Electric heat and NGL startup for heavy oil

    公开(公告)号:US10584569B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-03-10

    申请号:US15955125

    申请日:2018-04-17

    Abstract: A method starts wells with electrical downhole heating and injects solvent(s) or NGL mixes as a preconditioning for a steam injection process. The downhole electrical heating and solvent injection recovers oil and reduces the reservoir pressure. Once oil has been recovered for a period of time and the operating pressure and temperature has been reduced, steam or steam and solvent(s) may be injected to produce high oil recoveries at faster production rates than downhole heating or downhole heating and solvent(s) injection alone. The method reduces heat losses due to steam injection at lower pressure and temperature and therefore, improves efficiency and lowers operating costs. Operating at lower pressure and temperature also reduces the risk of melting the permafrost and consequent well failure issues.

    Depressurizing oil reservoirs for SAGD

    公开(公告)号:US10550679B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-02-04

    申请号:US15948460

    申请日:2018-04-09

    Abstract: A proposed methodology to startup wells with electrical downhole heating as a preconditioning method for a steam injection process. The downhole electrical heating recovers oil which results in a reduction in the reservoir pressure. Once oil has been recovered for a period of time and the operating pressure and temperature has been reduced, SAGD well pairs are provided between the downhole heater wells, and SAGD or a SAGD-like method used to produce oil. The method reduces heat losses due to steam injection at lower pressure and temperature and therefore, improves efficiency and lowers operating costs. Operating at lower pressure and temperature will also reduce the risk of melting the permafrost and consequent well failure issues. When oil production drops below an economical level, remaining oil can be collected at the DHH wells using the SAGD wellpair for gas or solvent or steam sweeps, or combinations thereof.

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