the injection of steam is continued
without the electrical heating.
It is preferable to employ a more scientific approach to
empirically verifying the degree of heating of the tar sand
formation. The preferable approach is to drill a small bore hole
from the surface or the earth into the tar sand formation midway
between the injection and production wells; for example, at D.sub.2
and measure a temperature profile vertically through the tar sand
formation 15 at D.sub.2. Once the temperature in this area has
attained the minimum temperature needed; for example, T.sub.1 ; the
electrical heating is discontinued and injection of the steam is
started. This observed temperature profile then verifies the
theoretical calculations; or indicates the nature and degree of
erroneous assumptions. This information is then helpful in
determining the correct predetermined time interval over which the
electrical heating is carried out before the injection of the drive
fluid is started.
In any event, injection of the drive fluid is started after the
predetermined time interval of electrical heating. The fluid is
injected at a pressure below that which is sufficient to lift the
overburden, ordinarily referred to as "fracturing pressure."
The fracturing pressure not only limits the injection pressure;
but, as indicated hereinbefore, also limits the pressure and
temperature for maintaining the water envelopes on the sand grains
for conductivity. It is recognized that the pressure that will
effect fracturing with a given overburden depth may be determined
in accordance with conventional petroleum engineering technology. A
safe and over simplified figure may be taken as one-half pound per
square inch (psi) for each foot of overburden depth. Thus, an
overburden depth of 1,200 feet will safely sustain an injection
pressure, or a pressure necessary to retain saturation around a
well, of 600 psi. Ordinarily, a somewhat higher pressure may be
employed once the geology of a given overburden site is properly
investigated. For example, if there is 1,000 feet of overburden on
the tar sand formation 15, the injection pressure will probably not
exceed 500 pounds per square inch. In order to have retained a
saturated condition and prevent drying out of the tar sand
formation immediately adjacent the well because of the high current
densities and the high temperature, the temperature adjacent the
well must not have been allowed to exceed the saturated steam
temperature; for example, about 467.degree.F in the exemplified
embodiment.
The bitumen is produced from the production well 13 by conventional
techniques. For example, if it has been rendered mobile enough to
flow readily, the injection pressure will be sufficient to cause
production of the heated bitumen out of the production well 13
without requiring pumping facilities. On the other hand, with
shallow overburdens, it may be economically feasible to install
pumping equipment for pumping the bitumen from the production well
13. As illustrated, the injection pressure is employed to effect
flow of the hot bitumen from the production well 13 and to the
production facilities through surface conduit 45.
The injectivity and production continues until breakthrough occurs.
Breakthrough is defined as the time at which the injected fluid has
established a flow path completely between the injection well and
the production well. At some point after breakthrough, the amount
of drive fluid being flowed through the formation will become
economically infeasible as compared with the volume of bitumen
being produced. When the flowthrough of the injected fluid becomes
economically infeasible compared with the level of production of
the bitumen, the patterning of the wells is shifted. For example,
the swept out portion of the tar sand formation 15 may be employed
as an enlarged effective production area and the two wells 11 and
13 both employed as production wells while a different injection
well is employed for effecting flow of the bitumen to the enlarged
effective production area.
Thus, by proper patterning and employing the initial pre-heating by
use of electrical energy to mobilize the bitumen in the tar sand
formation 15, the bitumen in a predetermined pattern can be
separated from the sand grains in situ and the bitumen produced to
the surface without requiring the handling of the large quantities
of sand, as in surface mining technology. The surface mining
technology is, as indicated, infeasible for most of subterranean
tar sand formations of appreciable depths.
Other Embodiments: As implied hereinbefore, if the desired
throughput rate, as indicated by the obtainable injectivity and
productivity, is too low; the injection of the steam through
injection well 11 is stopped and the electrical heating resumed. In
the event that this course is followed, it may be desirable to
inject an electrolyte with the latter portions of the steam to
again increase the conductivity around the injection well 11. An
electrolyte in aqueous solutions, per se, can be injected into the
injection and production wells for increased conductivity if
desired. Suitable electrolytes include sodium chloride as the most
economically feasible, although other beneficial electrolytes may
be employed. Such electrolytes include caustics like sodium
hydroxide, sodium carbonate, or the like for improving injectivity
around the injection well 11. In any event, the electrical heating
is continued for another predetermined time interval to obtain a
predicted temperature increase and increase in the mobility of the
bitumen in the tar sand formation 15. Thereafter, steam is again
injected and the bitumen is produced from the production well
13.
