WO2009129219A2 - Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas - Google Patents

Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2009129219A2
WO2009129219A2 PCT/US2009/040478 US2009040478W WO2009129219A2 WO 2009129219 A2 WO2009129219 A2 WO 2009129219A2 US 2009040478 W US2009040478 W US 2009040478W WO 2009129219 A2 WO2009129219 A2 WO 2009129219A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
formation
gas
oil
well
formulation
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2009/040478
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2009129219A3 (en
Inventor
Claudia Van Den Berg
Paul Clinton
Kees Van Gelder
Carolus Matthias Anna Maria Mesters
Patrick Guy Monin
Gerard Mulder
Raul Valdez
Dean Chien Wang
Original Assignee
Shell Oil Company
Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V.
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Shell Oil Company, Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. filed Critical Shell Oil Company
Priority to CA2721264A priority Critical patent/CA2721264A1/en
Priority to CN200980117454.4A priority patent/CN102027194B/en
Priority to US12/937,966 priority patent/US20110094750A1/en
Priority to RU2010146495/03A priority patent/RU2525406C2/en
Publication of WO2009129219A2 publication Critical patent/WO2009129219A2/en
Publication of WO2009129219A3 publication Critical patent/WO2009129219A3/en

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP 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
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
    • C09K8/52—Compositions for preventing, limiting or eliminating depositions, e.g. for cleaning
    • C09K8/528—Compositions for preventing, limiting or eliminating depositions, e.g. for cleaning inorganic depositions, e.g. sulfates or carbonates
    • C09K8/532—Sulfur
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
    • C09K8/58—Compositions for enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons, i.e. for improving the mobility of the oil, e.g. displacing fluids
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • C09K2208/00—Aspects relating to compositions of drilling or well treatment fluids
    • C09K2208/20—Hydrogen sulfide elimination
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP 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
    • E21B43/34—Arrangements for separating materials produced by the well
    • E21B43/40—Separation associated with re-injection of separated materials

Abstract

A system for producing oil and/or gas comprising a system for producing oil and/or gas comprising a formation comprising a mixture of oil and/or gas and a carbon disulfide formulation and/or a carbon oxysulfide formulation; a mechanism for releasing a separating agent into the formation, the separating agent adapted to separate the oil and/or gas from the carbon disulfide formulation and/or the carbon oxysulfide formulation.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING OIL AND/OR GAS
Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas.
Background of the Invention
Substantial amounts of sour natural gas are currently being produced from natural gas wells, oil wells (for example, as associated gas), and from natural gas storage reservoirs that have been infected with hydrogen sulfide -producing bacteria. The presence of hydrogen sulfide and other sulfur compounds in fuel and other gases has long been of concern for both the users and the producers of such gases. In addition to the corrosive and other adverse effects that such impurities have upon equipment and processes, noxious emissions are commonly produced from combustion of the natural gas as a result of oxidation of the sulfur compounds. The resulting sulfur oxides can be a major contributor to air pollution and may have detrimental impact upon the environment. Increasingly stringent federal and state regulations have accordingly been promulgated in an effort to reduce or eliminate sulfurous emissions, and a concomitant interest exists in efficiently removing from natural gas and the like the hydrogen sulfide that comprises a significant precursor of noxious emissions. In addition, one method of disposing of hydrogen sulfide has been to convert it into solid sulfur, for storage. Due to environmental and aesthetic concerns, many countries are now outlawing the formation of such sulfur stores.
Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) may be used to increase oil recovery in fields worldwide. There are three main types of EOR, thermal, chemical/polymer and gas injection, which may be used to increase oil recovery from a reservoir, beyond what can be achieved by conventional means - possibly extending the life of a field and boosting the oil recovery factor.
Thermal enhanced recovery works by adding heat to the reservoir. The most widely practised form is a steamdrive, which reduces oil viscosity so that it can flow to the producing wells. Chemical flooding increases recovery by reducing the capillary forces that trap residual oil. Polymer flooding improves the sweep efficiency of injected water. Miscible gas injection works in a similar way to chemical flooding. By injecting a fluid that is miscible with the oil, trapped residual oil can be recovered.
Referring to Figure 1 , there is illustrated prior art system 100. System 100 includes underground formation 102, underground formation 104, underground formation 106, and underground formation 108. Production facility 1 10 is provided at the surface. Well 1 12 traverses formations 102 and 104, and terminates in formation 106. The portion of formation 106 is shown at 1 14. Oil and gas are produced from formation 106 through well 1 12, to production facility 1 10. Gas and liquid are separated from each other, gas is stored in gas storage 1 16 and liquid is stored in liquid storage 1 18. Gas in gas storage 1 16 may contain hydrogen sulfide, which must be processed, transported, disposed of, or stored.
