ELECTROKINETIC ENHANCED HYDROCARBON RECOVERY FROM OIL SHALE
First Claim
1. A process for extracting a kerogen-based product from a subsurface shale formation comprising a kerogen rich zone, the process comprising the steps of:
- a. providing an injection well and a production well that extend into a subsurface shale formation and are in fluid communication therewith;
b. injecting an oxidant into the subsurface shale formation through the injection well;
c. generating an electric field through at least a portion of the subsurface shale formation to induce electrokinetic migration of the oxidant;
d. contacting the kerogen in the subsurface shale formation with the oxidant at a temperature in the range of between 0°
C. and 200°
C. to form organic acids; and
e. mobilizing at least a portion of the organic acids from the subsurface shale formation through the production well to produce a mobile kerogen-based product.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are methods for extracting a kerogen-based product from subsurface (oil) shale formations. These methods rely on chemically modifying the shale-bound kerogen using a chemical oxidant so as to render it mobile. The oxidant is provided to a formation fluid in contact with the kerogen in the subsurface shale utilizing electrokinetic-induced migration. An electric field is generated through at least a portion of the kerogen rich zone to induce electrokinetic migration of the oxidant. A mobile kerogen-based product, that includes reaction products of kerogen conversion, is urged toward a production well utilizing electrokinetic-induced migration, and withdrawn from the subsurface shale formation. An electric field generated through at least a portion of the kerogen rich zone can also be utilized to induce migration of catalysts or catalyst precursors.
28 Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A process for extracting a kerogen-based product from a subsurface shale formation comprising a kerogen rich zone, the process comprising the steps of:
-
a. providing an injection well and a production well that extend into a subsurface shale formation and are in fluid communication therewith; b. injecting an oxidant into the subsurface shale formation through the injection well; c. generating an electric field through at least a portion of the subsurface shale formation to induce electrokinetic migration of the oxidant; d. contacting the kerogen in the subsurface shale formation with the oxidant at a temperature in the range of between 0°
C. and 200°
C. to form organic acids; ande. mobilizing at least a portion of the organic acids from the subsurface shale formation through the production well to produce a mobile kerogen-based product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
19. A process for extracting a kerogen-based product from a subsurface shale formation comprising a kerogen rich zone, the process comprising the steps of:
-
a. providing an injection well and a production well that extend into a subsurface shale formation and are in fluid communication therewith; b. injecting an oxidant into the subsurface shale formation through the injection well; c. contacting the kerogen in the subsurface shale formation with the oxidant at a temperature in the range of between 0°
C. and 200°
C. to form organic acids; andd. mobilizing at least a portion of the organic acids from the subsurface shale formation through the production well to produce a mobile kerogen-based product; and e. generating an electric field through at least a portion of the subsurface shale formation to induce electrokinetic migration of the mobile kerogen-based product to a production well. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A process for enhancing hydrocarbon recovery in subsurface shale formations, the method comprising:
-
a. providing an injection well and a production well that extend into a kerogen rich zone of a subsurface shale formation and are in fluid communication therewith; b. providing a plurality of electrodes interspersed within the kerogen rich zone of a subsurface shale formation; c. injecting an oxidant into the kerogen rich zone through the injection well; d. emitting a direct current between the plurality of electrodes to induce electrokinetic migration of the oxidant; and e. recovering hydrocarbons from the kerogen rich zone of the subsurface shale formation through the production well. - View Dependent Claims (26)
-
-
33. A process for extracting a kerogen-based product from a subsurface shale formation comprising a kerogen rich zone, the process comprising the steps of:
-
a. providing an injection well and a production well that extend into a subsurface shale formation and are in fluid communication therewith; b. injecting an catalyst or catalyst precursor into the subsurface shale formation through the injection well; c. generating an electric field through at least a portion of the subsurface shale formation to induce electrokinetic migration of the catalyst or catalyst precursor; d. contacting the kerogen in the subsurface shale formation with the catalyst precursor at a temperature in the range of between 0°
C. and 200°
C. to form kerogen conversion products; ande. mobilizing at least a portion of the kerogen conversion products through the production well to produce a mobile kerogen-based product.
-
-
34. A process for extracting a kerogen-based product from a subsurface shale formation comprising a kerogen rich zone, the process comprising the steps of:
-
a. providing an injection well and a production well that extend into a subsurface shale formation and are in fluid communication therewith; b. injecting a catalyst or catalyst precursor into the subsurface shale formation through the injection well; c. contacting the kerogen in the subsurface shale formation with the catalyst or catalyst precursor at a temperature in the range of between 0°
C. and 200°
C. to form kerogen conversion products;d. mobilizing at least a portion of the kerogen conversion products from the subsurface shale formation through the production well to produce a mobile kerogen-based product; and e. generating an electric field through at least a portion of the subsurface shale formation to induce electrokinetic migration of the mobile kerogen-based product to the production well.
-
Specification