System and method for hydrocarbon recovery and extraction

Abstract

Some embodiments teach a method of recovering hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon formation. The method including: (a) generating injection gas, the injection gas having at least a predetermined pressure and a predetermined temperature; (b) injecting the injection gas into the hydrocarbon formation, and (c) recovering the hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon formation. Other embodiments are disclosed in this application.

1 . A method of recovering and extracting hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon formations the method comprising:
 generating injection gas;   injecting the injection gas into the hydrocarbon formation with at least a predetermined pressure and a predetermined temperature; and   recovering the hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon formation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 drilling one or more injection wells into the hydrocarbon formation,   
       wherein:
 injecting the injection gas comprises:
 injecting the injection gas into the hydrocarbon formation with at least a predetermined pressure and a predetermined temperature through the one or more injection wells. 
 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 drilling one or more production wells into the hydrocarbon formation,   
       wherein:
 recovering the hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon formation comprises: 
 recovering the hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon formation through the one or more production wells. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 generating the injection gas further comprises:
 generating the injection gas in at least one gasifier. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 generating the injection gas further comprises
 generating the injection gas in at least one portable gasifier. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises:
 refining the hydrocarbons after recovering the hydrocarbons.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein:
 refining the hydrocarbons produces exhaust gases; and   generating the injection gas comprises:
 generating the injection gas with at least one gasifier and using the exhaust gas as an input for one or more of the at least one gasifier. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprises:
 heating the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon formation.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 heating the hydrocarbons in hydrocarbon formation occurs concurrent or subsequent to injecting the injection gas into the hydrocarbon formation.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprises:
 at least partially refining the hydrocarbons while the hydrocarbons remain in the hydrocarbon formation.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 at least partially refining the hydrocarbons occurs concurrently with or subsequent to injecting the injection gas into the hydrocarbon formation.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 injecting the injection gas into the hydrocarbon formation comprises:
 injecting the injection gas into the hydrocarbon formation at a temperature such that the injection gas causes thermal cracking in at least a portion of the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon formation. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 injecting the injection gas into the hydrocarbon formation comprises:
 injecting the injection gas into the hydrocarbon formation such that the injection gas increases pressure in the hydrocarbon formation. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 injecting the injection gas into the hydrocarbon formation further comprises:
 injecting the injection gas into the hydrocarbon formation at a temperature such that thermal cracking occurs in at least a portion of the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon formation. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 compressing the injection gas to the predetermined pressure before injecting the injection gas into the hydrocarbon formation.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the injection gas comprises hydrogen and carbon dioxide.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the injection gas comprises syngas.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 generating the injection gas comprises:
 generating the injection gas comprising at least one of methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or hydrogen. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adding a catalyst to the injection gas before injecting the injection gas into the hydrocarbon formation.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 creating one or more inputs for generating the injection gas using a pyrolysis reaction.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 pumping the hydrocarbons into an underground cavern before recovering the hydrocarbons.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein:
 recovering the hydrocarbons comprises:
 recovering the hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon formation via the underground cavern. 
   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 pumping the injection gas into the underground cavern such that the hydrocarbons in the underground cavern are at least partially refined by the injection gas.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 creating the underground cavern.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 storing the hydrocarbons in the underground cavern.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after recovering the hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon formation, separating water from the hydrocarbons.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 generating injection gas using the water separated from the hydrocarbons.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 refining the hydrocarbons after the separating the water from the hydrocarbons.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 separating one or more individual gases from the injection gas; and   refining the hydrocarbons using in part the one or more individual gases.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selling at least a first portion of the injection gas.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing at least a first portion of the injection gas to a burner.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 generating the injection gas comprises:
 generating syngas; and 
 separating one or more gases from the syngas, 
   wherein:
 the one or more gases are the injection gas. 
   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 using the syngas to at least partially heat the injection gas to the predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 heating the injection gas and compressing the injection gas such that the injection gas is in a supercritical state when injected into the hydrocarbon formation.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the injection gas is in a supercritical state when at the predetermined temperature and the predetermined pressure.   
     
     
         36 . A hydrocarbon recovery system configured to recover hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon formation, the system comprising:
 a gasifier configured to produce synthesis gas;   one or more injection wells located at least partially in the hydrocarbon formation; and   one or more productions wells located at least partially in the hydrocarbon formation;   
       wherein:
 the one or more injection wells are coupled to an output of the gasifier and configured to receive at least a first portion of the synthesis gas from the gasifier and conduct the at least the first portion of the synthesis gas into the hydrocarbon formation; and 
 the one or more production wells are configured to remove at least a first portion of the hydrocarbons out of the hydrocarbon formation. 
 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 an above-ground oil refining facility coupled to the one or more production wells and configured to receive the at least the first portion of the hydrocarbons from the one or more production wells.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 a coker coupled to the above-ground oil refining facility.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 an above-ground storage facility coupled to the one or more production wells and configured to store the at least the first portion of the hydrocarbons.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 a gas separator coupled to an output of the gasifier and an input of the above-ground oil refining facility,   
       wherein:
 the gas separator is configured to provide the at least the first portion of the synthesis gas to the injection wells; and 
 the gas separator is configured to receive at least a second portion of the synthesis gas from the gasifier. 
 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein:
 the gas separator is configured to separate at least a third portion of the synthesis gas from the synthesis gas and provide the at least the third portion of the synthesis gas to the input of the above-ground oil refining facility.   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprises:
 a heat exchanger configured to heat the at least first portion of the synthesis gas to a predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 at least one catalyst injector coupled to the output of the gasifier and an input of the one or more injection wells.   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 at least one pyrolysis reactor coupled to an input of the gasifier.   
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 a compressor coupled to the output of the gasifier and an input of the one or more injection wells,   
       wherein:
 the compressor is configured to pressurize the injection gas to a predetermined pressure before providing the injection gas to the one or more injection wells. 
 