Co-Pending Patent Application Publication U.S. 2006/0254769 discloses a system including a mechanism for recovering oil and/or gas from an underground formation, the oil and/or gas comprising one or more sulfur compounds; a mechanism for converting at least a portion of the sulfur compounds from the recovered oil and/or gas into a carbon disulfide formulation; and a mechanism for releasing at least a portion of the carbon disulfide formulation into a formation. Publication U.S. 2006/0254769 is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. There is a need in the art for improved systems and methods for processing, transportation, disposal, or storage of hydrogen sulfide from a liquid and/or gas. There is a need in the art for improved systems and methods for processing, transportation, disposal, or storage of sulfur from a liquid and/or gas. There is a further need in the art for improved systems and methods for enhanced oil recovery. There is a further need in the art for improved systems and methods for enhanced oil recovery using a sulfur compound, for example through viscosity reduction, chemical effects, and miscible flooding. There is a further need in the art for improved systems and methods for making sulfur containing enhanced oil recovery agents.
In addition, carbon disulfide is a common chemical with applications ranging from use as a commercial solvent for the production of rayon, to a raw material for the production of agricultural insecticides. The carbon disulfide manufacturing process involves the purchase and transport of both solid sulfur and natural gas (or another carbon source), often from long distances, to the manufacturing site and produces carbon disulfide at very high purity. These two factors - the high purchase and shipping costs of the raw materials, and the high purity of the final product - result in a relatively high production cost for carbon disulfide.
The manufacturing process for converting sour gas into solid sulfur involves a solvent unit to first remove hydrogen sulfide, other sulfur compounds, and contaminants such as carbon dioxide from the natural gas stream, followed by a Claus unit to convert the hydrogen sulfide into sulfur, which is then allowed to solidify prior to transport or transported as a liquid. The manufacturing process for manufacturing carbon disulfide, on the other hand, entails the heating, melting, and vaporization of solid or liquid sulfur and reacting its vapors with heated natural gas or another carbon source.
There is a need in the art for improved systems and methods for carbon disulfide manufacturing. There is a need in the art for improved systems and methods for more energy efficient carbon disulfide manufacturing. There is a need in the art for improved systems and methods for removing carbon disulfide from a reservoir at the conclusion of an EOR process. Summary of the Invention
In one aspect, the invention provides a system for producing oil and/or gas comprising a formation comprising a mixture of oil and/or gas and a carbon disulfide formulation and/or a carbon oxysulfide formulation; a mechanism for releasing a separating agent into the formation, the separating agent adapted to separate the oil and/or gas from the carbon disulfide formulation and/or the carbon oxysulfide formulation.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method for producing oil and/or gas comprising providing a formation comprising a mixture of oil and/or gas and a carbon disulfide formulation and/or a carbon oxysulfide formulation; releasing a separating agent into a formation; and separating the oil and/or gas from the carbon disulfide formulation and/or the carbon oxysulfide formulation.
Advantages of the invention include one or more of the following: Improved systems and methods for disposing of hydrogen sulfide, sulfur, and/or other sulfur based compounds.
Improved systems and methods for enhanced recovery of hydrocarbons from a formation with a carbon disulfide formulation. Improved systems and methods for enhanced recovery of hydrocarbons from a formation with a fluid containing a carbon disulfide formulation.
Improved systems and methods for producing a carbon disulfide formulation. Improved carbon disulfide containing compositions for secondary recovery of hydrocarbons.
Improved systems and methods for processing, transportation, disposal, or storage of a sulfur compound from a liquid and/or gas.
Improved systems and methods for enhanced oil recovery. Improved systems and methods for enhanced oil recovery using a sulfur compound.
Improved systems and methods for enhanced oil recovery using a compound which is miscible with oil in place.
Improved systems and methods for making and/or using sulfur containing enhanced oil recovery agents.
Improved systems and methods for removing carbon disulfide from a formation at the conclusion of an enhanced oil recovery process. Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 illustrates an oil and/or gas production system. Figure 2 illustrates an oil and/or gas production process.
Figures 3a-3e illustrate oil and/or gas production systems.
Figure 4 illustrates a carbon disulfide formulation production process. Detailed Description of the Invention
Figure 2: Referring now to Figure 2, in one embodiment of the invention, process A for producing oil and/or gas, which includes disposing of a sulfur compound is illustrated. Process A includes step 1 where sulfur and/or a sulfur-containing compound is obtained, and optionally released into a formation. In step 2, at least a portion of the sulfur compound is converted into a carbon disulfide formulation and/or a carbon oxysulfide formulation, optionally within the formation. In step 3, at the conclusion of an EOR operation, oil and/or gas may be separated from the carbon disulfide formulation and/or the carbon oxysulfide formulation, and the oil recovered from the underground formation, and the carbon disulfide formulation and/or a carbon oxysulfide formulation may be converted into another compound within the formation.
