STEAM DRIVEN DIRECT CONTACT STEAM GENERATION

• US 20120000642A1
• Filed: 09/12/2011
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ex-Tar Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ex-Tar Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: BETZER TSILEVICH, Maoz
• Granted Patent: US 9,114,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/57
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 1/14 with heated gases or vapours or liquids in contact with the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B03D 1/02 Froth-flotation processes
• CPC Class Codes: B03D 1/24 Pneumatic mixing gases or vapours with liquids B01F23/20
• CPC Class Codes: B03D 2203/006 Oil well fluids, oil sands, bitumen
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/24 using heat, e.g. steam injection
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/241 combined with solution mining of non-hydrocarbon minerals, e.g. solvent pyrolysis of oil shale
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/35 specially adapted for separating solids down-hole drilling fluid separation systems E21B21/002; separating solids from drilling fluids E21B21/065
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/40 Separation associated with re-injection of separated materials E21B43/385 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method for steam production for oil production. The method includes generating steam, mixing the steam with water containing solids and organics, separating solids, and injecting the steam through an injection well or using it above ground for oil recovery, such as for generating hot process water. The system includes a steam drive direct contact steam generator. The water feed of the present invention can be hot produced water separated from a produced oil emulsion and/or low quality water salvaged from industrial plants, such as refineries and tailings from an oilsands mine.

Claims

1. A method for steam production for extraction of oil, said method comprising the steps of:

generating steam through indirect heat exchange;

mixing said steam with liquid water having solids and organics contaminates, so as to transfer said liquid water from a liquid phase to a gas phase; and

removing solids to produce solids free gas phase steam.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of said generated produced steam is recycled and heated indirectly before being mixed with the said liquid water having solids and organics contaminates.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said generated superheated steam is generated in a boiler from treated water flow before mixed with said liquid water having solids and organics contaminates.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

circulating the portion of the produced steam in a steam ejector, wherein steam for operating said steam ejector is added to the produced steam.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

injecting the produced steam to recover oil through an oil injection well.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the feed water is comprised of hydrocarbons that converted to gas and mixed with the steam.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

adding solvents to the produced steam prior to injecting underground.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

scrubbing a portion of the produced steam by mixing with saturated water and recycling the saturated water with the scrubbed contaminates back to the step of mixing the contaminated water with said super heated steam.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

adding chemicals to said saturated scrubbing water so as to improve scrubbing performance of contaminates.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

using a portion of the scrubbed steam as recycle fluid through an heater to generate said superheated steam.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

producing oil and water from a production well;

separating portion of the water from hydrocarbons, solvents, and solids contaminates; and

mixing said produced water with said superheated steam.

2. A method for steam production for oil production, said method comprising the steps of:

generating steam through indirect heat exchange;

using the generated steam energy to directly gasify liquid water with solids and organic contaminated, so as to transfer said liquid water from a liquid phase to a gas phase;

removing solids to produce solids free gas phase steam;

condensing the generate steam to generate heat and water; and

using the generated heat and water for oil production.

15. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

separating non-condensable gases, having hydrocarbons and solvent remains, from the condensed hot water; and

combusting said non-condensable gases generating said superheated steam.

3. A system for producing steam for extract heavy bitumen, the system comprising:

a heat exchanger means for indirectly heating water to generate superheated steam;

a steam drive direct contact steam generator, mixing steam generated by said heater with water containing levels of solids therein to form a steam stream and solids discharged streams, wherein said steam drive direct contact steam generator is in fluid connection to said heater; and

an enhanced oil recovery facility in fluid connection to said steam drive direct contact steam generator.

17. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a production well producing a mixture of water, oil and gas;

a separator fluidly connected to the production well for reparations portion of the produce water from the oil, being fluidly connected to said direct contact steam generator; and

a heater for generating said superheated driving steam.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a high pressure steam supply to an ejector; and

an ejector means for recycling portion of said produced steam from said direct contact steam generator to said heater to generate said driving superheated driving steam.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said direct contact steam generator and said heater are located on a well pad in proximity to the steam injection well.

4. A system for producing steam for extract oil production bitumen, the system comprising:

a pressurized longitude mixing chamber means for directly mixing steam and water;

an internal rotating element within the mixing chamber, said rotating element enhancing the mixture between the steam and the water; and

an inlet for steam, an inlet for water, an outlet for waste and an outlet for steam.

5. A system for producing steam for extract oil production bitumen, the system comprising:

a pressurized longitude mixing chamber means for directly mixing steam and water;

a water inlet located at the upper section of the enclosure;

a steam injection inlet located below the water inlet;

a produced steam outlet located above the injection steam inlet; and

a waste outlet located at the lower point of the system.