US2019017358A1PendingUtilityA1

Increased Hydrocarbon Production by Thermal and Radial Stimulation

35
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Dec 7, 2015Filed: Dec 7, 2016Published: Jan 17, 2019
Est. expiryDec 7, 2035(~9.4 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Robert L. MorseJames M. Savage
E21B 43/243E21B 43/2401E21B 43/24E21B 7/18E21B 43/25E21B 7/15
35
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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Claims

Abstract

A system for increasing production of oil from subterranean formations comprising placement of heat or steam into the reservoir via radial drainage tunnels. The heat or steam may be created in the wellbore near the top of the well, downhole in the wellbore, or in-situ in the radials positioned in the reservoir.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method to enhance hydrocarbon production from a subsurface reservoir comprising:
 forming at least one radial borehole that extend outward from a wellbore into a reservoir at least 5 feet at an angle of between 45 and about 90 degrees from the wellbore;   generating heated fluid;   conveying the heated fluid through the wellbore and into the reservoir;   reducing the viscosity of hydrocarbons in the reservoir; and   producing hydrocarbons from the reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 forming the at least one radial borehole by using a mechanical toolstring to drill a borehole into the reservoir; and   removing the mechanical toolstring from the wellbore.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heated fluid comprises H 2 O. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heated fluid comprises H 2 O steam. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 conveying the heated fluid through at least one radial borehole and into the reservoir.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 producing hydrocarbons from the reservoir through at least one radial borehole.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 conveying the heated fluid into the reservoir and producing hydrocarbons from the reservoir are both done through the same radial borehole.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating the heated fluid at a surface facility.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating the heated fluid within the wellbore near a proximal end of the wellbore.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 locating a heat source within the wellbore near a proximal end of the wellbore.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 the heat source being in communication with a surface-based pumping equipment.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 activating the surface-based pumping equipment and heat source to generate the heated fluid.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 locating a heat source within at least one radial borehole.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 the heat source being in communication with a surface-based pumping equipment.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 activating the surface-based pumping equipment and heat source to generate the heated fluid within at least one radial borehole.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 placing an isolation packer within the wellbore.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 forming the at least one radial borehole extending outward from a wellbore into a reservoir at least 5 feet utilizing a method of borehole formation selected from the group consisting of: a jetting nozzle that erodes the formation; acid that dissolves the formation; a mechanical toolstring that drills the borehole with a cutting head; a laser that vaporizes the formation; heat that spalls the formation; and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating heated fluid utilizing an apparatus selected from the group consisting of: resistive heating elements; electrical resistive heating electrodes; an RF heating source; and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating heated fluid utilizing a method selected from the group consisting of: a combustion process involving a gas or liquid fuel and an oxidant; a catalytic process involving a fuel and an oxidant moving across a catalyst bed; and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the oxidant is selected from the group consisting of: oxygen; air; oxygen-enriched air; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a heat source selected from the group consisting of: a burner comprising an ignition source that can be activated by control equipment and a conductor cable; a catalyst bed comprising a preheater that can be activated by control equipment and a conductor cable.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the heat source comprises flexible members located within at least one radial borehole. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 introducing fluid into a radial borehole to contact the heat source or an area heated by the heat source and thereby generate heated fluid or steam.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 placing a guide device within the wellbore oriented toward a radial borehole;   inserting a flexible heat source through the guide device and into at least one radial borehole.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the guide device is a whipstock. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the guide device comprises a landing nipple. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 inserting a conduit within the wellbore to convey fluid into a radial borehole.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 emplacement of heat, hot water or steam at an upper interval in the subsurface reservoir; and   producing hydrocarbons from the reservoir at a lower interval.   
     
     
         29 . An apparatus for placing a flexible heating element into a radial extending from a wellbore defined by a guide device having at least one guide path. 
     
     
         30 . An apparatus for generating heat in a radial borehole extending from a wellbore comprising a flexible element connected to a power supply. 
     
     
         31 . A system for increasing oil production from an oil reservoir comprising:
 a supply of fuel, oxidant and water;   a means to regulate and pump downhole a quantity of fuel, oxidant and water;   a burner positioned downhole in the reservoir and used to mix the fuel and oxidant;   the fuel and oxidant generating heat upon combustion;   water introduced into or near the burner to generate hot water or steam;   an ignition system near the burner capable of instigating combustion;   emplacement of the hot water or steam into the reservoir through a radial borehole extending into the reservoir; and   producing oil from the reservoir.   
     
     
         32 . A system for increasing oil production from an oil reservoir comprising:
 a supply of fuel, oxidant and water;   a means to regulate and pump downhole a quantity of fuel, oxidant and water;   a catalyst bed positioned in a wellbore in the reservoir and capable of oxidizing the fuel to generate heat;   the fuel and oxidant generating heat upon combustion;   water introduced into or near the burner to generate hot water or steam;   an ignition system near the burner capable of instigating combustion;   emplacement of the hot water or steam into the reservoir through a radial borehole extending into the reservoir; and   producing oil from the reservoir.   
     
     
         33 . A system for increasing oil production from an oil reservoir comprising:
 one or more radial boreholes emplaced into a reservoir extending from a well;   a tubing string in the well running to the surface;   a downhole pump positioned in the well;   an electrically-powered heat source positioned downhole in the well or in a radial;   an isolation packer positioned in the wellbore;   a conductor cable running from surface power control equipment to at least the downhole heat source;   a downhole valve system that can alternately allow the flow of water downhole toward the heat source or which can allow the flow of oil from the reservoir into the downhole pump.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the downhole pump is chosen from the group consisting of: an ESP and a pump jack system.

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