Systems and methods for enhanced recovery of hydrocarbonaceous fluids

• US 20110277992A1
• Filed: 05/14/2010
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Paul Grimes
• Original Assignee: Paul Grimes
• Inventors: Grimes, Paul
• Application Number:
  US12/800,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20110277992A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/248
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2401 by means of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/30 Specific pattern of wells, e.g. optimising the spacing of wells

Abstract

A method for enhanced recovery of hydrocarbonaceous fluids, the method including the steps of connecting each of a plurality of wellbores together in fluid communication with a machined flow path, providing a surface fluid to the flow path, and generating an electrical field within the flow path to cause an electrochemical reaction to produce a gas from the fluid, such that the gas mixes with hydrocarbonaceous fluids and increases pressure within at least one of the plurality of wellbores, the flow path, and combinations thereof, thereby enhancing recovery of the hydrocarbonaceous fluid.

Claims

1. A system for enhanced recovery of hydrocarbonaceous fluids, the system comprising:

a first wellbore comprising a first electrode disposed therein;

a second wellbore comprising a second electrode disposed therein;

a machined flow path disposed in fluid communication with the first wellbore and the second wellbore;

a solution disposed within the machined flow path, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode extend at least partially into the solution; and

a power source operatively connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, and configured to produce an electrical field therebetween, wherein the electrical field causes an electrochemical reaction within the solution to create a gas for permeating hydrocarbonaceous fluids and for increasing pressure within at least one of the first wellbore, the second wellbore, the machined flow path, and combinations thereof, thereby enhancing recovery of the hydrocarbonaceous fluids.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the power source is configured to provide alternating current to the first electrode and the second electrode.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one pump for providing the solution to the machined flow path.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the solution comprises brine, and the gas comprises hydrogen.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the machined flow path comprises a horizontally drilled conduit.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third wellbore comprising a third electrode disposed therein, wherein the machined flow path further provides fluid communication between the third wellbore and at least one of the first wellbore and the second wellbore.

7. The system of claim 6, the system further comprising a producing formation and a non-producing formation external of the producing formation, wherein the hydrocarbonaceous fluids reside in the producing formation, and wherein the machined flow path resides in the non-producing formation.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the machined flow path further provides triangulated fluid communication between the first wellbore, the second wellbore, and the third wellbore.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the machined flow path is disposed substantially adjacent to a producing formation comprising hydrocarbonaceous fluids.

10. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising a producing formation and a non-producing formation external of the producing formation, wherein the hydrocarbonaceous fluids reside in the producing formation, and wherein the machined flow path resides in the non-producing formation.

11. A method for enhanced recovery of hydrocarbonaceous fluids, the method comprising:

connecting each of a plurality of wellbores together in fluid communication with a machined flow path;

providing a surface fluid to the flow path; and

generating an electrical field within the flow path, thereby causing an electrochemical reaction to produce a gas from the fluid, wherein the gas mixes with hydrocarbonaceous fluids and increases pressure within at least one of the plurality of wellbores, the flow path, and combinations thereof, thereby enhancing recovery of the hydrocarbonaceous fluid.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of generating the electrical field comprises providing alternating current to the surface fluid.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the alternating current is produced from a renewable energy source.

14. The method of claim 11, the method further comprising the steps of measuring the enhanced recovery, and optimizing the enhanced recovery by changing the electrical field through select adjustment of at least on of a voltage, a frequency, and combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the hydrocarbonaceous fluids reside in a producing formation, and wherein the machined flow path resides in a non-producing formation adjacent to the producing formation.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of connecting each of the plurality of wellbores comprises drilling a conduit to place each of the plurality of wellbores in fluid communication.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of drilling the conduit comprises drilling a substantially horizontal conduit.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of connecting each of the plurality of wellbores comprises providing a triangulated pattern of fluid communication between three wellbores.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of generating the electrical field comprises disposing a plurality of electrodes into the fluid, and wherein the fluid conducts the electrical field between the plurality of electrodes.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing the fluid to the flow path comprises providing brine to the flow path, and wherein the electrochemical reaction produces hydrogen gas as a result of applying the electrical field to the brine.

21. A method for tertiary recovery of hydrocarbonaceous fluids, the method comprising:

creating at least part of an artificial subterranean formation external to a natural producing formation;

reacting a fluid disposed in the artificial formation to form a gas;

permeating the gas into the natural producing formation, wherein the permeated gas in the natural producing formation increases pressure within the natural producing formation; and

mixing the gas with hydrocarbonaceous fluids disposed in the natural producing formation, thereby enhancing recovery of the hydrocarbonaceous fluid.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the artificial subterranean formation comprises three wellbores in fluid communication thereby forming a triangulated wellbore configuration, and wherein each of the three wellbores comprise electrodes disposed therein to provide polarization to the fluid.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the artificial formation is entirely external of the natural producing formation.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the artificial subterranean formation comprises a plurality of wellbores, and wherein at least two of the plurality of wellbores are in fluid communication by a horizontally drilled conduit formed substantially underneath the natural producing formation.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the artificial subterranean formation comprises a plurality of wellbores, and wherein at least two of the plurality of wellbores are in fluid communication by a horizontally drilled conduit formed substantially within the natural producing formation.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein a renewable energy source produces a current usable to form an electric field within the artificial subterranean formation, and wherein the fluid reacts as a result of an electrolysis process created by the electric field.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the producing formation is configured for at least one of gas injection, water flooding, and combinations thereof.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the fluid comprises brine solution, and the gas comprises hydrogen.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the artificial formation is entirely external of the natural producing formation.