If the desired throughput rate is established the second time,
injection is continued as described hereinbefore. If, on the other
hand, the desired throughput rate is not attainable, injection of
the steam is stopped and electrical heating again carried out for a
predetermined time interval. In any event, ultimately, the desired
throughput rate, with the desired injectivity and productivity,
will be attained and the bitumen from the pattern will be produced
as described hereinbefore.
On the other hand, it may be possible to inject the steam
simultaneously with a sufficient amount of electrolyte to allow
concurrent heating with the electrical energy. It is realized that
there may be some hazard if the heating and the injection of steam
plus an electrolyte is carried out concurrently. The hazard of
electrical shock is not insurmountable, however. Careful insulation
and operation can prevent hazard to operating personnel and allow
concurrent and simultaneous electrical heating and steam flooding
to attain the desired throughput rate.
EXAMPLE
The following example is given to demonstrate a typical process
carried out as described hereinbefore with respect to FIGS. 1 and
2. The exemplified tar sand formation had an averaged thickness of
100 feet with an overburden of 1,000 feet in the pattern area. The
tar sand formation had an averaged permeability of 700 millidarcies
with the overburden and underburden being impermeable shales. The
tar sand formation had an averaged porosity of 0.33 with an initial
bitumen saturation of 12 percent by weight, when averaged. The
averaged electrical resistivity, in ohm-meters at 50.degree.F,
were, respectively:
Tar Sand Overburden Underburden
______________________________________ horizontally 30 10 50
vertically 90 ______________________________________
The geological formations adjacent the tar sand, as well as the tar
sand formation 15, had an initial temperature of 50.degree.F, an
averaged thermal conductivity, in British Thermal Units per foot
per hour per .degree.F (BTU/ft-hr-.degree.F) of 0.6; and an
averaged thermal volumetric heat capacity in BTU per cubic foot per
.degree.F (BTU/ft.sup.3 -.degree.F) of 44.
The exemplified pattern was a 5-spot over 10 acres. The electrical
pre-heating time required was three years and the average
electrical power input level for the pattern was 3,100 kilowatts.
Thus, the total electrical input per pattern 82 .times. 10.sup.6
kilowatt hours (kwh).
Referring to FIG. 2, the temperature adjacent the respective
injection and production wells, equivalent to wells 11 and 13 in
FIG. 1, was as follows:
T.sub.6 adjacent the respective wells, 466.degree.F. The
temperatures T.sub.2 -T.sub.5 represent equal spacing on the
ordinate and are 200, 300 and 400, respectively. The minimum
temperature T.sub.1 at the distance D.sub.2 between the injection
and production wells was 160.degree.F to attain the desired
mobility of the bitumen before beginning injection of the
steam.
The bitumen had measured viscosities at different temperatures as
follows:
50.degree.F - 2 .times. 10.sup.6 centipoises (cp)
160.degree.F - 1,500 cp
466.degree.F - 5.4 cp
The total pattern productivity after the preheating period was 190
barrels per day. The productivity and injectivity increased to
attain a peak pattern productivity of 510 barrels per day. The
bitumen produced during the steam drive was 657,000 barrels and
required a total water injection, as steam, over the six year
period of 1.16 .times. 10.sup.6 barrels.
General: While the injection of steam has been described
hereinbefore, any other fluid that will have the desirable flooding
characteristics and convey the heat to the tar sand formation 15
may be employed. As a practical matter, steam or hot water will be
the fluids most commonly available in the field and have greatest
feasibility because of their economy. Moreover, the hot aqueous
fluids have a greater macroscopic sweep efficiency for conveying
heat to a greater overall portion of the tar sand formation. Hot
fluids that are miscible with the bitumen in the tar sand formation
are not employed if banking that comes with such miscible fluids
requires intolerably high differential pressures to effect flow to
the one or more production wells. Ordinarily, also, the miscible
fluids have a lower heat capacity and are not as readily available
as are the aqueous fluids. Hence, even though the miscible fluids
will effect substantially 100 percent recovery on a microscopic
sweep efficiency basis in the areas where they flood, they are,
ordinarily, less feasible in recovering the bitumen from the tar
sand formation.
From the foregoing descriptive matter, it can be seen that this
invention provides a novel and unobvious way of producing bitumen
from a tar sand formation that is feasible. This invention
overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art processes which have
been demonstrated to be inapplicable in recovering bitumen from the
tar sand formations heretofore.
Having thus described the invention, it will be understood that
such description has been given by way of illustration and example
and not by way of limitation, reference for the latter purpose
being had to the appended claims.
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