Solution mining dawsonite from hydrocarbon containing formations with a chelating agent

• US 7,556,095 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Vinegar, Harold J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SUCHFIELD, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US11/584,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20070095537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 166/250.01
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/002 in combination with oil conversion- or refining processes
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/02 by distillation
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/308 Gravity, density, e.g. API
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 9/24 by heating with electrical means
• 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 43/281 using heat
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/34 Arrangements for separating materials produced by the well
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]

Abstract

A method for treating an oil shale formation comprising dawsonite includes providing heat from one or more heaters to the formation to heat the formation. Hydrocarbon fluids are produced from the formation. At least some dawsonite in the formation is decomposed with the provided heat. A chelating agent is provided to the formation to dissolve at least some dawsonite decomposition products. The dissolved dawsonite decomposition products are produced from the formation.

Claims

1. A method for treating an oil shale formation comprising dawsonite, the method comprising:

providing heat from one or more heaters to the formation to heat the formation;

producing hydrocarbon fluids from the formation;

decomposing at least some dawsonite in the formation with the provided heat;

providing a chelating agent to the formation to dissolve at least some dawsonite decomposition products; and

producing the dissolved dawsonite decomposition products.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a first fluid to a portion of the formation comprising nahcolite; and

producing a second fluid from the portion, the second fluid including at least some nahcolite dissolved in the first fluid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the dissolved decomposition products comprise alumina.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the chelating agent is an aqueous acid.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the chelating agent is EDTA.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the chelating agent through one or more injection wells in the formation.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the chelating agent through one or more production wells in the formation.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the chelating agent through one or more heater wells in the formation.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising separating the chelating agent from the dissolved decomposition products in a treatment facility.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising recovering chelating agent from the dissolved decomposition products, and recycling the recovered chelating agent back into the formation to dissolve dawsonite decomposition products.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a relatively basic fluid to the formation to dissolve at least some dawsonite decomposition products; and

producing the dissolved dawsonite decomposition products.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assessing a dawsonite composition of one or more zones in the formation; and

providing heat from one or more heaters to the formation such that different amounts of heat are provided to zones with different dawsonite compositions.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing more heat from heaters in or proximate zones with dawsonite than from heaters in or proximate zones with little or no dawsonite.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing aluminum metal from the dissolved decomposition products in a process that utilizes electricity that has been generated using hydrocarbons produced from the formation.

15. A method for producing aluminum, the method comprising:

providing heat from one or more heaters to an oil shale formation to heat the formation;

producing hydrocarbon fluids from the formation;

decomposing at least some dawsonite in the formation with the provided heat;

providing a chelating agent to the formation to dissolve at least some dawsonite decomposition products;

producing the dissolved dawsonite decomposition products from the formation;

separating alumina from the dissolved dawsonite decomposition products;

using some of the produced hydrocarbon fluids to produce electricity; and

producing aluminum metal from the alumina in an electrolytic recovery process,

using the produced electricity as power for the electrolytic recovery process.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising separating the chelating agent from the dissolved decomposition products in a treatment facility.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising recovering chelating agent from the dissolved decomposition products, and recycling the recovered chealating agent back into the formation to dissolve dawsonite decomposition products.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing a relatively basic fluid to the formation to dissolve at least some dawsonite decomposition products; and

producing the dissolved dawsonite decomposition products.

19. A method for producing aluminum, the method comprising:

providing heat from one or more heaters to an oil shale formation to heat the formation;

producing hydrocarbon fluids from the formation;

decomposing at least some dawsonite in the formation with the provided heat;

providing a chelating agent to the formation to dissolve at least some dawsonite decomposition products;

producing the dissolved dawsonite decomposition products from the formation;

separating alumina from the dissolved dawsonite decomposition products;

using some of the produced hydrocarbon fluids to produce electricity; and

producing aluminum metal from the alumina using the produced electricity.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising separating the chelating agent from the dissolved decomposition products in a treatment facility.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising recovering chelating agent from the dissolved decomposition products, and recycling the recovered chelating agent back into the formation to dissolve dawsonite decomposition products.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing a relatively basic fluid to the formation to dissolve at least some dawsonite decomposition products; and

producing the dissolved dawsonite decomposition products.