WO2014081328A1 - Method for enhancing the production of hydrocarbons from a well - Google Patents
Method for enhancing the production of hydrocarbons from a well Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2014081328A1 WO2014081328A1 PCT/RU2012/000961 RU2012000961W WO2014081328A1 WO 2014081328 A1 WO2014081328 A1 WO 2014081328A1 RU 2012000961 W RU2012000961 W RU 2012000961W WO 2014081328 A1 WO2014081328 A1 WO 2014081328A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- formation
- hydrocarbons
- production
- enhancing
- well
- Prior art date
Links
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 title claims abstract description 20
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 title claims abstract description 18
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 17
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 15
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 8
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 36
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 125000001183 hydrocarbyl group Chemical group 0.000 claims abstract 2
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 16
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 description 26
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000035699 permeability Effects 0.000 description 4
- 206010017076 Fracture Diseases 0.000 description 3
- 208000013201 Stress fracture Diseases 0.000 description 3
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 3
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 208000010392 Bone Fractures Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 235000015076 Shorea robusta Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 244000166071 Shorea robusta Species 0.000 description 2
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000638 stimulation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000779 depleting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007717 exclusion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003116 impacting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011065 in-situ storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001939 inductive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002894 organic compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000012466 permeate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011435 rock Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003079 shale oil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001228 spectrum Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004936 stimulating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/16—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
- E21B43/164—Injecting CO2 or carbonated water
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/25—Methods for stimulating production
- E21B43/26—Methods for stimulating production by forming crevices or fractures
- E21B43/2605—Methods for stimulating production by forming crevices or fractures using gas or liquefied gas
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/16—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
- E21B43/24—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection
- E21B43/2401—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection by means of electricity
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/30—Specific pattern of wells, e.g. optimising the spacing of wells
Definitions
- the invention relates to a method for enhancing the
- Shales are low-permeability formations that require stimulation via hydraulic fracturing of pre-existing fracture networks for practical exploitation.
- shale formations often contain significant amounts of kerogen, a mixture of high molecular weight organic compounds, which can't be produced conventionally.
- the kerogen In order to extract hydrocarbons from kerogen, the kerogen has to be heated in situ.
- the US 2009/0 242 196 Al describes a method for extracting hydrocarbons from shale formations. Kerogen conversion is achieved by electromagnetic high-frequency heating, while the low permeability is overcome by using supercritical carbon dioxide as a solvent to aid oil extraction.
- hydrocarbons from a well drilled into a hydrocarbon-bearing geological formation at least one electrical conductor is inserted into the formation and the formation is heated by application of an alternating current to the conductor.
- the formation is fractured by injection of a supercritical fluid.
- the method according to the invention leads to an active increase of reservoir permeability. Fracturing is further enhanced by the electromagnetic heating producing gas from the kerogen in the reservoir and evaporating reservoir water. In addition to acting as a stimulating fluid by creating microfractures, the supercritical fluid acts as a solvent, enhancing the recovery of hydrocarbons from the formation. In combination, these effects lead to a significant increase in yield from the reservoir.
- carbon dioxide is used as supercritical fluid, since it is chemically inert, easy to separate and environmentally friendly.
- the formation is heated to 60°C-160°C for oil production.
- the formation is heated to 150°C-200°C for a gas production.
- Choice of the temperature range depends on the chemical and geological features of the reservoir.
- supercritical fluid produced together with the hydrocarbons is separated from the hydrocarbons and
- the alternating current is low-frequency, e.g. in the 30-300 kHz range.
- low-frequency alternating fields have no significant negative impact on human health, so safety clearance around the surface portion of the conductor can be relatively small without impacting workplace safety.
- FIG 1 A schematic representation of a shale reservoir
- FIG 2 a schematic representation of a shale reservoir
- FIG 1 shows a reservoir exploited by a single well 16 with a vertical wellbore section 18 and a horizontal wellbore section 20 created by directional drilling.
- FIG 2 multiple vertical wells 16 can be drilled.
- an electrically conducting loop 22 is inserted into the formation 10 by means of directional drilling.
- the loop 22 is connected to an alternating current source providing a current of about 1000 A with a frequency in the low frequency range of the electromagnetic spectrum.
- carbon dioxide is injected through at least one of the wells 16.
- carbon dioxide exhibits a liquid-like density and solvency combined with a gas-like viscosity, diffusivity, compressibility and lack of surface tension. As a result, it easily permeates even shale formations and can create wide networks of
- the supercritical carbon dioxide helps extracting oil from the formation 10 and transporting it to the wells 16.
- the carbon dioxide can be separated from the produced hydrocarbons and reinjected into the wells 16. This allows for high production rates and for the extraction of residual oil in depleting formations 10. Since the capillary pressure of the carbon dioxide is zero, negative effects on the short term fluid production of the formation 10 are avoided. List of reference signs
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Production Of Liquid Hydrocarbon Mixture For Refining Petroleum (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for enhancing the production of hydrocarbons from a well (16) drilled into a hydrocarbon-bearing geological formation (10), in which at least one electrical conductor (22) is inserted into the formation (10) and the formation is heated (10) by application of an alternating current to the conductor. According to the invention, the formation (10) is fractured by injection of a supercritical fluid.
