In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation using barriers

• US 7,077,198 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2002
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Vinegar, Harold J., McKinzie, Billy John II, Wellington, Scott Lee, Stegemeier, George Leo, Watkins, Ronnie Wade, Maher, Kevin Albert, Ward, John Michael, Palfreyman, Bruce Donald, Aymond, Dannie Antoine Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): SUCHFIELD, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US10/279,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20030192691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 166/52, 166/57, 166/59, 166/60, 166/245, 166/250.01, 166/250.12, 166/254.1, 166/259, 166/268, 166/272.1, 166/272.3, 166/285, 166/302, 166/303, 299/2, 299/6, 405/52, 405/130, 405/131, 405/270
• US Class Current: 166/245
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/02 Extraction using liquids, e.g. washing, leaching , flotation
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/06 thermally
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 2101/00 In situ
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 45/00 Refining of hydrocarbon oils using hydrogen or hydrogen-generating compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 9/24 by heating with electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/0285 characterised by electrically insulating elements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/168 Injecting a gaseous medium
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/24 using heat, e.g. steam injection
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2401 by means of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/243 Combustion in situ
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/305 comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0224 using seismic or acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/26 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified either by the surrounding earth formation or by the detecting device with electromagnetic waves G01V3/30
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/00 Technologies relating to oil refining and petrochemical industry
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/40 Ethylene production
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/901 Specified land fill feature, e.g. prevention of ground water fouling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0391 Affecting flow by the addition of material or energy

Abstract

A method is described for inhibiting migration of fluids into and/or out of a treatment area undergoing an in situ conversion process. Barriers in the formation proximate a treatment area may be used to inhibit migration of fluids. Inhibition of migration of fluids may occur before, during, and/or after an in situ treatment process. For example, migration of fluids may be inhibited while heat is provided from heaters to at least a portion of the treatment area. Barriers may include naturally occurring portions (e.g., overburden, and/or underburden) and/or installed portions.

Claims

1. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation comprising:

providing a barrier to at least a portion of the formation to inhibit migration of fluids into or out of a treatment area of the formation, wherein providing the barrier comprises;

providing a circulating fluid to a portion of the formation surrounding the treatment area; and

removing the circulating fluid proximate the treatment area;

providing heat from one or more heaters to the treatment area; and

producing fluids from the formation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat provided from at least one of the heaters is transferred to at least a portion of the formation substantially by conduction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluids are produced from the formation when a partial pressure of hydrogen in at least a portion of the formation is at least about 0.5 bars.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising hydraulically isolating the treatment area from a surrounding portion of the formation.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising pyrolyzing at least a portion of hydrocarbon containing material in the treatment area.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating synthesis gas in at least a portion of the treatment area.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling a pressure in the treatment area.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling a temperature in the treatment area.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling a heating rate in the treatment area.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling an amount of fluid removed from the treatment area.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a section of the barrier comprises one or more sulfur wells.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a section of the barrier comprises one or more dewatering wells.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a section of the barrier comprises one or more injection wells and one or more dewatering wells.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a section of the barrier comprises a ground cover on a surface of the earth.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein at least a section of the ground cover is sealed to a surface of the earth.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising inhibiting a release of formation fluid to the earth'"'"'s atmosphere with a ground cover;

and freezing at least a portion of the ground cover to a surface of the earth.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising inhibiting a release of formation fluid to the earth'"'"'s atmosphere.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising inhibiting fluid seepage from a surface of the earth into the treatment area.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a section of the barrier comprises a low temperature zone.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a section of the barrier comprises a frozen zone.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the barrier comprises an installed portion and a naturally occurring portion.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

hydraulically isolating the treatment area from a surrounding portion of the formation; and

maintaining a fluid pressure in the treatment area at a pressure greater than about a fluid pressure in the surrounding portion of the formation.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a section of the barrier comprises an impermeable section of the formation.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the barrier comprises a self-sealing portion.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the heaters are positioned at a distance greater than about 5 m from the barrier.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the heaters is positioned at a distance less than about 1.5 m from the barrier.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the barrier comprises a low temperature zone, and further comprising lowering a temperature in the low temperature zone to a temperature less than about a freezing temperature of water.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the barrier comprises a barrier well and further comprising positioning at least a portion of the barrier well below a water table of the formation.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment area comprises a first treatment area and a second treatment area, and further comprising:

treating the first treatment area using a first treatment process; and

treating the second treatment area using a second treatment process.

30. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ, comprising:

providing a refrigerant to a plurality of barrier wells placed in a portion of the formation;

establishing a frozen barrier zone to inhibit migration of fluids into or out of a treatment area, wherein a location of the frozen barrier zone is selected using a flow rate of groundwater;

providing heat from one or more heaters to the treatment area; and

producing fluids from the formation.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the heat provided from at least one of the heaters is transferred to at least a portion of the formation substantially by conduction.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the fluids are produced from the formation when a partial pressure of hydrogen in at least a portion of the formation is at least about 0.5 bars.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising controlling a fluid pressure in the treatment area.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the frozen barrier zone is proximate the treatment area of the formation.

35. The method of claim 30, further comprising hydraulically isolating the treatment area from a surrounding portion of the formation.

36. The method of claim 30, further comprising thermally isolating the treatment area from a surrounding portion of the formation.

37. The method of claim 30, further comprising maintaining the fluid pressure above a hydrostatic pressure of the formation.

38. The method of claim 30, further comprising removing liquid water from at least a portion of the treatment area.

39. The method of claim 30, wherein the treatment area is below a water table of the formation.

40. The method of claim 30, wherein heating is initiated after formation of the frozen barrier zone.

41. The method of claim 30, wherein the refrigerant comprises propane.

42. The method of claim 30, wherein the refrigerant comprises ammonia.

43. The method of claim 30, wherein the refrigerant has a freezing point of less than about minus 60 degrees Celsius.

44. The method of claim 30, wherein the refrigerant comprises calcium chloride.

45. The method of claim 30, wherein the refrigerant is provided at a temperature of less than about minus 50 degrees Celsius.

46. The method of claim 30, wherein at least one of the plurality of barrier wells is located along strike of a hydrocarbon containing portion of the formation.

47. The method of claim 30, wherein at least one of the plurality of barrier wells is located along dip of a hydrocarbon containing portion of the formation.

48. The method of claim 30, wherein one or more of the heaters are placed greater than about 5 m from a frozen barrier zone.

49. The method of claim 30, wherein at least one of the heaters is positioned less than about 1.5 m from a frozen barrier zone.

50. The method of claim 30, wherein a distance between a center of at least one barrier well and a center of at least one adjacent barrier well is greater than about 2 m.

51. The method of claim 30, further comprising desorbing methane from the formation.

52. The method of claim 30, further comprising pyrolyzing at least some hydrocarbon containing material in the treatment area.

53. The method of claim 30, further comprising producing synthesis gas from at least a portion of the formation.

54. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

providing a solvent to the treatment area such that the solvent dissolves a component in the treatment area; and

removing the solvent from the treatment area, wherein the removed solvent comprises the component.

55. The method of claim 30, further comprising sequestering a compound in at least a portion of the treatment area.

56. The method of claim 30, further comprising thawing at least a portion of the frozen barrier zone;

and wherein material in a thawed barrier zone area is substantially unaltered by the application of heat.

57. The method of claim 30, wherein the selected groundwater flow rate is less than about 50 m/day.

58. The method of claim 30, further comprising providing water to the frozen barrier zone.

59. The method of claim 30, further comprising positioning one or more monitoring wells outside the frozen barrier zone, and providing a tracer to the treatment area, and monitoring for movement of the tracer at the monitoring wells.

60. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

positioning one or more monitoring wells outside the frozen barrier zone;

providing an acoustic pulse to the treatment area; and

monitoring for the acoustic pulse at the monitoring wells.

