Apparatus and Method for Extracting Petroleum from Underground Sites Using Reformed Gases

• US 20090236093A1
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Energy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Zubrin, Robert M., Berggren, Mark H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,605,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/268
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/164 Injecting CO2 or carbonated water in combination with organic material C09K8/594
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/168 Injecting a gaseous medium
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/70 Combining sequestration of CO2 and exploitation of hydrocarbons by injecting CO2 or carbonated water in oil wells

Abstract

Provided herein are methods and apparatus for removing oil or natural gas from the ground. In one example, the method may include reforming a fuel source by reaction with water to generate driver gas, and injecting the driver gas into the oil well. The reforming operation may include causing the combustion of a combustible material with ambient oxygen for the release of energy; and heating a reforming reaction fuel and water sources, with the energy released from the combustion of the combustible material, to a temperature above that required for the reforming reaction wherein the fuel and water sources are reformed into driver gas. In one example, the amount of the combustible material combusted is sufficient to result in the release of enough energy to heat an amount of the reforming reaction fuel and water sources to the temperature above that required for the reforming reaction to proceed. The driver gas may be used to help extract oil from the ground and especially oil from depleted oil wells. It may also be used to drive natural gas trapped underground or in coal beds to the surface.

Claims

1. A system for recovering oil from an oil-well comprising:

a portable apparatus for reforming a fuel source comprising a biomass source to generate a carbon dioxide and hydrogen rich driver gas; and

a compressor for compressing the driver gas to a pressure appropriate for injection into an oil-well.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable apparatus comprises a combustion reaction to provide energy for reforming the fuel source.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a reaction chamber for combining the fuel source, water, and an oxidizer.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a driver gas outlet port for removal of driver gas produced in the reaction chamber.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a delivery pipe for delivery of the fuel source.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the fuel source further comprises a fuel selected from the group consisting of coal, alcohols, olefins, paraffins, ethers, aromatic hydrocarbons, propane, diesel fuels, gasolines, crude oil, natural gas, and mixtures thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the biomass source is selected from the group consisting of forest and mill residues, agricultural crops and wastes, brush, hay, straw, switch grass, corn stalks, corn stover, kudzu, grass, wood and wood wastes, pine beetle kill, wood chips, sawdust, animal wastes, livestock operation residues, paper waste, paper mill process effluent, paper, cardboard, aquatic plants, algae, fast-growing trees and plants, organic landfill wastes, municipal, residential, industrial wastes, cellulosic material, and mixtures thereof.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a counter-flow heat exchanger wherein the heat exchanger provides energy from the released driver gas to the incoming reformer fuel to facilitate an autothermal reformer reaction in the reaction chamber.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the driver gas is generated from the fuel source by heating the fuel source with water to at least about 150°

C.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the driver gas is generated from the fuel source by heating the fuel source with water and a catalyst to at least about 150°

C.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of an iron based catalyst, a zinc oxide catalyst, a copper based catalyst, and an alumina catalyst.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein energy used to drive the reforming reaction is provided by a source selected from the group consisting of solar energy, nuclear energy, wind energy, grid electricity, hydroelectric power, electricity produced by burning hydrogen formed as a product of the reforming reaction, and mixtures thereof.

13. A system for recovering oil from an oil-well comprising:

a portable apparatus for reforming a fuel source comprising coal to generate a carbon dioxide and hydrogen rich driver gas; and

a compressor for compressing the driver gas to a pressure appropriate for injection into an oil-well.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the portable apparatus comprises a combustion reaction to provide energy for reforming the fuel source.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising a reaction chamber for combining the fuel source, water, and an oxidizer.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising a driver gas outlet port for removal of driver gas produced in the reaction chamber.

17. The system of claim 13 further comprising a delivery pipe for delivery of the fuel source.

18. The system of claim 13 further comprising a counter-flow heat exchanger wherein the heat exchanger provides energy from the released driver gas to the incoming reformer fuel to facilitate an autothermal reformer reaction in the reaction chamber.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the driver gas is generated from the fuel source by heating the fuel with water to at least about 150°

C.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the driver gas is generated from the fuel source by heating the fuel with water and a catalyst to at least about 150°

C.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of an iron based catalyst, a zinc oxide catalyst, a copper based catalyst, and an alumina catalyst.

22. The system of claim 13 wherein the fuel source further comprises a fuel selected from the group consisting of biomass, alcohols, olefins, paraffins, ethers, aromatic hydrocarbons, propane, diesel fuels, gasolines, crude oil, natural gas, and mixtures thereof.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein energy used to drive the reforming reaction is provided by a source selected from the group consisting of solar energy, nuclear energy, wind energy, grid electricity, hydroelectric power, electricity produced by burning hydrogen formed as a product of the reforming reaction, and mixtures thereof.

24. An apparatus for recovering oil from an oil well, comprising:

a first storage container for storing a combustible material;

a second storage container for storing a reformer fuel;

a third storage container for storing water for reaction with the reformer fuel;

a first chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the first chamber for combusting the combustible material with ambient oxygen for the release of energy, the inlet of the first chamber fluidly coupled with the first storage container; and

a second chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the second chamber fluidly coupled with the second and third storage containers, a portion of the second chamber positioned with a portion of the first chamber, the second chamber fluidly isolated from the first chamber;

wherein the energy released in the first chamber heats the reformer fuel and water sources in the second chamber to a temperature above the reformer fuel vaporization point thereby reforming the reformer fuel into driver gas exiting the outlet of the second chamber.

25. A method for recovering oil from an oil-well comprising:

reforming a reformer fuel in the presence of water to generate a carbon dioxide and hydrogen rich driver gas, wherein the reformer fuel comprises coal and/or a source of biomass;

compressing the driver gas to a pressure appropriate for injection into an oil well;

injecting the driver gas into the oil-well; and

recovering oil from the oil-well.