摘要:
The present invention discloses apparatuses, systems, and methods for operating a gas well. Some embodiments include a plunger apparatus configured to fall through a continuous water phase (including water slugs) in a gas producing well by overcoming pressure and drag 5 forces from the water by having a sufficient mass, hydrodynamic profile, and sufficiently large area for passage of the continuous water. In one embodiment, a plunger body and plug mechanism are provided, wherein the plug mechanism has open and closed positions, which may be automatically changed or controlled by a surface or other control system, and wherein the plunger body and plug may be a physically integrated one-piece system, or an interoperable two piece system.
摘要:
A method of lowering the temperature of a subsurface formation, e.g., comprising oil shale, includes injecting a cooling fluid under pressure into a wellbore. The wellbore is completed at or below a depth of the subsurface formation, and the wellbore includes a bore formed through the subsurface formation defining a diameter. The cooling fluid comprises a slurry having particles of frozen material. The cooling fluid is circulated across the formation in order to lower the temperature of at least a portion of the formation to a point that is at or below the freezing point of water.
摘要:
An improved method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation in which a solids-stabilized emulsion (SSE) is formed, the SSE comprising oil as a first liquid, droplets of a second liquid suspended in the oil, and solid particles that are insoluble in both the oil and the second liquid at the conditions of the subterranean formation. The SSE with dissolved gas is injected into the subterranean formation as a drive fluid, and at least a portion of the SSE is placed into one or more area of the subterranean formation having an in situ pressure sufficiently lower than the selected partial pressure to permit evolution of at least a portion of the gas from the oil. Furthermore, a method of making the foamy SSE is also provided.
摘要:
A method for heating a subsurface formation using electrical resistance heating is provided. In one aspect, the method includes creating a passage in the subsurface formation between a first wellbore located at least partially within the subsurface formation, and a second wellbore also located at least partially within the subsurface formation. An electrically conductive granular material is placed into the passage so as to provide electrical communication between the first wellbore and the second wellbore. Electrically conductive members are provided in the first wellbore and second wellbore so as to form an electrically conductive flow path comprised of the electrically conductive members, the granular material, and a power source. An electrical current is established through the electrically conductive flow path, thereby resistively heating at least a portion of the conductive members which in turn heats the subsurface formation.
摘要:
To recover in situ viscous oil from an underground reservoir, electricity is conducted through the underground reservoir by at least two electrodes in an amount that would, in the absence of solvent injection, cause water in the reservoir to vaporize adjacent to the electrodes, and injecting solvent into the reservoir to mitigate water vaporization adjacent to the electrodes by vaporizing solvent in this region. Oil and solvent are produced through one or more production wells.
摘要:
Systems and methods for creating high-pressure mixtures of steam and one or more noncondensable gas species, which may be injected into deep, high-pressured oil reservoirs to supply heat and aid oil recovery. These systems and methods may include generating these mixtures, also referred to as a combined stream, controlling the total pressure of the combined stream, controlling the partial pressure of steam within the combined stream, supplying the combined stream to a subterranean formation that includes hydrocarbons, such as viscous oil, reducing the viscosity of the oil, and/or producing oil from the subterranean formation. In some embodiments, the total pressure of the combined stream may approach or even exceed the critical pressure of water while still retaining significant amounts of latent heat for delivery. In some embodiments, the partial pressure of steam may be less than the critical pressure of water.
摘要:
A method is described for recovering viscous oil such as bitumen from a subsurface formation. The method involves creating an artificial barrier in a subterranean zone above or proximate a top of the subsurface formation. The barrier is largely impermeable to fluid flow. The method also includes reducing the viscosity of the viscous oil and mobilizing hydrocarbons into a readily flowable heavy oil by addition of heat and/or solvent. Heating preferably uses a plurality of heat injection wells. The method further includes producing the heavy oil using a production method that preserves the integrity of the artificial barrier.
摘要:
Multi-layered pipes, machines for forming multi-layered pipes, and methods of forming multi-layered pipes, such as for use in the hydrocarbon industry as may form high-pressure pipelines including forming an inner metal tube from a first metal stock, and while forming the inner metal tube, forming at least a second metal tube around the inner tube from at least a second metal stock. In some methods, sheet metal is bent to form tubes having seams, which are welded while the tubes are being formed. Some methods are performed proximate to an installation site for the multi-layered pipe, such as a hydrocarbon extraction or transportation site. Some methods are performed on a vehicle and proximate to an installation site.
摘要:
The present disclosure includes the use of grids composed solely or in part of a set of contiguous cells having six or more principal flow directions within a single layer is disclosed for use in numerical simulation. The grids are particularly well-adapted for use in modeling flow in hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs where fingering or channeling is experienced. Methods of constructing a bisected periodic grid and a substantially constant width radial grid in connection with the present disclosure are also provided. The problem of grid orientation effects is lessened by providing grids with an increased number of principal flow directions, typically six or more. The improved grids may be used in many preexisting simulators.
摘要:
A method of lowering the temperature of a subsurface formation, e.g., a subsurface formation including oil shale, includes completing a well having fluid communication with the subsurface formation at a first depth and a second lower depth. A fracturing fluid is injected into the well so as to form a fracture at a depth of the subsurface formation, and thereby provides fluid communication between the first and second depths in the well. A cooling fluid is circulated under pressure through the well and into the fracture so as to cause the cooling fluid to flow from the well, into subsurface formation at the first depth, to the subsurface formation at the second depth, and back into the well, thereby lowering the temperature of the subsurface formation.