61. The method of claim 30, wherein a fluid pressure in the treatment area can be controlled at fluid pressures different from a fluid pressure that exists in a surrounding portion of the formation.

62. The method of claim 30, wherein fluid pressure in an area at least partially bounded by the frozen barrier zone can be controlled higher than, or lower than, hydrostatic pressures that exist in a surrounding portion of the formation.

63. The method of claim 30, further comprising controlling compositions of fluids produced from the formation by controlling the fluid pressure in an area at least partially bounded by the frozen barrier zone.

64. The method of claim 30, wherein a portion of at least one of the plurality of barrier wells is positioned below a water table of the formation.

65. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation comprising:

providing a refrigerant to one or more barrier wells placed in a portion of the formation;

establishing a low temperature zone proximate a treatment area of the formation;

lowering a temperature in the low temperature zone to a temperature less than about a freezing temperature of water;

providing heat from one or more heaters to the treatment area of the formation; and

producing fluids from the formation.

66. The method of claim 65, further comprising forming a frozen barrier zone in the low temperature zone, wherein the frozen barrier zone hydraulically isolates the treatment area from a surrounding portion of the formation.

67. The method of claim 65, further comprising forming a frozen barrier zone in the low temperature zone, and wherein fluid pressure in an area at least partially bounded by the frozen barrier zone can be controlled at different fluid pressures from the fluid pressures that exist outside of the frozen barrier zone.

68. The method of claim 65, further comprising forming a frozen barrier zone in the low temperature zone, and wherein fluid pressure in an area at least partially bounded by the frozen barrier zone can be controlled higher than, or lower than, hydrostatic pressures that exist outside of the frozen barrier zone.

69. The method of claim 65, further comprising forming a frozen barrier zone in the low temperature zone, and wherein fluid pressure in an area at least partially bounded by the frozen barrier zone can be controlled higher than, or lower than, hydrostatic pressures that exist outside of the frozen barrier zone, and further comprising controlling compositions of fluids produced from the formation by controlling the fluid pressure in the area at least partially bounded by the frozen barrier zone.

70. The method of claim 65, further comprising thawing at least a portion of the low temperature zone, wherein material in the thawed portion is substantially unaltered by the application of heat such that the structural integrity of the hydrocarbon containing formation is substantially maintained.

71. The method of claim 65, wherein an inner boundary of the low temperature zone is determined by monitoring a pressure wave using one or more piezometers.

72. The method of claim 65, further comprising controlling a fluid pressure in the treatment area at a pressure less than about a formation fracture pressure.

73. The method of claim 65, further comprising positioning one or more monitoring wells outside the frozen barrier zone, providing an acoustic pulse to the treatment area, and monitoring for the acoustic pulse at the monitoring wells.

74. The method of claim 65, further comprising positioning a segment of at least one of the barrier wells below a water table of the formation.

75. The method of claim 65, further comprising positioning one or more of the barrier wells to establish a continuous low temperature zone.

76. The method of claim 65, wherein the refrigerant comprises propane.

77. The method of claim 65, wherein the refrigerant comprises ammonia.

78. The method of claim 65, wherein the refrigerant has a freezing point of less than about minus 60 degrees Celsius.

79. The method of claim 65, wherein the refrigerant is provided at a temperature of less than about minus 50 degrees Celsius.

80. The method of claim 65, wherein the refrigerant is provided at a temperature of less than about minus 25 degrees Celsius.

81. The method of claim 65, further comprising:

cooling at least a portion of the refrigerant in an absorption refrigeration unit; and

providing a thermal energy source to the absorption refrigeration unit.

