CA1214989A - Steam ignition and control of an oxygen-driven fire flood injection well - Google Patents
Steam ignition and control of an oxygen-driven fire flood injection wellInfo
- Publication number
- CA1214989A CA1214989A CA000454290A CA454290A CA1214989A CA 1214989 A CA1214989 A CA 1214989A CA 000454290 A CA000454290 A CA 000454290A CA 454290 A CA454290 A CA 454290A CA 1214989 A CA1214989 A CA 1214989A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- oxygen
- steam
- formation
- injected
- injection well
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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- Production Of Liquid Hydrocarbon Mixture For Refining Petroleum (AREA)
Abstract
STEAM IGNITION AND CONTROL OF AN
OXYGEN-DRIVEN FIRE FLOOD INJECTION WELL
ABSTRACT
A method for initiating an in-situ combustion operation to recover oil from a subterranean, viscous oil-containing formation employing high purity oxygen as the combustion supporting gas.
Initially, a predetermined amount of steam at a predetermined injection rate is injected into the formation via the injection well to clean the flowpath in the borehole and heat the formation adjacent the injection well. Thereafter, a mixture of steam and oxygen having a steam to oxygen molar ratio of 2 to 1 and a predetermined injection rate is injected into the formation to initiate spontaneous combustion and establish a combustion front followed by increasing the oxygen concentration of the injected gas to about 100 percent oxygen.
OXYGEN-DRIVEN FIRE FLOOD INJECTION WELL
ABSTRACT
A method for initiating an in-situ combustion operation to recover oil from a subterranean, viscous oil-containing formation employing high purity oxygen as the combustion supporting gas.
Initially, a predetermined amount of steam at a predetermined injection rate is injected into the formation via the injection well to clean the flowpath in the borehole and heat the formation adjacent the injection well. Thereafter, a mixture of steam and oxygen having a steam to oxygen molar ratio of 2 to 1 and a predetermined injection rate is injected into the formation to initiate spontaneous combustion and establish a combustion front followed by increasing the oxygen concentration of the injected gas to about 100 percent oxygen.
Description
F-236~
STE~M IGNITION AND CON~ROL OF AN
OXYGEN~RIVEN FIRE FLOOD INJECTION WELL
.
This invention relates to a method for initiating an in-situ combustion operation to recover oil from a subterranean, viscous oil-containing formation wherein high purity oxygen is injected into the formation.
In situ combustion For the recovery of hydrocarbons from subsurface formations is becoming increasingly prevalent.
Combustion is initiated in the subsurface formation and the resulting combustion zone moves through the formation by the injection of air or oxygen. By carefully controlling the injection of oxygen and water into the ~ormation, the combustion zone progresses in a manner which facilitates the recovery of hydrocarbons from the formations. U.S. Patents 3,240~270-Marx, 490317~6-Terry, and 4,04~,026-Pusch et al are examples of the recovery of hydrocarbons by in-situ combustion.
The use of oxygen in such fire flooding processes has been limited because of its hazardous nature that could lead to uncontrolled reactions or explosions. Contamination which is normally found in well tubing strings is a severe fire hazard in the presence of oxygen~
It is an object of the present invention to provide a safe method for initiating an in-situ combustion operation using high purity oxygen by initially injecting a predetermined amount of steam followed by injecting a mixture of steam and oxygen that spontaneously ignites to establish a combustion front in the fonmation and subsequently increasing the concentration of oxygen until substantially 100 percent oxygen is being injected into the formation to support the fire flood.
The drawing illustrates in cross-sectional view, a subterranean, viscous oil-containing formation penetrated by an injection well that is equipped for the method of the present invention.
The invention is directed to a method for initiating in-Situ combustion within a permeable oil-containing subterranean ~ormation penetrated by at least one injection well in nuid communication with the lower portion of the formation, comprising injecting a predetermined amaunt of steam into the formation via the injection well. A mixture of steam and oxygen having a steam to oxygen molar ratio of at least 2 to 1 is then injected whereby the in place oil spontaneously ignites to establish a combustion front.
Injection o~ said mixture o~ steam and oxygen having a steam to oxygen molar ratio of at least 2 to 1 is continued for a predetermined period of time thereby driving the combustion front radially outwardly from the well into the formation. The oxygen concentration of the injected gas is then increased to about 100 percent oxygen.
The present invention relates to a safe~ practical method for igniting and controlling an injection well employed in an in-situ combustion operation for the recovery of viscous oil from subterranean permeable ~ormations wherein high purity oxygen is used as the combustion supporting gas.
The preferred method of employing the process of the invention can be best understood by re~erring to the drawing, in which there is shown a permeable viscous oil-containing formation 10 which resides below an overburden 12. Pn injection well 14 extends downwardly from the earth's surface 16 penetrating the formation 10.
