Methods of producing alkylated hydrocarbons from an in situ heat treatment process liquid

• US 7,581,589 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• 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: Mo, Weijian, Nair, Vijay, Roes, Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria, Mandema, Remco Hugo, Muylle, Michel Serge Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): SUCHFIELD, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US11/584,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20070131419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 166/267
• 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 producing alkylated hydrocarbons is disclosed. Formation fluid is produced from a subsurface in situ heat treatment process. The formation fluid is separated to produce a liquid stream and a first gas stream. The first gas stream includes olefins. The liquid stream is fractionated to produce at least a second gas stream including hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 3. The first gas stream and the second gas stream are introduced into an alkylation unit to produce alkylated hydrocarbons. At least a portion of the olefins in the first gas stream enhance alkylation.

Claims

1. A method for producing alkylated hydrocarbons, comprising:

producing formation fluid from a subsurface in situ heat treatment process;

separating the formation fluid to produce a liquid stream and a first gas stream, wherein the first gas stream comprises olefins;

fractionating at least a portion of the liquid stream to produce at least a second gas stream comprising hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 3; and

introducing at least a portion of the first gas stream and at least a portion of the second gas stream into an alkylation unit to produce alkylated hydrocarbons, wherein at least a portion of the olefins in the first gas stream enhance alkylation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the olefins in the first gas stream comprise hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 3.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the olefins in the first and second gas streams are selected from a group consisting of propylene, butylenes, amylenes, and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the alkylated hydrocarbons comprise hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 4.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the alkylated hydrocarbons are selected from a group consisting of butanes, pentanes, hexanes, heptanes, and mixtures thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein fractionating the liquid stream produces an additional hydrocarbon stream comprising hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 5.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein fractionating the liquid stream produces an additional hydrocarbon stream, the additional hydrocarbon stream comprising hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 5, and further comprising providing at least a portion of the hydrocarbon stream to the alkylation unit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein fractionating the liquid stream produces an additional hydrocarbon stream, the additional hydrocarbon stream having an initial boiling point of at least 343°

C. at 0.101 MPa as determined by ASTM Method D2887.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein fractionating the liquid stream produces an additional hydrocarbon stream, the additional hydrocarbon stream having an initial boiling point of at least 343°

C. at 0.101 MPa as determined by ASTM Method D2887, and the method further comprising;

catalytically cracking the additional hydrocarbon stream to produce another hydrocarbon stream comprising hydrocarbons having a carbon number from 3 to 5; and

providing at least a portion of the C₃-C₅ hydrocarbon stream to the alkylation unit.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein fractionating the liquid stream produces an additional hydrocarbon stream, the additional hydrocarbon stream comprising naphtha, and the method further comprising blending at least a portion of the additional hydrocarbon stream with formation fluid to produce a blended fluid.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising blending at least a portion of the alkylated hydrocarbons with other components to produce gasoline.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising blending at least a portion of the alkylated hydrocarbons with other components to produce transportation fuel.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the olefins in the first gas stream are selected from a group consisting of propylene, butylenes, amylenes, and combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the olefins in the second gas stream are selected from a group consisting of propylene, butylenes, amylenes, and combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein fractionating the liquid stream produces an additional hydrocarbon stream, the additional hydrocarbon stream comprising naphtha, and blending at least a portion of the naphtha with at least a portion of the produced formation fluid to produce a blended fluid, wherein the blended fluid has a reduced amount of di-olefins as compared to the amount of di-olefins in the formation fluid.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein fractionating the liquid stream produces an additional hydrocarbon stream, the additional hydrocarbon stream comprising naphtha, and blending at least a portion of the naphtha with at least a portion of the produced formation fluid to produce a blended fluid, wherein the blended fluid is suitable for use in a refining unit.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein fractionating the liquid stream produces an additional hydrocarbon stream, the additional hydrocarbon stream comprising naphtha, and blending at least a portion of the naphtha with at least a portion of the produced formation fluid to produce a blended fluid, wherein the blended fluid is suitable for transportation.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gas stream comprises olefins and the second gas stream comprises iso-paraffins having carbon numbers ranging from 3 to 5.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gas stream comprises substantially olefins and the second gas stream comprises substantially iso-paraffins having carbon numbers ranging from 3 to 5.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein fractionating the liquid stream produces a bottoms stream having boiling range distribution between 343°

C. and 538°

C. at 0.101 MPa as determined by ASTM Method D2887; and

the method further comprising;

catalytically cracking the bottoms stream to produce an additional hydrocarbon stream comprising hydrocarbons having carbon numbers from 3 to 5; and

providing at least a portion of the C₃-C₅ hydrocarbon stream to the alkylation unit.