82. The method of claim 65, wherein the thermal energy source comprises water.

83. The method of claim 65, wherein the thermal energy source comprises steam.

84. The method of claim 65, wherein the thermal energy source comprises at least a portion of the produced fluids.

85. The method of claim 65, wherein the thermal energy source comprises exhaust gas.

86. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

inhibiting migration of fluids into or out of a treatment area of the formation from a surrounding portion of the formation;

providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the treatment area;

allowing the heat to transfer from at least the portion to a selected section of the formation;

producing fluids from the formation;

providing a material to the treatment area; and

storing at least some of the material in the treatment area.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein the heat provided from at least one of the heaters is transferred to at least a portion of the formation substantially by conduction.

88. The method of claim 86, wherein the fluids are produced from the formation when a partial pressure of hydrogen in at least a portion of the formation is at least about 0.5 bars.

89. The method of claim 86, further comprising providing a barrier to at least a portion of the formation.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein at least a section of the barrier comprises one or more sulfur wells.

91. The method of claim 89, wherein at least a section of the barrier comprises one or more pumping wells.

92. The method of claim 89, wherein at least a section of the barrier comprises one or more injection wells and one or more pumping wells.

93. The method of claim 89, wherein at least a section of the barrier is naturally occurring.

94. The method of claim 86, further comprising establishing a barrier in at least a portion of the formation, and wherein heat is provided after at least a portion of the barrier has been established.

95. The method of claim 86, further comprising establishing a barrier in at least a portion of the formation, and wherein heat is provided while at least a portion of the barrier is being established.

96. The method of claim 86, further comprising providing a barrier to at least a portion of the formation, and wherein heat is provided before the barrier is established.

97. The method of claim 86, further comprising controlling an amount of fluid removed from the treatment area.

98. The method of claim 86, wherein inhibiting migration of fluids into or out of the treatment area of the formation from a surrounding portion of the formation comprises providing a low temperature zone to at least a portion of the formation.

99. The method of claim 86, wherein inhibiting migration of fluid into or out of the treatment area of the formation from a surrounding portion of the formation comprises providing a frozen barrier zone to at least a portion of the formation.

100. The method of claim 86, wherein inhibiting migration of fluids into or out of the treatment area of the formation from a surrounding portion of the formation comprises providing a grout wall.

101. The method of claim 86, further comprising inhibiting flow of water into or out of at least a portion of the treatment area.

102. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation comprising:

providing a barrier to at least a portion of the formation to inhibit migration of fluids into or out of a treatment area of the formation, wherein at least a section of the barrier comprises one or more sulfur wells;

providing heat from one or more heaters to the treatment area; and

producing fluids from the formation.

103. The method of claim 102, wherein the treatment area comprises a first treatment area and a second treatment area, and further comprising:

treating the first treatment area using a first treatment process; and

treating the second treatment area using a second treatment process.

104. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation comprising:

providing a barrier to at least a portion of the formation to inhibit migration of fluids into or out of a treatment area of the formation, wherein the barrier comprises a barrier well;

positioning at least a portion of the barrier well below a water table of the formation;

providing heat from one or more heaters to the treatment area; and

producing fluids from the formation.

105. The method of claim 104, wherein at least a section of the barrier comprises one or more sulfur wells.

106. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ, comprising:

providing a refrigerant to a plurality of barrier wells placed in a portion of the formation;

establishing a frozen barrier zone to inhibit migration of fluids into or out of a treatment area;

providing heat from one or more heaters to the treatment area;

sequestering a compound in at least a portion of the treatment area; and

producing fluids from the formation.

107. The method of claim 106, further comprising producing synthesis gas from at least a portion of the formation.

108. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation comprising:

providing a barrier to at least a portion of the formation to inhibit migration of fluids into or out of a treatment area of the formation;

providing heat from one or more heaters to the treatment area;

generating synthesis gas in at least a portion of the treatment area;

producing fluids from the formation.

109. The method of claim 108, wherein the heat provided from at least one of the heaters is transferred to at least a portion of the formation substantially by conduction.

110. The method of claim 108, wherein the fluids are produced from the formation when a partial pressure of hydrogen in at least a portion of the formation is at least 0.5 bars.