     
     
         46 . A method of obtaining petroleum from an oil reservoir and at least partially refining at least a first portion of the petroleum in an underground cavern located in a vicinity of the oil reservoir, the method comprising:
 providing a first injection gas;   pumping the first injection gas into at least one injection well in the oil reservoir;   draining at least a second portion of the petroleum from the oil reservoir into the underground cavern;   providing a second injection gas; and   pumping the second injection gas into the underground cavern such that the at least the first portion of the petroleum in the underground cavern is at least partially refined by the second injection gas.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 storing the at least the second portion of the petroleum in the underground cavern.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 pumping at least a third portion of the petroleum from the oil reservoir.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 after pumping the second injection (,as into the underground cavern, pumping a part of the at least the first portion of the petroleum to an above-ground storage container.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein:
 pumping the second injection gas into the underground cavern pressurizes the underground cavern.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 creating the underground cavern.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein:
 creating the underground cavern comprises:
 creating the underground cavern by solution mining a portion of a salt bed. 
   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein:
 pumping the first injection gas into the at least one injection well comprises:
 pumping the first injection gas into the at least one injection well in the oil reservoir at a predetermined temperature such that the first injection gas causes thermal cracking in at least a portion of the petroleum in the oil reservoir. 
   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 heating the petroleum in the oil reservoir.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 pumping the second injection gas into the underground cavern further comprises:
 pumping the second injection gas into the underground cavern at a predetermined temperature such that the second injection gas causes thermal cracking in at least a portion of the petroleum in the oil reservoir. 
   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 heating the first injection gas and compressing the first injection gas such that the first injection gas is in a supercritical state when pumped into the oil reservoir.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 heating the second injection gas and compressing the second injection gas such that the second injection gas is in a supercritical state when pumped into the underground cavern.   
     
     
         58 . A system configured to obtain petroleum from an oil reservoir, the system comprising:
 a gasifier configured to produce synthesis gas;   one or more injection wells in the hydrocarbon formation;   one or more transportation wells configured to drain at least a first portion of the petroleum from the oil reservoir into the underground cavern; and   one or more production wells coupled to the underground cavern, wherein:   the one or more injection wells are coupled to an output of the gasifier and configured to receive at least a first portion of the synthesis gas from the gasifier and conduct the at least the first portion of the synthesis gas into the oil reservoir; and   the one or more production wells are configured to conduct at least a first portion of the petroleum out of the underground cavern.   
     
     
         59 . A method of recovering hydrocarbons from two or more hydrocarbon formations using
 one or more gasifiers, the method comprising:   providing the one or more gasifiers at a first one of the two or more hydrocarbon formations;   generating a first injection gas using the one or more gasifiers;   injecting the first injection gas from the one or more gasifiers into the first one of the two or more hydrocarbon formations;   recovering the hydrocarbons from the first one of the two or more hydrocarbon formations;   moving the one or more gasifiers from the first one of the two or more hydrocarbon formations to a second one of the two or more hydrocarbon formations;   generating a second injection gas using the one or more gasifiers at the second one of the two or more hydrocarbon formations;   injecting the second injection gas from the one or more gasifiers into the second one of the two or more hydrocarbon formations; and   recovering the hydrocarbons from the second one of the two or more hydrocarbon formations.   
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein:
 the first injection gas is identical to the second injection gas.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein:
 at least one of chemical properties, physical properties, or gas mixture of the first injection gas is different than chemical properties, physical properties, or gas mixture of the second injection gas.   
     
     
         62 . A method of recovering hydrocarbons from an hydrocarbon formation using one or more gasifiers, the method comprising:
 providing the one or more gasifiers at a first location at the hydrocarbon formation;   generating a first injection gas using the one or more gasifiers at the first location at the hydrocarbon formation;   injecting the first injection gas from the one or more gasifiers into the hydrocarbon formation;   recovering a first portion of the hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon formation;   moving the one or more gasifiers from the first location at the hydrocarbon formation to a second location at the hydrocarbon formation;   generating a second injection gas using the one or more gasifiers at the second location at the hydrocarbon formation;   injecting the second injection gas from the one or more gasifiers into the hydrocarbon formation; and   recovering a second portion of the hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon formation.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein:
 the first injection gas is identical to the second injection gas.   
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein:
 at least one of chemical properties, physical properties, or gas mixture of the first injection gas is different than chemical properties, physical properties, or gas mixture of the second injection gas.