Methods and systems for producing fluid from an in situ conversion process

• US 7,942,197 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Keltner, Thomas Joseph, Hirshblond, Stephen Palmer, McKinzie, Billy John II, Fairbanks, Michael David
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates; Zakiya W.
• Application Number:
  US11/409,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20070133961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 166/61
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 4/02 by cracking a single hydrocarbon or a mixture of individually defined hydrocarbons or a normally gaseous hydrocarbon fraction
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 9/04 Methane production by treatment of sewage C02F11/04; natural gas, synthetic natural gas C10L3/06
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/028 Electrical or electro-magnetic connections
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/001 Cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/04 using electrical heaters
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/24 using heat, e.g. steam injection
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/243 Combustion in situ
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49179 by metal fusion bonding

Abstract

A system that includes a plurality of heat sources configured to heat a portion of a formation is described. At least one production well is in the formation. A bottom portion of the production well is a sump in an underburden of the formation below the heated portion of the formation. Fluids from the heated portion of the formation are allowed to flow into the sump. A pump system has an inlet in the sump. A production conduit is coupled to the pump system. The production conduit is configured to transport fluids in the sump out of the formation.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a plurality of heat sources configured to heat a portion of a formation;

at least one production well in the formation, wherein a bottom portion of the production well is a sump below the heated portion of the formation, wherein fluids from the heated portion of the formation are allowed to flow into the sump;

a lift chamber in the sump;

a check valve in the lift chamber configured to allow or inhibit formation fluid in the sump entering the lift chamber;

a lift gas injection valve coupled to the lift chamber and configured to allow or inhibit entry of lift gas into the lift chamber; and

a production conduit coupled to the lift chamber, wherein the production conduit is configured to transport fluids in the lift chamber out of the formation.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a two-phase separator configured to inhibit vapor phase formation fluids from entering the lift chamber.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second production conduit configured to transport vapor phase formation fluid out of the formation.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a diverter configured to inhibit contact of condensate from the second production conduit from contacting the heated portion of the formation.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a portion of the production conduit is positioned in a well casing, and wherein vapor phase formation fluid is transported out of the formation through an annular space between the well casing and the production conduit.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a diverter configured to inhibit contact of condensate of vapor phase formation fluid from contacting the heated portion of the formation.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a gas vent in a dip tube in the lift chamber, the gas vent configured to allow gas phase formation fluid entering the lift chamber to pass into the production conduit, and wherein the gas vent is sized to inhibit excess bypass of lift gas when the lift gas injection valve allows lift gas to enter the lift chamber.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a check valve configured to allow vapor into the production conduit when the lift gas injection valve inhibits entry of lift gas into the lift chamber.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to allow vapor phase formation fluid to be removed through an annular space between the production conduit and the wall of the production well.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluids from the heated portion of the formation comprise hydrocarbons.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluids from the heated portion of the formation comprise mobilized hydrocarbons.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluids from the heated portion of the formation comprise pyrolyzed hydrocarbons.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluids from the heated portion of the formation comprise mobilized and pyrolyzed hydrocarbons.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the lift gas injection valve is located in the formation.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the check valve is coupled to the bottom of the production conduit.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the check valve is located at or near the bottom of the production conduit.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a dip tube in the lift chamber.

18. A system, comprising:

a plurality of heat sources configured to heat a portion of a formation;

at least one production well in the formation, wherein a bottom portion of the production well is a sump below the heated portion of the formation, wherein fluids from the heated portion of the formation are allowed to flow into the sump;

a lift chamber in the sump;

a check valve in the lift chamber configured to allow or inhibit formation fluid in the sump entering the lift chamber; and

a production conduit coupled to the lift chamber, wherein the production conduit is configured to transport fluids in the lift chamber out of the formation.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a dip tube in the lift chamber.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the check valve is located at or near the bottom of the production conduit.