Step 1 : The obtaining of the sulfur containing compound may be accomplished by any known method. Suitable methods include purchasing gaseous, liquid and/or solid elemental sulfur or sulfur containing compounds; recovering such compounds from an underground formation; and/or recovering such compounds as a stream from surface processes. The selection of the method used to obtain the sulfur containing compound into the underground formation is not critical.
Such compounds may be injected into a formation with any known method. Suitable methods include vertical and horizontal wells, perforating the formation, injecting liquid and/or vaporized elemental sulfur, or other methods for injecting liquids and gases into a formation as are known in the art. The selection of the method used to release the sulfur containing compound into the underground formation is not critical.
In some embodiments of the invention, the sulfur compound may include elemental sulfur, hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, sulfides and disulfides other than hydrogen disulfide, or heterocyclic sulfur compounds for example thiophenes, benzothiophenes, or substituted and condensed ring dibenzothiophenes, or mixtures thereof.
Releasing at least a portion of the sulfur containing compound and/or other liquids and/or gases may be accomplished by any known method. One suitable method is injecting sulfur containing compound into a single conduit in a single well, allowing sulfur containing compound to soak, and then pumping out at least a portion of the gases and/or liquids. Another suitable method is injecting sulfur containing compound into a first conduit in a single well, and pumping out at least a portion of the gases and/or liquids through a second conduit in the single well. Another suitable method is injecting sulfur containing compound into a first well, and pumping out at least a portion of the gases and/or liquids through a second well. The selection of the method used to inject at least a portion of the sulfur containing compound and/or other liquids and/or gases is not critical. Alternatively, the order of injection and conversion may be reversed. The sulfur containing compound may be converted into another compound in a surface process, and then the other compound injected into the formation. The other compound may be injected by any known method, for example those discussed above or other methods as are known in the art.
A sulfur containing compound and/or other liquids and/or gases, such as a solvent or a liquid or gas miscible with the oil in place, may be left to soak in a formation for a period of time from about 1 hour to about 15 days, for example from about 5 to about 50 hours. In some embodiments, sulfur containing compound and/or other liquids and/or gases may be pumped into a formation at a pressure above the fracture pressure of the formation.
In some embodiments, sulfur containing compound or sulfur containing compound mixed with other components may be miscible in oil (or other liquids) and/or gases in a formation. In some embodiments, sulfur containing compound or sulfur containing compound mixed with other components may be immiscible in oil and/or gas in formation.
In some embodiments, sulfur containing compound may be heated prior to being injected into the formation to lower the viscosity of fluids in the formation, for example heavy oils, paraffins, asphaltenes, etc.
In some embodiments, sulfur containing compound may be heated and/or boiled while within the formation, with the use of a heated fluid or a heater, to lower the viscosity of fluids in the formation. In some embodiments, heated water and/or steam may be used to heat and/or vaporize the sulfur containing compound in the formation. Alternatively, a nonaqueous fluid could be substituted for steam or hot water as the heat medium to heat sulfur containing compound, for example a heavy aromatic solvent which may have its own solubilizing effect on reservoir hydrocarbons.
In some embodiments of the invention, in addition to injecting a sulfur containing compound into the formation, one or more catalysts for example as a slurry or suspension, oxygen or an oxygen containing gas, and one or more hydrocarbons may also be injected into the formation. Suitable catalysts, gases, and hydrocarbons which may be used in reactions within the formation are set forth below with regard to Step 2.
Step 2: The conversion of at least a portion of the sulfur compound into a carbon disulfide and/or carbon oxysulfide formulation may be accomplished by any known method. Suitable methods may include an oxidation reaction of the sulfur compound to sulfur and/or sulfur dioxides, and by reaction of sulfur and/or sulfur dioxide with carbon and/or a carbon containing compound to form the carbon disulfide formulation. The selection of the method used to convert at least a portion of the sulfur compound into a carbon disulfide formulation is not critical.
In some embodiments of the invention, the carbon disulfide and/or carbon oxysulfide formulation may include carbon disulfide, carbon oxysulfide, and/or carbon disulfide derivatives for example, thiocarbonates, xanthates and mixtures thereof; and optionally one or more of the following: hydrogen sulfide, sulfur, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof.
In some embodiments of the invention, a carbon disulfide formulation is defined as a formulation having a molar ratio of carbon disulfide to carbon oxysulfide of greater than about 1. In some embodiments of the invention, a carbon oxysulfide formulation is defined as a formulation having a molar ratio of carbon disulfide to carbon oxysulfide of about 1 or less.
