Cogeneration systems and processes for treating hydrocarbon containing formations

• US 7,635,025 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Issued: 12/22/2009
• 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: Karanikas, John Michael, Vinegar, Harold J., Fowler, Thomas David
• Primary Examiner(s): SUCHFIELD, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US11/584,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20070095536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 166/272.3
• 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 system for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation includes a steam and electricity cogeneration facility. At least one injection well is located in a first portion of the formation. The injection well provides steam from the steam and electricity cogeneration facility to the first portion of the formation. At least one production well is located in the first portion of the formation. The production well in the first portion produces first hydrocarbons. At least one electrical heater is located in a second portion of the formation. At least one of the electrical heaters is powered by electricity from the steam and electricity cogeneration facility. At least one production well is located in the second portion of the formation. The production well in the second portion produces second hydrocarbons. The steam and electricity cogeneration facility uses the first hydrocarbons and/or the second hydrocarbons to generate electricity.

Claims

1. A system for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

a steam and electricity cogeneration facility;

at least one injection well located in a first portion of the formation, the injection well configured to provide steam from the steam and electricity cogeneration facility to the first portion of the formation;

at least one production well located in the first portion of the formation, the production well configured to produce first hydrocarbons;

at least one electrical heater located in a second portion of the formation, at least one of the electrical heaters configured to be powered by electricity from the steam and electricity cogeneration facility;

at least one production well located in the second portion of the formation, the production well configured to produce second hydrocarbons; and

the steam and electricity cogeneration facility being configured to use at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons and/or the second hydrocarbons to generate electricity, wherein at least a portion of the generated electricity is made in one or more generators, and at least some exhaust heat from at least one of the generators is configured to be used to make steam.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the steam and electricity cogeneration facility is configured to use hydrocarbons to make steam.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons have an API gravity of at most about 15°

.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the second hydrocarbons have an API gravity of at least about 20°

.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to mix at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons and at least a portion of the second hydrocarbons.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to vary the amount of electricity generated and the amount of steam made to vary the production of at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons and/or the second hydrocarbons.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a treatment facility for treating at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons and/or second hydrocarbons before use in the steam and electricity cogeneration facility.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the steam and electricity cogeneration facility is configured to bum both gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions are separated from each other by a barrier or by a substantially impermeable zone of the formation.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the formation comprises different layers at different depths.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first portion is at a depth that is different from the second portion, and wherein the first portion comprises different initial hydrocarbon properties than the second portion.

12. A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

providing steam to a first portion of the formation;

producing at least some first hydrocarbons from the first portion of the formation;

providing heat from one or more electrical heaters to a second portion of the formation;

allowing the provided heat to transfer from the heaters to the second portion of the formation;

producing at least some second hydrocarbons from the second portion of the formation;

using at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons and/or the second hydrocarbons in a steam and electricity generation facility, wherein the facility provides steam to the first portion of the formation and electricity for at least some of the heaters; and

using at least a portion of the second hydrocarbons as a gas for one or more additional heaters in the formation, wherein at least one of the additional heaters is configured to combust the gas.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising using at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons and/or the second hydrocarbons to make electricity in one or more generators, and using at least some exhaust from at least one of the generators to make steam.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising burning at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons and/or at least a portion of the second hydrocarbons to make steam.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons have an API gravity of at most about 15°

.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the second hydrocarbons have an API gravity of at least about 20°

.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising mixing at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons and at least a portion of the second hydrocarbons.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising mixing at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons and at least a portion of the second hydrocarbons to make a fuel for electrical generators.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising using all of the first hydrocarbons and/or the second hydrocarbons as fuel for generating electricity and/or to make steam.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising varying the amount of electricity generated and the amount of steam made to vary the production of the first hydrocarbons and/or the second hydrocarbons.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing steam to the second portion prior to providing heat from the electrical heaters.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising producing a transportation fuel from at least some of the first and/or the second hydrocarbons.