Description
Description
Method for enhancing the production of hydrocarbons from a well
The invention relates to a method for enhancing the
production of hydrocarbons from a well according to the preamble of claim 1.
Oil and gas production moves increasingly towards the use of shale oil or gas reservoirs. Shales are low-permeability formations that require stimulation via hydraulic fracturing of pre-existing fracture networks for practical exploitation.
Additionally, shale formations often contain significant amounts of kerogen, a mixture of high molecular weight organic compounds, which can't be produced conventionally. In order to extract hydrocarbons from kerogen, the kerogen has to be heated in situ.
The US 2009/0 242 196 Al describes a method for extracting hydrocarbons from shale formations. Kerogen conversion is achieved by electromagnetic high-frequency heating, while the low permeability is overcome by using supercritical carbon dioxide as a solvent to aid oil extraction.
It is the objective of the present invention to provide an improved method for enhancing the production of hydrocarbons from kerogen-bearing shale formations according to the preamble of claim 1.
This objective is achieved by a method according to claim 1.
During such a method for enhancing the production of
hydrocarbons from a well drilled into a hydrocarbon-bearing geological formation, at least one electrical conductor is inserted into the formation and the formation is heated by application of an alternating current to the conductor.
According to the invention, the formation is fractured by injection of a supercritical fluid.
In contrast to utilizing a supercritical fluid solely as solvent to aid extraction from low-permeability formations, the method according to the invention leads to an active increase of reservoir permeability. Fracturing is further enhanced by the electromagnetic heating producing gas from the kerogen in the reservoir and evaporating reservoir water. In addition to acting as a stimulating fluid by creating microfractures, the supercritical fluid acts as a solvent, enhancing the recovery of hydrocarbons from the formation. In combination, these effects lead to a significant increase in yield from the reservoir.
Preferentially, carbon dioxide is used as supercritical fluid, since it is chemically inert, easy to separate and environmentally friendly.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the formation is heated to 60°C-160°C for oil production.
Alternatively, the formation is heated to 150°C-200°C for a gas production. Choice of the temperature range depends on the chemical and geological features of the reservoir.
Preferably, supercritical fluid produced together with the hydrocarbons is separated from the hydrocarbons and
reinjected. This helps to minimize costs due to lost
stimulation fluid and prevents pollution.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the alternating current is low-frequency, e.g. in the 30-300 kHz range. In contrast to high-frequency fields, low-frequency alternating fields have no significant negative impact on human health, so safety clearance around the surface portion of the conductor can be relatively small without impacting workplace safety.
In the following section, the invention and its embodiments are further explained with reference to the drawings, which show in:
FIG 1 A schematic representation of a shale reservoir
with a horizontal wellbore and an electromagnetic loop; and
FIG 2 a schematic representation of a shale reservoir
with multiple vertical wellbores and an
electromagnetic loop.
In order to exploit a kerogen-bearing shale formation 10 sandwiched between underlying 12 and overlying strata 14, at least one well 16 is brought down. The embodiment in FIG 1 shows a reservoir exploited by a single well 16 with a vertical wellbore section 18 and a horizontal wellbore section 20 created by directional drilling. Alternatively, as shown in FIG 2, multiple vertical wells 16 can be drilled.
Since shales have a very low permeability and most of the hydrocarbons are trapped in the formation 10 in the form of high molecular weight kerogenes, straightforward production of the formation 10 is not economically possible.
In order to convert the kerogenes of the formation 12 into producible hydrocarbon, an electrically conducting loop 22 is inserted into the formation 10 by means of directional drilling. The loop 22 is connected to an alternating current source providing a current of about 1000 A with a frequency in the low frequency range of the electromagnetic spectrum.
This results in inductive heating of the formation 12. At temperatures between 60 and 160°C, the kerogen is converted into oil. Heating to higher temperatures in the range between 150 and 200°C leads to the production of gas. Additionally, reservoir water is evaporated, generating high pressure which causes fracturing of the formation rock, thereby forming
microfractures 24 and increasing the permeability of the formation.
Due to the low frequency of the alternating current used, no large security zones are necessary around the portion of the loop 22 located above the surface, since low-frequency fields have no significant health impact. At currents of 1000 A, a 10 m exclusion zone will suffice, which can be reduced if the line and return line of the loop 22 are close together, due to field cancellation.
To further enhance the production, supercritical carbon dioxide is injected through at least one of the wells 16. At temperatures and pressures above its critical point, carbon dioxide exhibits a liquid-like density and solvency combined with a gas-like viscosity, diffusivity, compressibility and lack of surface tension. As a result, it easily permeates even shale formations and can create wide networks of
fractures 26 in the formation 10. Due to the lack of surface tension, backflow problems common with water hydraulic fracturing can be avoided.