InJection well 14 is in ~luid communication with the lower portion of the oil~containing ~ormation 10 by means of perforations 18.
Disposed within the injection well 14 is an injection tubing string 20 that extends downwardly from a static mixer 22 to terminate open ended at a point near the upper portion of the formation 10. Tubing string 20 is stainless steel or other alloy tubing, sand blasted to remove mill scale. A packing gland 24 and a thermal packer 26 seat the tubing string 20 in the injection well 14. Tublng string 20 has at the bottom thereof ~Monel"* or other alloy * Trademark for a corrosion-resistant alloy of average composition~;
nickel, 67%i copper, 28~; and 5~ other elements (iron, manganese, silicon).
firebreaks 28. Flow line 30 containing valve ~2 is connected to static mixer 22. A separate flow line 34 containing valve 36 is connected to static mixer 22.
Initially, valve 32 is opened and steam from a suitable source is injected thr~ugh tubing 30 and into the lower portion of the formation 20 via static mixer 22, tubing string 20, and throuoJh perforations 18. The injected steam has a quality within the range of 50 to lO0 percent and at a temperature corresponding to the temperature of saturated steam at the pressure of the formation.
Preferably, the temperature is in the range of from about 250F to about 650F. The preferred rate of steam injection is at least 250 barrels (cold water equivalent) per day. Injection of steam is continued for a suff`icient period of time to provide a total heat input of at least 50 million B.t.u. The injected steam cleans the flowpath of the injection well of combustible components that could lead to uncontrolled reactions with oxygen or an explosion. ~n addition, the injected steam heats the formation to enable spontaneous ignition of subsequently injected oxygen as defined below and also drives oil away from the formation adjacent the injection well that could increase the danger of explosion in the presence of oxygen.
After sufficient steam has been injected into the lower portion of the formation 10 via the injection well 14, the next step is to inject a mixture of steam and oxygen into the formation 10 having a steam to oxygen molar ratio of at least 2 to 1 whereby in place oil in the formation is spontaneously ignited and a combustion front is established that moves radially outwardly from the well into the formation. This is accomplished by continuing to inject steam inte static mixer 22 via tubing 30 and opening valve 36 to simultaneously inject a sufficient amount of high purity oxygen into static mixer 22 via tubing 34 to provide a mixture of steam and oxygen having a steam to oxygen molar ratio of at least 2 to 1 that passes into tubing string 20. The preferred specif`ic injection rate of the mixture of steam and oxygen is at least 250 bbls steam (cold F-2~64 - 4 ~
water equivalent) and 873 MSCF oxygen/day. Since there is no in place oil in the well bore and only a small amount in the zone adjacent the perforations 18 in injection well 1~, the hazardous nature of injecting oxygen which would readily react with any hydrocarbon material near or in the injection well is eliminated thereby greatly reducing the occurrence of an explosion.
Injection of the mixture of steam and oxygen having a steam to oxygen molar ratio of at least 2 to 1 is continued for a predetermined period of time, preferably for a period of at least 48 hours. The period of time will vary depending upon the characteristics of the formation being produced and particularly the permeability and the viscosity of the oil in place.
Thereafter, the oxygen concentration is increased in stages;
such as increasing the oxygen concentration to about 100 percent after a one week or longer period of injection of a mixture of s-team and oxygen at a steam to oxygen molar ratio of 1 to 1 for at least 2 weeks.
Provisions must be made that, in the event of interruption of the process, steam can be injected at any time into tubing 20 via tubing 30 and into the lower portion of the formation 10. ~his is to ensure tha'c adequate control of the injection well 14 is maintained to prevent an explosion or to control the temperature of the injection well 14 if necessary.
STE~M IGNITION AND CON~ROL OF AN
OXYGEN~RIVEN FIRE FLOOD INJECTION WELL
.
This invention relates to a method for initiating an in-situ combustion operation to recover oil from a subterranean, viscous oil-containing formation wherein high purity oxygen is injected into the formation.
In situ combustion For the recovery of hydrocarbons from subsurface formations is becoming increasingly prevalent.
Combustion is initiated in the subsurface formation and the resulting combustion zone moves through the formation by the injection of air or oxygen. By carefully controlling the injection of oxygen and water into the ~ormation, the combustion zone progresses in a manner which facilitates the recovery of hydrocarbons from the formations. U.S. Patents 3,240~270-Marx, 490317~6-Terry, and 4,04~,026-Pusch et al are examples of the recovery of hydrocarbons by in-situ combustion.
The use of oxygen in such fire flooding processes has been limited because of its hazardous nature that could lead to uncontrolled reactions or explosions. Contamination which is normally found in well tubing strings is a severe fire hazard in the presence of oxygen~
It is an object of the present invention to provide a safe method for initiating an in-situ combustion operation using high purity oxygen by initially injecting a predetermined amount of steam followed by injecting a mixture of steam and oxygen that spontaneously ignites to establish a combustion front in the fonmation and subsequently increasing the concentration of oxygen until substantially 100 percent oxygen is being injected into the formation to support the fire flood.
The drawing illustrates in cross-sectional view, a subterranean, viscous oil-containing formation penetrated by an injection well that is equipped for the method of the present invention.
The invention is directed to a method for initiating in-Situ combustion within a permeable oil-containing subterranean ~ormation penetrated by at least one injection well in nuid communication with the lower portion of the formation, comprising injecting a predetermined amaunt of steam into the formation via the injection well. A mixture of steam and oxygen having a steam to oxygen molar ratio of at least 2 to 1 is then injected whereby the in place oil spontaneously ignites to establish a combustion front.
Injection o~ said mixture o~ steam and oxygen having a steam to oxygen molar ratio of at least 2 to 1 is continued for a predetermined period of time thereby driving the combustion front radially outwardly from the well into the formation. The oxygen concentration of the injected gas is then increased to about 100 percent oxygen.
The present invention relates to a safe~ practical method for igniting and controlling an injection well employed in an in-situ combustion operation for the recovery of viscous oil from subterranean permeable ~ormations wherein high purity oxygen is used as the combustion supporting gas.
The preferred method of employing the process of the invention can be best understood by re~erring to the drawing, in which there is shown a permeable viscous oil-containing formation 10 which resides below an overburden 12. Pn injection well 14 extends downwardly from the earth's surface 16 penetrating the formation 10.
InJection well 14 is in ~luid communication with the lower portion of the oil~containing ~ormation 10 by means of perforations 18.
Disposed within the injection well 14 is an injection tubing string 20 that extends downwardly from a static mixer 22 to terminate open ended at a point near the upper portion of the formation 10. Tubing string 20 is stainless steel or other alloy tubing, sand blasted to remove mill scale. A packing gland 24 and a thermal packer 26 seat the tubing string 20 in the injection well 14. Tublng string 20 has at the bottom thereof ~Monel"* or other alloy * Trademark for a corrosion-resistant alloy of average composition~;
nickel, 67%i copper, 28~; and 5~ other elements (iron, manganese, silicon).
firebreaks 28. Flow line 30 containing valve ~2 is connected to static mixer 22. A separate flow line 34 containing valve 36 is connected to static mixer 22.
Initially, valve 32 is opened and steam from a suitable source is injected thr~ugh tubing 30 and into the lower portion of the formation 20 via static mixer 22, tubing string 20, and throuoJh perforations 18. The injected steam has a quality within the range of 50 to lO0 percent and at a temperature corresponding to the temperature of saturated steam at the pressure of the formation.
Preferably, the temperature is in the range of from about 250F to about 650F. The preferred rate of steam injection is at least 250 barrels (cold water equivalent) per day. Injection of steam is continued for a suff`icient period of time to provide a total heat input of at least 50 million B.t.u. The injected steam cleans the flowpath of the injection well of combustible components that could lead to uncontrolled reactions with oxygen or an explosion. ~n addition, the injected steam heats the formation to enable spontaneous ignition of subsequently injected oxygen as defined below and also drives oil away from the formation adjacent the injection well that could increase the danger of explosion in the presence of oxygen.
After sufficient steam has been injected into the lower portion of the formation 10 via the injection well 14, the next step is to inject a mixture of steam and oxygen into the formation 10 having a steam to oxygen molar ratio of at least 2 to 1 whereby in place oil in the formation is spontaneously ignited and a combustion front is established that moves radially outwardly from the well into the formation. This is accomplished by continuing to inject steam inte static mixer 22 via tubing 30 and opening valve 36 to simultaneously inject a sufficient amount of high purity oxygen into static mixer 22 via tubing 34 to provide a mixture of steam and oxygen having a steam to oxygen molar ratio of at least 2 to 1 that passes into tubing string 20. The preferred specif`ic injection rate of the mixture of steam and oxygen is at least 250 bbls steam (cold F-2~64 - 4 ~
water equivalent) and 873 MSCF oxygen/day. Since there is no in place oil in the well bore and only a small amount in the zone adjacent the perforations 18 in injection well 1~, the hazardous nature of injecting oxygen which would readily react with any hydrocarbon material near or in the injection well is eliminated thereby greatly reducing the occurrence of an explosion.
