Method for enhanced oil recovery

• US 4,344,486 A
• Filed: 02/27/1981
• Issued: 08/17/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amoco Corporation (BP PLC)
• Original Assignee: Standard Oil Company (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Parrish, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Stephen J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Suchfield, George A.
• Application Number:
  US06/238,874
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 166/256, 166/265, 166/266, 166/267, 166/268, 166/272, 166/274, 166/302, 166/303, 299/2
• US Class Current: 166/272.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/164 Injecting CO2 or carbonated water in combination with organic material C09K8/594
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/24 using heat, e.g. steam injection
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/40 Separation associated with re-injection of separated materials E21B43/385 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2260/80 Integration in an installation using carbon dioxide, e.g. for EOR, sequestration, refrigeration etc.
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04533 for the direct combustion of fuels in a power plant, so-called "oxyfuel combustion"
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04569 for enhanced or tertiary oil recovery

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for the enhanced recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from underground formations, said method comprising recovering a mixture comprising carbon dioxide and contaminants comprising hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, or mixtures thereof, from an underground formation; combusting said mixture with an oxygen enriched gas to form a concentrated carbon dioxide stream; and injecting at least a portion of said concentrated carbon dioxide stream into an underground formation to enhance recovery of liquid hydrocarbon.

Claims

1. A method for the enhanced recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from underground formations comprising:

recovering a mixture comprising carbon dioxide and about 5 to about 90 mol percent contaminants comprising hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, or mixtures thereof, from an underground formation;

combusting said mixture with an oxygen enriched gas to form a concentrated carbon dioxide stream containing less than about 10 mol percent nitrogen, oxygen, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, or mixtures thereof; and

injecting at least a portion of said concentrated carbon dioxide stream into an underground formation to enhance recovery of liquid hydrocarbon.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the concentrated carbon dioxide stream comprises at least about 90 mol percent carbon dioxide.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the concentrated carbon dioxide stream comprises at least about 95 mol percent carbon dioxide.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the concentrated carbon dioxide stream comprises at least about 98 mol percent carbon dioxide.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the oxygen enriched gas comprises less than a 10 percent stoichiometric excess of oxygen for the combustion with oxygen of combustible contaminants.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the oxygen enriched gas comprises less than a 5 ;

L percent stoichiometric excess of oxygen for the combustion with oxygen of combustible contaminants.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the oxygen enriched gas comprises at least about 90 mol percent oxygen.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the oxygen enriched gas comprises at least about 95 mol percent oxygen.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the oxygen enriched gas comprises at least about 98 mol percent oxygen.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon comprises methane.

11. A method for the enhanced recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from underground formations comprising:

recovering a mixture comprising carbon dioxide and about 5 to about 90 mol percent contaminants comprising hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, or mixtures thereof, from an underground formation;

comusting said mixture with an oxygen enriched gas to form a concentrated carbon dioxide stream containing less than about 10 mol percent nitrogen, oxygen, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, or mixtures thereof; and

first injecting a stream comprising at least a portion of the carbon dioxide stream into an underground formation and then injecting a stream comprising at least a portion of a nitrogen enriched stream into the underground formation to effectively move the injected carbon dioxide within the formation and enhance recovery of liquid hydrocarbon.

12. A method for the enhanced recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from underground formations comprising:

recovering a mixture comprising carbon dioxide and about 5 to about 90 mol percent contaminants comprising hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, or mixtures thereof, from an underground formation;

combusting said mixture with an oxygen enriched gas to form a concentrated carbon dioxide stream containing less than about 10 mol percent nitrogen, oxygen, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, or mixtures thereof;

recovering heat or energy from the combustion of the mixture; and

injecting at least a portion of said concentrated carbon dioxide stream into an underground formation to enhance recovery of liquid hydrocarbon.