Electrokinetic enhanced hydrocarbon recovery from oil shale
First Claim
1. A process for extracting a kerogen-based product from a subsurface shale formation comprising a kerogen rich zone, the process comprising:
- providing an injection well and a production well that extend into a subsurface shale formation and are in fluid communication therewith;
injecting an oxidant into the subsurface shale formation through the injection well;
generating an electric field through at least a portion of the subsurface shale formation to induce electrokinetic migration of the oxidant, wherein the electric field is generated by placing one or more electrodes in communication with the injection well for creating a direct current having a voltage of less than about 50 volts per meter (V/m);
contacting the kerogen in the subsurface shale formation with the oxidant at a temperature in the range of between 0°
C. and 200°
C. to form organic acids, wherein no external heating is provided for the contact; and
mobilizing at least a portion of the organic acids from the subsurface shale formation through the production well to produce a mobile kerogen-based product.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are methods for extracting a kerogen-based product from subsurface (oil) shale formations. These methods rely on chemically modifying the shale-bound kerogen using a chemical oxidant so as to render it mobile. The oxidant is provided to a formation fluid in contact with the kerogen in the subsurface shale utilizing electrokinetic-induced migration. An electric field is generated through at least a portion of the kerogen rich zone to induce electrokinetic migration of the oxidant. A mobile kerogen-based product, that includes reaction products of kerogen conversion, is urged toward a production well utilizing electrokinetic-induced migration, and withdrawn from the subsurface shale formation. An electric field generated through at least a portion of the kerogen rich zone can also be utilized to induce migration of catalysts or catalyst precursors.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A process for extracting a kerogen-based product from a subsurface shale formation comprising a kerogen rich zone, the process comprising:
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providing an injection well and a production well that extend into a subsurface shale formation and are in fluid communication therewith; injecting an oxidant into the subsurface shale formation through the injection well; generating an electric field through at least a portion of the subsurface shale formation to induce electrokinetic migration of the oxidant, wherein the electric field is generated by placing one or more electrodes in communication with the injection well for creating a direct current having a voltage of less than about 50 volts per meter (V/m); contacting the kerogen in the subsurface shale formation with the oxidant at a temperature in the range of between 0°
C. and 200°
C. to form organic acids, wherein no external heating is provided for the contact; andmobilizing at least a portion of the organic acids from the subsurface shale formation through the production well to produce a mobile kerogen-based product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A process for extracting a kerogen-based product from a subsurface shale formation comprising a kerogen rich zone, the process comprising:
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providing an injection well and a production well that extend into a subsurface shale formation and are in fluid communication therewith; injecting an oxidant into the subsurface shale formation through the injection well; contacting the kerogen in the subsurface shale formation with the oxidant at a temperature in the range of between 0°
C. and 200°
C. to form organic acids, wherein no external heating is provided for the contact; andmobilizing at least a portion of the organic acids from the subsurface shale formation through the production well to produce a mobile kerogen-based product; and generating an electric field through at least a portion of the subsurface shale formation to induce electrokinetic migration of the mobile kerogen-based product to a production well, wherein the electric field is generated by placing one or more electrodes in communication with the injection well for creating a direct current having a voltage of less than about 50 volts per meter (V/m). - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A process for enhancing hydrocarbon recovery in subsurface shale formations, the method comprising:
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providing an injection well and a production well that extend into a kerogen rich zone of a subsurface shale formation and are in fluid communication therewith; providing a plurality of electrodes interspersed within the kerogen rich zone of a subsurface shale formation for creating a direct current having a voltage of less than about 50 volts per meter (V/m) through at least a portion of the subsurface shale formation; injecting an oxidant into the kerogen rich zone through the injection well for the kerogen to be in contact with the oxidant at a temperature in the range of between 0°
C. and 200°
C., wherein no external heating is provided for the contact;emitting a direct current between the plurality of electrodes to induce electrokinetic migration of the oxidant; recovering hydrocarbons from the kerogen rich zone of the subsurface shale formation through the production well. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A process for extracting a kerogen-based product from a subsurface shale formation comprising a kerogen rich zone, the process comprising:
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providing an injection well and a production well that extend into a subsurface shale formation and are in fluid communication therewith; injecting a catalyst or catalyst precursor into the subsurface shale formation through the injection well; generating an electric field having a voltage of less than about 50 volts per meter (V/m) through at least a portion of the subsurface shale formation to induce electrokinetic migration of the catalyst or catalyst precursor; contacting the kerogen in the subsurface shale formation with the catalyst precursor at a temperature in the range of between 0°
C. and 200°
C. to form kerogen conversion products, wherein no external heating is provided for the contact; andmobilizing at least a portion of the kerogen conversion products through the production well to produce a mobile kerogen-based product.
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34. A process for extracting a kerogen-based product from a subsurface shale formation comprising a kerogen rich zone, the process comprising:
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providing an injection well and a production well that extend into a subsurface shale formation and are in fluid communication therewith; injecting a catalyst or catalyst precursor into the subsurface shale formation through the injection well; contacting the kerogen in the subsurface shale formation with the catalyst or catalyst precursor at a temperature in the range of between 0°
C. and 200°
C. to form kerogen conversion products, wherein no external heating is provided for the contact;mobilizing at least a portion of the kerogen conversion products from the subsurface shale formation through the production well to produce a mobile kerogen-based product; and generating an electric field through at least a portion of the subsurface shale formation to induce electrokinetic migration of the mobile kerogen-based product to the production well wherein the electric field is generated by placing one or more electrodes in communication with the injection well for creating a direct current having a voltage of less than about 50 volts per meter (V/m).
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Specification