Integrated system and method for steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD)-heavy oil production to produce super-heated steam without liquid waste discharge
First Claim
1. A method for producing steam and gas mixtures for extracting heavy bitumen, the method comprising the steps of:
- mixing fuel with oxidation gases, said fuel being selected from a group consisting of coal, crude oil, vacuum residue, asphaltin and petroleum coke, said oxidation gases being selected from a group consisting of oxygen, oxygen-enriched air, and air;
combusting the mixture in a pressure and temperature controlled environment;
mixing liquid phase water containing organic or inorganic materials, after the step of combusting so as to generate steam and reduce combustion gas temperature;
generating a steam and gas mixture under a controlled temperature by direct contact heat exchange between the combusted mixture and said liquid phase water; and
transferring a liquid phase of the mixed and combusted mixture to a gas phase and a solid phase, said gas phase being comprised of steam, carbon dioxide, said solid phase being particles.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for producing steam for extraction of heavy bitumen including the steps of mixing carbon or hydrocarbon fuel. The fuel is crude oil, vacuum residue, asphaltin, petcoke or coal. The oxidation gas includes oxygen, oxygen enriched air or air-combustion of the mixture under high pressure and high temperature. The fuel is mixed with low quality contaminated water containing organics and inorganics. The liquid phase transferred to a gas phase includes steam and carbon dioxide, wherein solids are separated from the gas phase. The gas phase is mixed with saturated water to scrub the remaining solids and produce saturated steam. The solid rich water is recycled back for combustion. The saturated steam super-heated dry steam and gas mixture is send to an enhanced oil recovery facility for injection into an underground reservoir.
13 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for producing steam and gas mixtures for extracting heavy bitumen, the method comprising the steps of:
-
mixing fuel with oxidation gases, said fuel being selected from a group consisting of coal, crude oil, vacuum residue, asphaltin and petroleum coke, said oxidation gases being selected from a group consisting of oxygen, oxygen-enriched air, and air; combusting the mixture in a pressure and temperature controlled environment; mixing liquid phase water containing organic or inorganic materials, after the step of combusting so as to generate steam and reduce combustion gas temperature; generating a steam and gas mixture under a controlled temperature by direct contact heat exchange between the combusted mixture and said liquid phase water; and transferring a liquid phase of the mixed and combusted mixture to a gas phase and a solid phase, said gas phase being comprised of steam, carbon dioxide, said solid phase being particles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for producing a steam and gas mixture for extraction of heavy bitumen, the method comprising the steps of:
-
mixing a fuel with an oxidation gas, said fuel being selected from a group consisting of coal, crude oil, vacuum residue, asphaltin and petroleum coke, said oxidation gas being selected from a group consisting of oxygen, oxygen-enriched air, and air; partially combusting the mixture in a pressure and temperature controlled environment; mixing liquid phase water containing organic or inorganic materials, after the step of combusting so as to use combustion temperature energy for steam generation; generating a steam and gas mixture under a controlled temperature by direct contact heat exchange between the combusted mixture and said liquid phase water; transferring a whole liquid phase of the mixed and combusted mixture to a syngas and solid phase, said syngas phase being comprised of steam, carbon monoxide, hydrogen and solid particles generated from the step of partially combusting, producing a solid-rich gas phase flow; and separating the solids from the gas phase flow. - View Dependent Claims (16)
-
-
17. A system for oil recovery using heat injection, comprising:
-
a direct-contact steam generator operating on low quality fuel, oxidation gas, and water, said fuel being selected from a group consisting of coal, crude oil, vacuum residue, asphaltin and petroleum coke, said oxidation gas being selected from a group consisting of oxygen, oxygen-enriched air, or air, said water containing organic and inorganic materials, said direct-contact steam generator producing a dry hot mixture of steam, carbon dioxide, flying solids and possibly other gases by direct contact heat exchange between the combusted mixture and the water; and a solid-gas separation means to separate solids from gas flow using cyclonic separation, centrifugal separation, mesh separation or combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification