CA2799053A1 - Method for producing viscous well fluid from a formation in a high temperature environment - Google Patents

Method for producing viscous well fluid from a formation in a high temperature environment Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2799053A1
CA2799053A1 CA 2799053 CA2799053A CA2799053A1 CA 2799053 A1 CA2799053 A1 CA 2799053A1 CA 2799053 CA2799053 CA 2799053 CA 2799053 A CA2799053 A CA 2799053A CA 2799053 A1 CA2799053 A1 CA 2799053A1
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Canada
Prior art keywords
fluid
diluent
pump
formation
well fluid
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Granted
Application number
CA 2799053
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French (fr)
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CA2799053C (en
Inventor
Curtis G. Blount
David D. Hearn
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ConocoPhillips Co
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ConocoPhillips Co
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Publication of CA2799053A1 publication Critical patent/CA2799053A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2799053C publication Critical patent/CA2799053C/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
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Abstract

A method utilizes artificial lift techniques to produce viscous well fluid from a formation in a high temperature environment. Diluents mix with the well fluid to power the artificial lift and may cool the well fluid for recovery to surface. The diluents provide viscosity reduction for the well fluid even though cooled, which thereby limits thermal cycling and integrity problems.

Description

METHOD FOR PRODUCING VISCOUS WELL FLUID FROM A FORMATION IN
A HIGH TEMPERATURE ENVIRONMENT
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001]
This application is a non-provisional application which claims benefit under USC 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/578,071 filed December 20, 2011, entitled "Method for Producing Viscous Well Fluid from a Formation in a High Temperature Environment," which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002]
Embodiments of the invention relate to methods of utilizing artificial lift techniques to produce viscous well fluid from a formation in a high temperature environment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A
large amount of the world's oil comprises heavy viscous crude oil having an API (American Petroleum Institute) gravity of less than about 15 . While high-pressure oil formations have sufficient pressure to push production fluid to the surface, low-pressure formations typically require a downhole pump to lift the oil to the surface.
With the gradual depletion of high gravity more easily produced crude oils, the recovery of these viscous, heavy crudes becomes increasingly important.
[0004]
Artificial lift methods supply the fluids produced in the well with sufficient energy to generate adequate drawdown at the formation while maintaining high enough wellhead pressure to transport the fluids to the surface at a desired flow rate. Jet pumps, an artificial lift method, provide necessary lift energy with no moving parts.
The jet pump, which primarily consists of a body with a nozzle, a throat, and a diffuser, is set in a nipple inside the tubing string. Power fluid is pumped down from the surface to the pump through the tubing. This power fluid passes through the nozzle, creating a low-pressure region connected to the pump intake so that the well fluid is suctioned into the threat region of the jet pump. The mixed fluid, i.e., power fluid plus produced fluid, exits the pump through the diffuser into the casing with sufficient head to overcome the hydraulic shear plus head losses.
[0005]
Therefore, a need exists for utilizing artificial lift techniques for recovering viscous hydrocarbons in high temperature applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In one embodiment, a method of producing a viscous well fluid from a formation includes injecting a heated fluid into the formation to mix with hydrocarbons and form the viscous well fluid. The method further includes positioning a pump in a wellbore for recovery of the well fluid. Pumping a motive fluid into the wellbore with the motive fluid mixing with the viscous well fluid to power the pump and including a power fluid mixed with diluents for the hydrocarbons.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The invention, together with further advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a downhole pump in operation within a formation, according to one embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not as a limitation of the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used in another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
[00101 Referring to FIG. 1, a jet pump assembly 22 facilitates recovery from a thermal production operation and is disposed in a production wellbore.
Examples of thermal production operations include steam assisted gravited drainage, cyclic steam stimulation and in situ combustion. Such processes rely on heat transfer to hydrocarbons providing mobility required for flowing of the hydrocarbons into the production wellbore.
[00111 In operation, power fluid is admitted under pressure to an annular space 10 between the well casing 12 and the production tubing 14. The annular space 10 may be closed off at its lower end by a packer and seal assembly 16; however, a packer and seal assembly may not be necessary in some embodiments.
[0012] The jet pump assembly 22 includes a well fluid inlet port 30 and fluid inlet ports 32, for admitting fluid to a jet nozzle 34 which discharges into a throat area 36 of the jet pump assembly 22. Well fluid passages 38 are provided in fluid communication with the well fluid inlet port 30 for admitting well fluid to the throat area 36. While jet pumps are used in this embodiment, any high temperature tolerant pump may be used. The high temperature tolerant pump is any hydraulic pump which permits fluid comingling. The jet pump can be set in the production tubing by wire line, coiled tubing, or concentric coiled tubing. The pump can be run in the hole and pulled out of the hole by direct or reverse fluid circulation.
[0013] In operation, well fluids flow under formation pressure in the direction of the arrows A to the well fluid inlet port 30 from the interior of the well casing 12 below the packer and seal assembly 16, the well fluid being admitted through the perforations 40 in the well casing 12. The power fluid under high pressure in the annular space 10 passes in the direction of the arrows B through the sleeve openings 24 and into the jet nozzle 34 through the fluid inlet ports 32. The power fluid is jetted from the jet nozzle 34 into a high velocity passage 42 of the jet pump assembly 22 where the power fluid is violently mixed with the well fluid in the throat area 36 as well as in the high velocity passage 42.
The mixture of power fluid and the well fluid are then suctioned into the throat area 36 in the direction of arrows C into the enlarged diameter passage 44 and therefrom into the interior 46 of the production tubing 14 which extends to the production equipment at the surface.
[0014] If the well fluid is of low viscosity, such as water or light crude, there is little problem with the well fluid being forced into the throat area 36 of the jet pump 22 by the pressure differential created by the jet. However, a viscous well fluid may not be capable of sufficient flow velocity through the well fluid inlet port 30 and the well fluid passage 38 to adequately supply the lower pressure area adjacent the fluid jet unless there is a relatively high formation pressure driving the viscous well fluid in that direction. If there is insufficient formation pressure differential for driving a viscous well fluid to the pump, cavitation in the throat area 36 can result through the repeated formation of a partial vacuum and the collapse of the vacuum in the liquid mixture.
[0015] A motive fluid can be utilized to drive the viscous fluid. The motive fluid includes power fluid mixed with at least some portion of diluent. The motive fluid reduces the temperature of the viscous well fluid. Additionally, the motive fluid thereby reduces the thermal stresses in the wellbore while maintaining a sufficient low viscosity due to the diluents for the well fluid to flow. The motive fluid maintains the low viscosity of the mixture, i.e., the mixture of motive fluid and well fluid, once the well fluid begins to cool.
Furthermore, maximizing the contact time between the well fluid and the motive fluid provides a uniform mixture.
[0016] The amount of diluent introduced into the formation depends on the amount of viscous well fluids, i.e., viscous hydrocarbons, present. The diluent can be a demulsifying fluid, an organic fluid, a kerosene or diesel, for example. The diluent can also be a hydrocarbon fluid mixed with viscous bitumen or heavy oil to reduce viscosity and promote processing.
[0017] For some embodiments, the remainder of the motive fluid is power fluid. The amount of power fluid introduced into the production well depends on the formation characteristics and the performance of the pump. The power fluid is any pumpable fluid, such as a water solution of a surfactant or blend of surfactants.
[0018] As previously mentioned, the present invention can be utilized in steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) operations, for example. The SAGD operation requires placing a pair of coextensive horizontal wells spaced one above the other at a distance typically 5-8 meters. The pair of wells is located close to the base of the viscous well fluid, i.e., oil and bitumen. The span of formation between the wells is heated to mobilize the viscous well fluid contained within that span which is done by circulating steam through each of the wells at the same time. The span is slowly heated by thermal conductance.
[0019] After the viscous well fluid in the span of formation is sufficiently heated, the viscous well fluid may be displaced or driven from one well to the other, thereby establishing fluid communication between the wells. At this point, the steam circulation through the wells is terminated and steam injection at less than formation fracture pressure is initiated through the upper well while the lower well is opened to produce draining liquid thereto from the formation. As the steam is injected, a steam chamber is formed as the steam rises and contacts cold oil immediately above the upper injection well. The steam gives up heat and condenses; the oil absorbs heat and becomes mobile as its viscosity is reduced allowing the heated oil to drain downwardly under the influence of gravity. The heat exchange occurs at the surface of an upwardly enlarging steam chamber extending up from the wells, as oil and condensate are produced at the bottom of the steam chamber.
[0020] A high temperature tolerant pump utilizing motive fluid may be necessary to produce the viscous well fluids. As previously discussed, the motive fluid which includes power fluid mixed with diluent reduces the temperature in the production tubing, reduces the pressure drop in the production tubing, and reduces the pressure drop in the flow lines.
[0021] In an embodiment, a nipple profile for the downhole high temperature tolerant pump plus a flow path for diluent containing power fluid is included. In another embodiment, a nipple profile is used to allow the high temperature tolerant pump to be landed or suspended on jointed or coiled tubing. In yet another embodiment, the high temperature tolerant pump is installed on concentric tubing or concentric coiled tubing which can be suspended from any depth or location in the production well thereby providing both a power fluid path and a return fluid, power fluid plus produced fluid, flow path. In another embodiment, jointed tubing or coiled tubing, concentric or otherwise, may include telemetry either though fiber optics or electric conductive wirelines and monitoring probes for taking downhole measurements and transmitting them to the surface.
[0022] In closing, it should be noted that the discussion of any reference is not an admission that it is prior art to the present invention, especially any reference that may have a publication date after the priority date of this application. At the same time, each and every claim below is hereby incorporated into this detailed description or specification as a additional embodiments of the present invention.

