Systems and methods for enhanced recovery of hydrocarbonaceous fluids

• US 20130312957A1
• Filed: 05/06/2013
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Grimes
• Original Assignee: Paul Grimes
• Inventors: Grimes, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,087,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/248
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/16 Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
• 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 creating a plurality of wellbores in a subterranean formation, whereby one or more of the plurality of wellbores may include a directionally drilled portion with solution disposed therein, and an electrode operatively connected with a power source. Other steps include generating an electrical field within the subterranean formation, thereby causing an electrochemical reaction to produce a gas from the solution, such that the gas mixes with hydrocarbonaceous fluids present in the formation and increases pressure within at least one of the plurality of wellbores, the subterranean formation, 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;

a second wellbore comprising a second electrode, wherein the second wellbore is mechanically isolated from the first wellbore;

a solution disposed within each of the first and the second wellbores, wherein the solution conducts electricity, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode at least partially contact 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, and wherein the electrical field electrochemically connects together, at least partially, the first wellbore and the second wellbore.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wellbore comprises a first directionally drilled portion, and wherein the second wellbore comprises a second directionally drilled portion.

3. The system of claim 2, the system further comprising:

a third wellbore mechanically isolated from the first wellbore and the second wellbore, the third wellbore comprising;

a third electrode operatively connected to the power source, and at least partially in contact with the solution disposed therein;

and a third directionally drilled portion.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first directionally drilled portion, the second directionally drilled portion, the third directionally drilled portion, and combinations thereof, is substantially horizontal.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each of the first directionally drilled portion, the second directionally drilled portion, and the third directionally drilled portion are drilled substantially co-planar with each other.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein at least part of the first directionally drilled portion is offset from at least part of the second directionally drilled portion, wherein at least part of the second directionally drilled portion is offset from at least part of the third directionally drilled portion, and wherein at least part of the third directionally drilled portion is offset from at least part of the first directionally drilled portion.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the electrical field is formed between the three wellbores, whereby each of the three wellbores are, at least partially, connected together electrochemically.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the power source is configured to provide alternating current to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode.

9. The system of claim 6, the system further comprising a producing formation and a non-producing formation external of the producing formation, wherein the hydro carbonaceous fluids reside in the producing formation, and wherein at least one of the wellbores resides entirely in the non-producing formation.

10. The system of claim 6, the system further comprising a producing formation and a non-producing formation external of the producing formation, wherein the hydro carbonaceous fluids reside in the producing formation, and each one of the wellbores resides entirely in the non-producing formation.

11. The system of claim 3, wherein the first directionally drilled portion, the second directionally drilled portion, and the third directionally drilled portion are configured with a central hub formed therebetween.

12. The system of claim 3, wherein the first directionally drilled portion, the second directionally drilled portion, and the third directionally drilled portion form a Y-shape configuration within the producing formation.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wellbore comprises a first non-vertical portion, and wherein the second wellbore comprises a first vertical portion.

14. The system of claim 13, the system further comprising:

a third wellbore mechanically isolated from the first wellbore and the second wellbore, wherein the third wellbore comprises;

a third electrode operatively connected to the power source, and at least partially in contact with the solution disposed therein; and

a third vertically oriented portion.

15. The system of claim 2, wherein the first electrode comprises a first elongated electrical conductor extending along the first directionally drilled portion, wherein the second electrode comprises a second elongated electrical conductor extending along the second directionally drilled portion, wherein a substantial portion of the first and the second electrodes are in contact with the solution.

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

creating a plurality of wellbores in a subterranean formation, wherein each of the plurality of wellbores further comprises;

a directionally drilled portion with a solution disposed therein; and

an electrode operatively connected with a power source; and

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

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of generating the electrical field comprises providing an alternating current to the solution, and wherein each of the plurality of wellbores are electrochemically connected together.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the directionally drilled portions are configured with an apex formed therebetween.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein at least three of the directionally drilled portions form a Y-shape configuration within the producing formation.

20. The method of claim 16, the method further comprising the steps of measuring the enhanced recovery, and optimizing the enhanced recovery by changing at least one of a strength of the electrical field, a location of the configuration of the wellbores, and combinations thereof.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the hydrocarbonaceous fluids reside in a producing formation, and wherein at least one of the plurality of wellbores resides in a non-producing formation adjacent to the producing formation.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein each one of the directionally drilled portions is offset from at least one other directionally drilled portion.

23. 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.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the artificial subterranean formation comprises three wellbores mechanically isolated from each other, and wherein each of the three wellbores comprise electrodes disposed therein to provide polarization to the hydrocarbonaceous fluid.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein each of the three wellbores comprise a corresponding directionally drilled portion.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of each of the three directionally drilled portions together form a Y-shape configuration within the natural producing formation.

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

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the artificial formation is entirely external of the natural producing formation.