Solution mining systems and methods for treating hydrocarbon containing formations

• US 7,559,368 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: de Rouffignac, Eric Pierre, Vinegar, Harold J., Schoeling, Lanny Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): SUCHFIELD, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US11/584,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20070221377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 299 3- 5
• US Class Current: 166/272.6
• 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 nahcolite is disclosed. The method includes providing a first fluid to a portion of the formation through at least two injection wells. A second fluid is produced from the portion through at least one injection well until at least two injection wells are interconnected such that fluid can flow between the two injection wells. The second fluid includes at least some nahcolite dissolved in the first fluid. The first fluid is injected through one of the interconnected injection wells. The second fluid is produced from at least one of the interconnected injection wells. Heat is provided from one or more heaters to the formation to heat the formation. Hydrocarbon fluids are produced from the formation.

Claims

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

providing a first fluid to a portion of the formation through at least two injection wells;

producing a second fluid from the portion through at least one injection well until at least two injection wells are interconnected such that fluid can flow between the two injection wells, wherein the second fluid includes at least some nahcolite dissolved in the first fluid, and wherein producing the second fluid from the portion causes selective vertical shifting of the portion such that the hydrocarbon richness of the portion that has been vertically shifted is increased;

injecting the first fluid through one of the interconnected injection wells;

producing the second fluid from at least one of the interconnected injection wells;

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

producing hydrocarbon fluids from the formation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising leaving a section of substantially impermeable material to the side of the portion to inhibit fluid flow into or out of the portion.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising leaving a section of substantially impermeable material above the portion to inhibit fluid flow into or out of the portion.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising forming a barrier that extends into the impermeable material.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one well used to provide the first fluid into the portion and/or to remove the second fluid from the portion is also used to remove hydrocarbon containing fluid from the portion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the first fluid comprises introducing the first fluid through a first injection well and a second injection well, wherein the introduction of the first fluid increases the permeability of the portion adjacent to the first injection well and the second injection well, and where the increased permeability adjacent the first injection well overlaps the increased permeability adjacent the second injection well to allow introduction of the first fluid through the first injection well and removal of the second fluid through the second injection well.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fluid comprises hot water.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating the first fluid with heat recovered from a previously treated portion of the formation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second fluid comprises at least some sodium bicarbonate, the method further comprising introducing at least some of the second fluid into a second portion of the formation to convert at least some of the sodium bicarbonate to soda ash, and producing a third fluid comprising soda ash from the second portion.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising absorbing at least a portion of carbon dioxide generated during conversion of sodium bicarbonate to soda ash into the second portion.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second fluid comprises at least some sodium bicarbonate, the method further comprising flowing at least some of the second fluid into and out of one or more wellbores in the formation to transfer heat to the second fluid, wherein the transferred heat converts at least a portion of the sodium bicarbonate in the second fluid to soda ash.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating the portion to a temperature above a mobilization temperature of hydrocarbons in the portion with heat provided from one or more of the heaters, and producing at least some mobilized hydrocarbons from the portion.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating the portion to a temperature above a pyrolysis temperature of hydrocarbons in the portion with heat provided from one or more of the heaters, and producing at least some pyrolyzed hydrocarbons from the portion.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing at least a portion of the hydrocarbons to produce one or more crude products;

and blending at least one of the crude products with one or more components to produce transportation fuel.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

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

producing the dissolved dawsonite decomposition products.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature of the first fluid is selected to inhibit plugging of production wells in the formation during production of hydrocarbon fluids.

17. A method for treating an oil shale formation comprising nahcolite, the method comprising:

providing a first fluid to a first portion of the formation through at least two injection wells;

producing a second fluid from the first portion through at least one injection well until at least two injection wells are interconnected such that fluid can flow between the two injection wells, wherein the second fluid includes at least some nahcolite dissolved in the first fluid, and wherein the second fluid comprises at least some sodium bicarbonate;

injecting the first fluid through one of the interconnected injection wells;

producing the second fluid from at least one of the interconnected injection wells;

introducing at least some of the second fluid into a second portion of the formation to convert at least some of the sodium bicarbonate to soda ash;

producing a third fluid comprising soda ash from the second portion;

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

producing hydrocarbon fluids from the formation.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising leaving a section of substantially impermeable material to the side of the first portion to inhibit fluid flow into or out of the first portion.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising leaving a section of substantially impermeable material above the first portion to inhibit fluid flow into or out of the first portion.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising forming a barrier that extends into the impermeable material.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one well used to provide the first fluid into the first portion and/or to remove the second fluid from the first portion is also used to remove hydrocarbon containing fluid from the first portion.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein providing the first fluid comprises introducing the first fluid through a first injection well and a second injection well, wherein the introduction of the first fluid increases the permeability of the first portion adjacent to the first injection well and the second injection well, and where the increased permeability adjacent the first injection well overlaps the increased permeability adjacent the second injection well to allow introduction of the first fluid through the first injection well and removal of the second fluid through the second injection well.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the first fluid comprises hot water.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising heating the first fluid with heat recovered from a previously treated portion of the formation.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising absorbing at least a portion of carbon dioxide generated during conversion of sodium bicarbonate to soda ash into the second portion.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising flowing at least some of the second fluid into and out of one or more wellbores in the formation to transfer heat to the second fluid, wherein the transferred heat converts at least a portion of the sodium bicarbonate in the second fluid to soda ash.

27. The method of claim 17, further comprising heating the portion to a temperature above a mobilization temperature of hydrocarbons in the portion with heat provided from one or more of the heaters, and producing at least some mobilized hydrocarbons from the portion.