Due to its high solvency, the supercritical carbon dioxide helps extracting oil from the formation 10 and transporting it to the wells 16. On the surface, the carbon dioxide can be separated from the produced hydrocarbons and reinjected into the wells 16. This allows for high production rates and for the extraction of residual oil in depleting formations 10. Since the capillary pressure of the carbon dioxide is zero, negative effects on the short term fluid production of the formation 10 are avoided.
List of reference signs
10 formation
12 underlying strata
14 overlying strata
16 well
18 vertical portion
20 horizontal portion
22 loop
24 microfracture
26 fracture
Claims
1. Method for enhancing the production of hydrocarbons from a well (16) drilled into a hydrocarbon-bearing geological formation (10) , in which at least one electrical conductor (22) is inserted into the formation (10) and the formation is heated (10) by application of an alternating current to the conductor,
characterized in that
the formation (10) is fractured by injection of a
supercritical fluid.
2. Method according to claim 1,
characterized in that carbon dioxide is used as supercritical fluid.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that the formation (10) is heated to 60°C- 160°C for oil production.
4. Method according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that the formation (10) is heated to 150°C- 200°C for a gas production.
5. Method according to any of claims 1 to 4,
characterized in that supercritical fluid produced together with the hydrocarbons is separated from the hydrocarbons and reinjected.
6. Method according to any of claims 1 to 5,
characterized in that the alternating current is low- frequency.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/RU2012/000961 WO2014081328A1 (en) | 2012-11-20 | 2012-11-20 | Method for enhancing the production of hydrocarbons from a well |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/RU2012/000961 WO2014081328A1 (en) | 2012-11-20 | 2012-11-20 | Method for enhancing the production of hydrocarbons from a well |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2014081328A1 true WO2014081328A1 (en) | 2014-05-30 |
Family
ID=48699231
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/RU2012/000961 WO2014081328A1 (en) | 2012-11-20 | 2012-11-20 | Method for enhancing the production of hydrocarbons from a well |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| WO (1) | WO2014081328A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN107448180A (en) * | 2017-08-11 | 2017-12-08 | 中国石油天然气股份有限公司 | Thickened oil modifying and viscosity reducing method |
| CN109184646A (en) * | 2018-10-29 | 2019-01-11 | 邓晓亮 | Electromagnetic wave heating realizes overcritical hot composite powerful displacement of reservoir oil device and method |
| US10344579B2 (en) | 2013-11-06 | 2019-07-09 | Cnooc Petroleum North America Ulc | Processes for producing hydrocarbons from a reservoir |
| CN113217009A (en) * | 2021-05-19 | 2021-08-06 | 中铁工程装备集团有限公司 | Microwave gain type CO2 phase change pressure release rock burst prevention and control method |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4320801A (en) * | 1977-09-30 | 1982-03-23 | Raytheon Company | In situ processing of organic ore bodies |
| US20070181301A1 (en) * | 2006-02-06 | 2007-08-09 | O'brien Thomas B | Method and system for extraction of hydrocarbons from oil shale |
| US20110146982A1 (en) * | 2009-12-17 | 2011-06-23 | Kaminsky Robert D | Enhanced Convection For In Situ Pyrolysis of Organic-Rich Rock Formations |
| WO2011107331A2 (en) * | 2010-03-03 | 2011-09-09 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Method and device for the "in-situ" transport of bitumen or extra-heavy oil |
-
2012
- 2012-11-20 WO PCT/RU2012/000961 patent/WO2014081328A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4320801A (en) * | 1977-09-30 | 1982-03-23 | Raytheon Company | In situ processing of organic ore bodies |
| US20070181301A1 (en) * | 2006-02-06 | 2007-08-09 | O'brien Thomas B | Method and system for extraction of hydrocarbons from oil shale |
| US20110146982A1 (en) * | 2009-12-17 | 2011-06-23 | Kaminsky Robert D | Enhanced Convection For In Situ Pyrolysis of Organic-Rich Rock Formations |
| WO2011107331A2 (en) * | 2010-03-03 | 2011-09-09 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Method and device for the "in-situ" transport of bitumen or extra-heavy oil |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US10344579B2 (en) | 2013-11-06 | 2019-07-09 | Cnooc Petroleum North America Ulc | Processes for producing hydrocarbons from a reservoir |
| CN107448180A (en) * | 2017-08-11 | 2017-12-08 | 中国石油天然气股份有限公司 | Thickened oil modifying and viscosity reducing method |
| CN109184646A (en) * | 2018-10-29 | 2019-01-11 | 邓晓亮 | Electromagnetic wave heating realizes overcritical hot composite powerful displacement of reservoir oil device and method |
| CN109184646B (en) * | 2018-10-29 | 2023-11-17 | 邓晓亮 | Device and method for realizing supercritical thermal compound powerful oil displacement through electromagnetic wave heating |
| CN113217009A (en) * | 2021-05-19 | 2021-08-06 | 中铁工程装备集团有限公司 | Microwave gain type CO2 phase change pressure release rock burst prevention and control method |
| CN113217009B (en) * | 2021-05-19 | 2022-04-05 | 中铁工程装备集团有限公司 | Microwave gain type CO2 phase change pressure release rock burst prevention and control method |
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