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

• US 8,230,927 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2011
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• 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: Fairbanks, Michael David, Keltner, Thomas Joseph, McKinzie, Billy John II, Hirshblond, Stephen Palmer
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates, Zakiya W
• Application Number:
  US13/108,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20110303413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 166/302
• 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 configured to heat a portion of a formation includes a plurality of heat sources. 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 method, comprising:

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

allowing formation fluid to flow to a sump located below the heated portion of the formation in a production well; and

pumping formation fluid in the sump to remove a portion of the formation fluid from the formation, wherein pumping formation fluid comprises cyclically;

allowing formation fluid into a lift chamber in the sump;

inhibiting formation fluid from entering the lift chamber;

allowing lift gas to enter the lift chamber;

forcing the formation fluid in the lift chamber out of the lift chamber and out of the formation with the lift gas; and

inhibiting lift gas from entering the lift chamber.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing a portion of vapor phase formation fluid through a production conduit.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising inhibiting condensed vapor phase formation fluid from contacting the heated portion of the formation.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing a portion of vapor phase formation fluid through an annular space between a well casing and a production conduit.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising inhibiting condensed vapor phase formation fluid from contacting the heated portion of the formation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the formation fluid comprises hydrocarbons.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising producing transportation fuel from at least a portion of the hydrocarbons.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising both allowing formation fluid into the lift chamber and inhibiting formation fluid from entering the lift chamber using a check valve.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising both allowing lift gas to enter the lift chamber and inhibiting lift gas from entering the lift chamber using a lift gas injection valve coupled to the lift chamber.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising forcing the formation fluid in the lift chamber out of the lift chamber and out of the formation through a production conduit coupled to the lift chamber.

11. A method, comprising:

providing heat to a portion of a formation from a plurality of heat sources;

mobilizing at least some fluid in the formation with the provided heat; and

removing mobilized fluid from a sump located below the heated portion of the formation in a production well, wherein removing mobilized fluid comprises cyclically;

allowing mobilized fluid into a lift chamber in the sump using a check valve;

allowing lift gas to enter the lift chamber; and

forcing the formation fluid in the lift chamber out of the lift chamber and out of the formation with the lift gas.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising inhibiting formation fluid from entering the lift chamber using the check valve.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising inhibiting lift gas from entering the lift chamber.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising removing a portion of vapor phase formation fluid through a production conduit.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising inhibiting condensed vapor phase formation fluid from contacting the heated portion of the formation.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising removing a portion of vapor phase formation fluid through an annular space between a well casing and a production conduit.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising inhibiting condensed vapor phase formation fluid from contacting the heated portion of the formation.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the formation fluid comprises hydrocarbons.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising both allowing lift gas to enter the lift chamber and inhibiting lift gas from entering the lift chamber using a lift gas injection valve coupled to the lift chamber.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising forcing the formation fluid in the lift chamber out of the lift chamber and out of the formation through a production conduit coupled to the lift chamber.