28. The method of claim 17, further comprising heating the first portion to a temperature above a pyrolysis temperature of hydrocarbons in the first portion with heat provided from one or more of the heaters, and producing at least some pyrolyzed hydrocarbons from the first portion.

29. The method of claim 17, further comprising processing at least a portion of the hydrocarbons to produce one or more crude products;

and blending at least one of the crude products with one or more components to produce transportation fuel.

30. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

decomposing at least some dawsonite in the first portion with the provided heat;

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

producing the dissolved dawsonite decomposition products.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein the temperature of the first fluid is selected to inhibit plugging of production wells in the formation during production of hydrocarbon fluids.

32. A method for treating an oil shale formation comprising nahcolite, the method comprising:

providing a first fluid to a portion of the formation through at least two injection wells;

producing a second fluid from the portion through at least one injection well until at least two injection wells are interconnected such that fluid can flow between the two injection wells, wherein the second fluid includes at least some nahcolite dissolved in the first fluid, and wherein the second fluid comprises at least some sodium bicarbonate;

injecting the first fluid through one of the interconnected injection wells;

producing the second fluid from at least one of the interconnected injection wells;

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

flowing at least some of the second fluid into and out of one or more wellbores in the formation to transfer heat to the second fluid, wherein the transferred heat converts at least a portion of the sodium bicarbonate in the second fluid to soda ash; and

producing hydrocarbon fluids from the formation.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising leaving a section of substantially impermeable material to the side of the portion to inhibit fluid flow into or out of the portion.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising leaving a section of substantially impermeable material above the portion to inhibit fluid flow into or out of the portion.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising forming a barrier that extends into the impermeable material.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one well used to provide the first fluid into the portion and/or to remove the second fluid from the portion is also used to remove hydrocarbon containing fluid from the portion.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein providing the first fluid comprises introducing the first fluid through a first injection well and a second injection well, wherein the introduction of the first fluid increases the permeability of the portion adjacent to the first injection well and the second injection well, and where the increased permeability adjacent the first injection well overlaps the increased permeability adjacent the second injection well to allow introduction of the first fluid through the first injection well and removal of the second fluid through the second injection well.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the first fluid comprises hot water.

39. The method of claim 32, further comprising heating the first fluid with heat recovered from a previously treated portion of the formation.

40. The method of claim 32, further comprising absorbing at least a portion of carbon dioxide generated during conversion of sodium bicarbonate to soda ash into the second portion.

41. The method of claim 32, further comprising heating the portion to a temperature above a mobilization temperature of hydrocarbons in the portion with heat provided from one or more of the heaters, and producing at least some mobilized hydrocarbons from the portion.

42. The method of claim 32, further comprising heating the portion to a temperature above a pyrolysis temperature of hydrocarbons in the portion with heat provided from one or more of the heaters, and producing at least some pyrolyzed hydrocarbons from the portion.

43. The method of claim 32, further comprising processing at least a portion of the hydrocarbons to produce one or more crude products;

and blending at least one of the crude products with one or more components to produce transportation fuel.

44. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

decomposing at least some dawsonite in the first portion with the provided heat;

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

producing the dissolved dawsonite decomposition products.

45. The method of claim 32, wherein the temperature of the first fluid is selected to inhibit plugging of production wells in the formation during production of hydrocarbon fluids.

46. A method for treating an oil shale formation comprising nahcolite, the method comprising:

providing a first fluid to a portion of the formation through at least two injection wells;

producing a second fluid from the portion through at least one injection well until at least two injection wells are interconnected such that fluid can flow between the two injection wells, wherein the second fluid includes at least some nahcolite dissolved in the first fluid;

injecting the first fluid through one of the interconnected injection wells;

producing the second fluid from at least one of the interconnected injection wells;

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 portion with the provided heat;

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

producing the dissolved dawsonite decomposition products.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising leaving a section of substantially impermeable material to the side of the portion to inhibit fluid flow into or out of the portion.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising leaving a section of substantially impermeable material above the portion to inhibit fluid flow into or out of the portion.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising forming a barrier that extends into the impermeable material.

50. The method of claim 46, wherein at least one well used to provide the first fluid into the portion and/or to remove the second fluid from the portion is also used to remove hydrocarbon containing fluid from the portion.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein providing the first fluid comprises introducing the first fluid through a first injection well and a second injection well, wherein the introduction of the first fluid increases the permeability of the portion adjacent to the first injection well and the second injection well, and where the increased permeability adjacent the first injection well overlaps the increased permeability adjacent the second injection well to allow introduction of the first fluid through the first injection well and removal of the second fluid through the second injection well.

52. The method of claim 46, wherein the first fluid comprises hot water.

53. The method of claim 46, further comprising heating the first fluid with heat recovered from a previously treated portion of the formation.

54. The method of claim 46, further comprising heating the portion to a temperature above a mobilization temperature of hydrocarbons in the portion with heat provided from one or more of the heaters, and producing at least some mobilized hydrocarbons from the portion.

55. The method of claim 46, further comprising heating the portion to a temperature above a pyrolysis temperature of hydrocarbons in the portion with heat provided from one or more of the heaters, and producing at least some pyrolyzed hydrocarbons from the portion.

56. The method of claim 46, further comprising processing at least a portion of the hydrocarbons to produce one or more crude products;

and blending at least one of the crude products with one or more components to produce transportation fuel.

57. The method of claim 46, wherein the temperature of the first fluid is selected to inhibit plugging of production wells in the formation during production of hydrocarbon fluids.