Chemically enhanced thermal recovery of heavy oil

Abstract

Described herein are methods for removing heavy oils from underground reservoirs. The methods involve the use of chemical compositions in combination with steam techniques for the efficient removal of heavy oils.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . A process for removing heavy oil from an underground heavy oil reservoir, comprising:
 injecting into the reservoir (i) steam, (ii) an alkaline compound, and (iii) an acid; and   removing the oil from the reservoir.   
   
   
       14 - 25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . The process of  claim 13 , further comprising injecting into the reservoir an alcohol. 
   
   
       27 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the alkaline compound and the acid are alternately injected into the reservoir 
   
   
       28 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein an ionic surfactant is produced in situ in the reservoir when the alkaline compound reacts with the acid. 
   
   
       29 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the alkaline compound is introduced into the steam as a gas, a liquid, or a solution of either gas, liquid, or solid. 
   
   
       30 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the alkaline compound is introduced into the steam as a suspension of a solid, or an aerosol. 
   
   
       31 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the alkaline compound is introduced into the steam as a supercritical fluid or a component of a supercritical fluid. 
   
   
       32 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the alkaline compound comprises a primary, secondary, or tertiary amine that is compatible with steam, or any combination of such amines. 
   
   
       33 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the alkaline compound is ammonia. 
   
   
       34 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the alkaline compound is an alkaline metal hydroxide, alkaline metal carbonate, alkaline metal hydrocarbonate, ammonium carbonate, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       35 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the acid is an organic acid. 
   
   
       36 . The process of  claim 35 , wherein the organic acid is an alkyl carboxylic acid, an aryl carboxylic acid, a cycloalkyl carboxylic acid, an aromatic carboxylic acid, an alicyclic carboxylic acid, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       37 . The process of  claim 35 , wherein the organic acid comprises compounds possessing groups that can be converted to carboxylic acids. 
   
   
       38 . The process of  claim 37 , wherein the compounds comprise an amide, an anhydride, a nitrile, or an alcohol that can be converted to a carboxylic acid in situ during injection into the reservoir with the steam. 
   
   
       39 . The process of  claim 35 , wherein the organic acid is a polymer possessing a plurality of carboxylic acid groups. 
   
   
       40 . The process of  claim 35 , the organic acid comprises a saturated fatty acid, an unsaturated fatty acid, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       41 . The process of  claim 40 , wherein the saturated fatty acid is butyric acid, caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, myristoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, erucic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       42 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the acid is an alkyl sulfonic acid, an aryl sulfonic acid, an alkylaryl sulfonic acid, a sulfo carboxylic acid, an alkyl naphthalene sulfonic acid, an olefinic sulfonic acid, a polycarboxylic acid, a sulfo carboxylic acid, a phosphono carboxylic acid, a thiosulfonic acid, or any combination thereof.