METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THERMALLY TREATING AN OIL RESERVOIR
First Claim
1. A method of continuously thermally treating an oil reservoir comprising the steps of:
- initiating a chemical reaction producing heat and gases for thermally treating the oil reservoir to obtain extractable oil or an extractable oil containing mixture by separately introducing into an oil well of said oil reservoir a first and a second composition through separated fluid passages provided in said oil well and contacting the first and second compositions in the pay zone of the oil reservoir;
maintaining the chemical reaction in the oil reservoir by continuing the introduction of at least one of said first and second compositions; and
extracting the resultant oil or oil containing mixture during said step of maintaining the chemical reaction through a fluid passage provided in said oil well, wherein inside said oil well the fluid passage used for extracting the oil or oil containing mixture has no fluid connection with any fluid passage used for continuing the introduction of at least one of said first and second compositions to maintain the chemical reaction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
It is provided a method and an apparatus for continuously thermally treating an oil reservoir, in particular a method and an apparatus for thermally treating an oil reservoir by separately introducing a first and a second composition into an oil well and contacting the first and second compositions in a pay zone of the oil reservoir to initiate a chemical reaction producing heat and gases. With the method and apparatus according to the present invention it becomes possible to simultaneously introduce the compositions into the oil well and to extract the resultant oil or oil containing mixture through the same oil well. For this a sealing device like a packer, and at least one tubing are arranged in the oil well such that the sealing device is positioned in the pay zone of the oil reservoir and that openings in the casing of the oil well are located above and below the sealing device and the tubing extends through the packer and comprises at least one opening below the packer, wherein the packer seals the annular space between the outside of the tubing and the inside of the casing of the oil well so that two fluid passages are provided having no fluid connection inside the oil well. Thermal treatment is achieved by separately introducing the first and second compositions into the oil well through the resultant fluid passages, initiating a chemical reaction by contacting the compositions in the pay zone of the oil reservoir. The chemical reaction can be maintained by introducing at least one of the two compositions and the resultant oil or oil containing mixture can be extracted at the same time through the oil well.
17 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of continuously thermally treating an oil reservoir comprising the steps of:
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initiating a chemical reaction producing heat and gases for thermally treating the oil reservoir to obtain extractable oil or an extractable oil containing mixture by separately introducing into an oil well of said oil reservoir a first and a second composition through separated fluid passages provided in said oil well and contacting the first and second compositions in the pay zone of the oil reservoir; maintaining the chemical reaction in the oil reservoir by continuing the introduction of at least one of said first and second compositions; and extracting the resultant oil or oil containing mixture during said step of maintaining the chemical reaction through a fluid passage provided in said oil well, wherein inside said oil well the fluid passage used for extracting the oil or oil containing mixture has no fluid connection with any fluid passage used for continuing the introduction of at least one of said first and second compositions to maintain the chemical reaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for thermally treating an oil reservoir by separately introducing a first and a second composition into an oil well and contacting the first and second compositions in a pay zone of the oil reservoir to initiate a chemical reaction producing heat and gases, wherein in the pay zone a casing of the oil well comprises openings to allow fluid exchange between the oil well and the oil reservoir, said apparatus comprising:
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a sealing device being positioned in the pay zone of said oil reservoir, such that said openings in the casing of the oil well are located above and below the sealing device; a tubing comprising at least one opening in its distal end section being arranged in the oil well such that it is passed through the sealing device so that the at least one opening is located below the sealing device and the sealing device seals the resultant annular space between the outside of the tubing and the inside of the casing of the oil well, wherein the inside of the tubing defines a first fluid passage and the inside of the casing of the oil well above the sealing device defines a second fluid passage. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
wherein the inside of the second tubing defines a third fluid passage and the apparatus allows fluid exchange between the second and third fluid passages in the pay zone of the oil well.
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19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the openings in the casing of the oil well are not located in the area where the sealing device is installed.
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20. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the sealing device is a packer.
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21. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the first and second tubings are arranged coaxially and the second tubing as an outer tubing encloses the first tubing as an inner tubing.
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22. The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising at least one pair of horizontal wells, consisting of an upper and a lower well, wherein the upper and lower wells of each pair of horizontal wells are arranged substantially parallel to each other or are arranged to approach each other and wherein the upper ones of the horizontal wells are in fluid connection with that part of the oil well located above the sealing device and the lower ones of the horizontal wells are in fluid connection with that part of the oil well located below the sealing device.
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23. The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising at least one temperature sensor to measure the temperature above and/or below the sealing device.
Specification