Although the systems and processes described herein have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. Those skilled in the art may be able to study the preferred embodiments and identify other ways to practice the invention that are not exactly as described herein. It is the intent of the inventors that variations and equivalents of the invention are within the scope of the claims while the description, abstract and drawings are not to be used to limit the scope of the invention. The invention is specifically intended to be as broad as the claims below and their equivalents.

Claims (15)

1. A method of producing a viscous well fluid from a formation, comprising:
injecting a heated fluid into the formation to mix with hydrocarbons and form the viscous well fluid;
positioning a pump in a wellbore for recovery of the well fluid; and pumping a motive fluid into the wellbore to power the pump, wherein the motive fluid mixes with the viscous well fluid to power the pump and includes a power fluid mixed with diluents for the hydrocarbons.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heated fluid comprises steam.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pump is a hydraulic pump which permits fluid comingling.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pump is a jet pump.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the diluent is an organic diluent.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the diluent is a hydrocarbon diluent.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the diluent is kerosene distillate.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the diluent is diesel.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the diluent is a hydrocarbon fluid mixed with viscous bitumen or heavy oil.
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the diluent is a demulsifying fluid.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the amount of diluent introduced into the formation depends on the amount of viscous well fluid in the formation.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein a remainder of the motive fluid is the power fluid.
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power fluid is a pumpable fluid.
14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power fluid is an aqueous liquid.
15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the motive fluid reduces temperature of the viscous well fluid to limit thermal stress of completions within the wellbore.
CA2799053A 2011-12-20 2012-12-18 Method for producing viscous well fluid from a formation in a high temperature environment Expired - Fee Related CA2799053C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201161578071P 2011-12-20 2011-12-20
US61/578,071 2011-12-20

Publications (2)

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CA2799053A1 true CA2799053A1 (en) 2013-06-20
CA2799053C CA2799053C (en) 2015-05-05

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