Injection of the mixture of steam and oxygen having a steam to oxygen molar ratio of at least 2 to 1 is continued for a predetermined period of time, preferably for a period of at least 48 hours. The period of time will vary depending upon the characteristics of the formation being produced and particularly the permeability and the viscosity of the oil in place.
Thereafter, the oxygen concentration is increased in stages;
such as increasing the oxygen concentration to about 100 percent after a one week or longer period of injection of a mixture of s-team and oxygen at a steam to oxygen molar ratio of 1 to 1 for at least 2 weeks.
Provisions must be made that, in the event of interruption of the process, steam can be injected at any time into tubing 20 via tubing 30 and into the lower portion of the formation 10. ~his is to ensure tha'c adequate control of the injection well 14 is maintained to prevent an explosion or to control the temperature of the injection well 14 if necessary.
Claims (6)
1. A method for initiating in-situ combustion within a permeable oil-containing subterranean formation penetrated by at least one injection well in fluid communication with the lower portion of the formation, the steps comprising:
(a) injecting a predetermined amount of steam into the formation via the injection well to clean the flowpath of the injection well and heat the well-exposed face of said formation;
(b) injecting a mixture of steam and oxygen having a steam to oxygen molar ratio of at least 2 to 1 whereby the in place oil in the formation spontaneously ignites to establish a combustion front;
(c) continuing injecting of said mixture of steam and oxygen for a predetermined period of time to radially move the combustion front outwardly from the well into the formation; and (d) thereafter increasing the oxygen concentration in said injected mixture of steam in steps until about 100 percent oxygen is injected into the formation via the injection well.
(a) injecting a predetermined amount of steam into the formation via the injection well to clean the flowpath of the injection well and heat the well-exposed face of said formation;
(b) injecting a mixture of steam and oxygen having a steam to oxygen molar ratio of at least 2 to 1 whereby the in place oil in the formation spontaneously ignites to establish a combustion front;
(c) continuing injecting of said mixture of steam and oxygen for a predetermined period of time to radially move the combustion front outwardly from the well into the formation; and (d) thereafter increasing the oxygen concentration in said injected mixture of steam in steps until about 100 percent oxygen is injected into the formation via the injection well.
2. The method of Claim 1 wherein the steam in step (a) is injected in an amount to provide at least 50 million B.t.u. to the well at an injection rate of at least 250 barrels (cold water equivalent) per day.
3. The method of Claim 1 wherein the steam has a quality within the range of 50 to 100 percent.
4. The method of Claim 1 wherein the injection of the mixture of steam and oxygen during step (c) is continued for a period of time of at least 48 hours at an injection rate of at least 250 bbls steam (cold water equivalent) and 873 MSCF oxygen/day.
5. The method of Claim 1 wherein the concentration of oxygen injected into the formation during step (d) is increased to a concentration of about 100 percent after a period of at least one week.
6. The method of Claim 1 wherein the steam has a temperature within the range of about 250°F to about 650°F.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US51663083A | 1983-07-25 | 1983-07-25 | |
| US516,630 | 1983-07-25 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1214989A true CA1214989A (en) | 1986-12-09 |
Family
ID=24056435
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000454290A Expired CA1214989A (en) | 1983-07-25 | 1984-05-15 | Steam ignition and control of an oxygen-driven fire flood injection well |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1214989A (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN100560935C (en) * | 2006-12-18 | 2009-11-18 | 辽河石油勘探局 | A kind of oil reservoir fire-flooding thermal-ignition method |
| US20150144344A1 (en) * | 2013-11-22 | 2015-05-28 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Methods of extracting hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation, and methods of treating a hydrocarbon material within a subterranean formation |
| US9879511B2 (en) | 2013-11-22 | 2018-01-30 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Methods of obtaining a hydrocarbon material contained within a subterranean formation |
-
1984
- 1984-05-15 CA CA000454290A patent/CA1214989A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN100560935C (en) * | 2006-12-18 | 2009-11-18 | 辽河石油勘探局 | A kind of oil reservoir fire-flooding thermal-ignition method |
| US20150144344A1 (en) * | 2013-11-22 | 2015-05-28 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Methods of extracting hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation, and methods of treating a hydrocarbon material within a subterranean formation |
| US9879511B2 (en) | 2013-11-22 | 2018-01-30 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Methods of obtaining a hydrocarbon material contained within a subterranean formation |
| US10060237B2 (en) * | 2013-11-22 | 2018-08-28 | Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, Llc | Methods of extracting hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation, and methods of treating a hydrocarbon material within a subterranean formation |
| US10408027B2 (en) | 2013-11-22 | 2019-09-10 | Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, Llc | Methods of extracting hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation, and methods of treating a hydrocarbon material within a subterranean formation |
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| MKEX | Expiry |