In-situ upgrading of bitumen or heavy oil

Abstract

A method is disclosed for in-situ upgrading bitumen or heavy oils during thermal recovery operations. In one embodiment, steam injection for thermal recovery of bitumen in a dolomitic or limestone reservoir matrix material can be carried out at a higher temperature, a higher pressure, a longer dwell time or a combination of all three to allow the mobilized bitumen to remain in contact with the catalytic materials in the dolomitic or limestone reservoir matrix material for longer times at higher temperatures and pressures. In another embodiment, catalytic materials such as for example, oxides or carbonates of calcium, magnesium, potassium, nickel and/or iron can be injected into the reservoir along with steam to further enhance catalytic activity during the heating, mobilization and recovery phases of a thermal recovery operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 injecting a catalytic material and steam into a bitumen-containing dolomitic or limestone reservoir matrix material to form upgraded bitumen, wherein the catalytic material is an oxide, carbonate, and/or chloride of an alkali and alkaline earth metal; and   recovering the upgraded bitumen.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the catalytic material is one or more of oxides and/or carbonates of calcium, magnesium, potassium, nickel, and/or iron. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a recovered API density of upgraded bitumen is at least about 125% of an in situ API density of bitumen. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a recovered API density of upgraded bitumen is from about 2 to about 10 API degrees greater than an in situ API density of bitumen. 
     
     
         5 . A method, comprising:
 fracturing a bitumen-containing dolomotic or limestone reservoir matrix material to increase a permeability and exposed surface area of the matrix material; and   injecting steam into the fractured matrix material to form an upgraded bitumen, wherein the matrix material comprises a catalytic material having a catalytic effect on bitumen; and   injecting steam into the fractured reservoir matrix material to form an upgraded bitumen.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the fracturing is performed by one or more of hydro-fracturing, explosive fracturing, and block caving. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the catalytic material is an alkali and/or alkaline earth metal carbonate or bicarbonate. 
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising:
 recovering, by steam injection, bitumen from a bitumen-containing material;   in an underground excavation, contacting the recovered bitumen with at least one of excavated limestone and dolomite to upgrade the bitumen; and   recovering the upgraded bitumen.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one of excavated limestone and dolomite comprises a catalytic material having a catalytic effect on bitumen. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the catalytic material is one or more of an oxide, chloride, and/or carbonate of an alkali, alkaline earth, and transition metal. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the underground excavation comprises an underground working area and an underground chamber containing the at least one of excavated limestone and dolomite and injector and producer wells for injecting recovered bitumen into the underground chamber and removing upgraded bitumen from the underground chamber, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one of excavated limestone and dolomite has been used in carbon dioxide scrubbing operations to remove carbon dioxide from refinery flue gas. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a thermal or thermal plus solvent process is applied to the recovered bitumen in the underground excavation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the contacting step is performed by one or more of SAGD, CSS, and steam flooding. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the catalytic material is contained within the at least one of limestone and dolomite. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the catalytic material is added to the at least one of limestone and dolomite. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a recovered API density of the upgraded bitumen is at least about 125% of an in situ API density of the bitumen, before recovery. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a upgraded API density of the upgraded bitumen is from about 2 to about 10 API degrees greater than an in situ API density of bitumen, before recovery. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the upgraded API density of the upgraded bitumen ranges from about 10 to about 18 API degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the underground excavation is heated to a temperature in the range of about 150 to about 200 degrees Celsius in the contacting step.