23. A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

providing steam to a first portion of the formation;

providing heat from one or more electrical heaters to the first portion of the formation;

producing first hydrocarbons and/or second hydrocarbons from the first portion of the formation;

providing heat from one or more electrical heaters to a second portion of the formation;

allowing the provided heat to transfer from the heaters to the second portion of the formation;

producing second hydrocarbons from the second portion of the formation; and

using the first hydrocarbons and/or the second hydrocarbons in a steam and electricity generation facility, wherein the facility provides steam to the first portion of the formation and electricity for at least some of the heaters.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising using at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons and/or at least a portion of the second hydrocarbons to make electricity.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising using at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons and/or at least a portion of the second hydrocarbons to make steam.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons have an API gravity of at most about 15°

.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the second hydrocarbons have an API gravity of at least about 20°

.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising varying the amount of electricity generated and the amount of steam made to vary the production of the first hydrocarbons and/or the second hydrocarbons.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising allowing heat and/or hydrocarbons to transfer between the first and the second portions.

30. The method of claim 23, further comprising producing a transportation fuel from at least some of the first and/or the second hydrocarbons.

31. A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

providing steam to a first portion of the formation;

producing first hydrocarbons from the first portion of the formation;

providing heat from one or more electrical heaters to a second portion of the formation;

allowing the provided heat to transfer from the heaters to the second portion of the formation;

providing steam to the second portion of the formation;

producing first hydrocarbons and/or second hydrocarbons from the second portion of the formation;

using the first hydrocarbons and/or the second hydrocarbons in a steam and electricity generation facility, wherein the facility provides steam to the first portion or the second portion of the formation and electricity for at least some of the heaters; and

providing heat from one or more electrical heaters to the first portion of the formation, and producing first hydrocarbons and/or second hydrocarbons from the first portion of the formation.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising using at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons and/or at least a portion of the second hydrocarbons to make electricity.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising using at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons and/or at least a portion of the second hydrocarbons to make steam.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons have an API gravity of at most about 15°

.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein at least a portion of the second hydrocarbons have an API gravity of at least about 20°

.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising varying the amount of electricity generated and the amount of steam made to vary the production of the first hydrocarbons and/or the second hydrocarbons.

37. The method of claim 31, further comprising allowing heat and/or hydrocarbons to transfer between the first and the second portions.

38. The method of claim 31, further comprising producing a transportation fuel from at least some of the first and/or the second hydrocarbons.

39. A system for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

a steam and electricity cogeneration facility;

at least one injection well located in a first portion of the formation, the injection well configured to provide steam from the steam and electricity cogeneration facility to the first portion of the formation;

at least one production well located in the first portion of the formation, the production well configured to produce first hydrocarbons;

at least one electrical heater located in a second portion of the formation, at least one of the electrical heaters configured to be powered by electricity from the steam and electricity cogeneration facility;

at least one production well located in the second portion of the formation, the production well configured to produce second hydrocarbons;

wherein the first and second portions are separated from each other by a barrier or by a substantially impermeable zone of the formation; and

the steam and electricity cogeneration facility is configured to use at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons and/or the second hydrocarbons to generate electricity.

40. A system for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

a steam and electricity cogeneration facility;

at least one injection well located in a first portion of the formation, the injection well configured to provide steam from the steam and electricity cogeneration facility to the first portion of the formation;

at least one production well located in the first portion of the formation, the production well configured to produce first hydrocarbons;

at least one electrical heater located in a second portion of the formation, at least one of the electrical heaters configured to be powered by electricity from the steam and electricity cogeneration facility;

at least one production well located in the second portion of the formation, the production well configured to produce second hydrocarbons;

wherein the first portion is at a depth that is different from the second portion, and the first portion comprises different initial hydrocarbon properties than the second portion; and

the steam and electricity cogeneration facility is configured to use at least a portion of the first hydrocarbons and/or the second hydrocarbons to generate electricity.