Method of producing gas condensate and other reservoirs

• US 4,765,407 A
• Filed: 08/28/1986
• Issued: 08/23/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amoco Corporation Chicago Illinois
• Original Assignee: Amoco Corporation (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Yuvancic, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suchfield, George A.
• Application Number:
  US06/902,247
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 166/266, 166/267, 166/268, 166/273, 166/274, 166/305.1, 166/75.1, 405/128, 423/220, 423/574 R
• US Class Current: 166/268
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/164 Injecting CO2 or carbonated water in combination with organic material C09K8/594
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/40 Separation associated with re-injection of separated materials E21B43/385 takes precedence

Abstract

A reservoir is produced by injecting a mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen produced by treatment of a Claus plant gaseous effluent stream into the reservoir to enhance production.

Claims

1. A process for producing a reservoir comprising:

producing a Claus plant effluent stream comprising predominantly carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water, and minor amounts of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide, from a gaseous stream comprising hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide by the steps of oxidizing a portion of the hydrogen sulfide to sulfur dioxide and reacting thus produced sulfur dioxide with a remaining portion of hydrogen sulfide and producing elemental sulfur which is condensed and removed;

hydrogenating substantially all sulfur species in the resulting Claus plant effluent stream to hydrogen sulfide;

removing water from the resulting hydrogenated stream;

pressurizing the resulting hydrogenated stream to about reservoir injection pressure; and

injecting the resulting pressurized dried hydrogenated stream into the reservoir.

2. The Process of claim 1 wherein:

the reservoir is a gas condensate reservoir having a pressure of 5000 psia or greater; and

the process comprises injecting the resulting pressurized dried hydrogenated stream into the reservoir for pressure maintenance.

3. The Process of claim 1 wherein the reservoir comprises a reservoir in the range of about 2000-5000 psia and the Claus plant effluent stream is injected at above the minimum miscibility pressure of said dried hydrogenated stream for miscible flooding.

4. The Process of claim 1 wherein the resulting pressurized dried hydrogenated stream introduced into the reservoir comprises in the range of about 3-75 mol % carbon dioxide, 0.5-10 mol % hydrogen sulfide, and the balance mostly nitrogen.

5. A process for disposing of effluent tailgas from a Claus process sulfur recovery plant comprising:

producing a Claus plant effluent stream comprising predominantly carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water, and minor amounts of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide, from a gaseous stream comprising hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide by the steps of oxidizing a portion of the hydrogen sulfide to sulfur dioxide and reacting thus produced sulfur dioxide with a remaining portion of hydrogen sulfide and producing elemental sulfur which is condensed and removed;

hydrogenating substantially all sulfur species in the resulting Claus plant effluent stream to hydrogen sulfide;

removing water from the hydrogenated stream;

pressurizing the hydrogenated stream to about reservoir injection pressure; and

injecting the resulting pressurized dried hydrogenated stream into a subterranean reservoir.