In some embodiments of the invention, a carbon disulfide formulation may be used interchangeably with a carbon oxysulfide formulation, as the terms are defined above. For example, where the production, storage, and/or use of a carbon disulfide formulation are described below, the carbon disulfide formulation may be substituted with a carbon oxysulfide formulation.
In some embodiments of the invention, carbon disulfide formulation and/or carbon oxysulfide formulation production may have an input of a sulfur compound, for example injected directly into the formation.
In some embodiments of the invention, the sulfur compound may be converted into sulfur dioxide and/or sulfur by an oxidation reaction, for example by the Claus process, catalytic selective oxidation reaction, or by reaction with a metal as described hereinafter.
In some embodiments of the invention, the oxidation reaction may include reacting a sulfur compound with an oxygen containing gas in a reaction zone to yield sulfur dioxide and/or sulfur, among other components.
In some embodiments of the invention, the oxygen containing gas may be oxygen, air, oxygen-enriched air, or oxygen depleted air.
In some embodiments of the invention, the sulfur compound may be oxidized in the presence of a catalyst. Suitable catalysts may be present within or as part of the formation, including mineral compounds of elements such as aluminum, antimony, barium, bismuth, calcium, cerium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gallium, germanium, hafnium, iridium, iron, lanthanum, lead, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, neodymium, nickel, niobium, osmium, palladium, platinum, praseodymium, rhenium, rhodium, ruthenium, samarium, scandium, silicon, silver, tantalum, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, yttrium, zinc, zirconium, like oxides, sulfides, or carbides of these elements, and/or combinations or mixtures of two or more of the above.
In some embodiments, suitable catalysts, or precursors thereof, might be added to the formation or used in a surface conversion process. Suitable delivery methods to add catalyst precursors to the formation are via fluid injection, the fluid containing the catalyst precursor. The catalyst precursor can be part of the injection fluid as a liquid, a solution, a slurry, or a gas. Suitable catalyst precursors may contain elements such as titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum or mixtures thereof. Suitable gaseous catalyst precursors may be compounds of the elements above such as halides and carbonyls or mixtures thereof. Suitable liquids include molten salts of carbonates, hydroxides and or halides or mixtures thereof such as eutectic melts. Suitable solutions may be aqueous solutions of the water-soluble salts of the elements above as nitrates, sulfates, and halides. In some embodiments of the invention, the oxidation reaction may take place in the formation or a surface process in a reaction zone having a temperature of less than about 5000C, for example from about 150 to about 5000C, or from about 200 to about 3000C, or above the dew point of sulfur, for given process conditions, so that sulfur does not condense onto the catalyst or in the reaction zone.
In some embodiments of the invention, the oxidation reaction may take place in the formation or in a surface process in a reaction zone having a pressure from about 10O to about 1000 kilopascals, for example from about 200 to about 500 kilopascals (absolute).
In some embodiments, a sulfur compound may be converted to sulfur and/or sulfur dioxide, for which processes are disclosed in U.S. patent application publication numbers 2004/0096381 , 2004/0022721 , 2004/0159583, 2003/0194366, 2001/0008619, 2002/0134706, 2004/0096381 , 2004/0022721 , 2004/0159583, and 2001/0008619, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Sulfur and/or sulfur dioxide may be reacted with carbon or a carbon containing compound in the formation or in a surface process in a reaction zone to produce a carbon disulfide or carbon oxysulfide formulation.
In some embodiments, the carbon compound comprises carbon in any form, for example graphite, coal, charcoal, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons for example natural gas, methane, ethane, propane, or heavier hydrocarbons, such as heavy oil, tar, tar sands, shales, asphaltenes, and/or bitumen. In some embodiments, sulfur and/or sulfur dioxide may be combined with a carbon compound at temperatures from about 500 to about 900 0C, for example from about 550 to 700 0C.
In some embodiments, sulfur and/or sulfur dioxide may be combined with a carbon compound at a pressure from about 100 to about 500 kilopascals. In some embodiments, sulfur and/or sulfur dioxide may be combined with a carbon compound in the presence of a catalyst. Suitable catalysts include silica- alumina catalysts, for example those containing from 2 to 10 per cent by weight of silica; silica gel; bauxite; activated alumina; and in general those types of clay which are effective in the removal of color bodies and gum forming bodies from petroleum oils. The catalysts may additionally comprise one or more of vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, technetium, rhenium, iron, ruthenium, osmium, cobalt, rhodium, iridium, nickel, palladium, and/or platinum; in their elemental form, as compounds of the metals, or as oxides and sulfides. For example, oxides and sulfides of iron, vanadium, chromium, molybdenum, and manganese may be used as promoters in combination with silica gel, fuller's earth and/or activated alumina catalysts.
In some embodiments, a carbon disulfide formulation may be produced by reacting carbon with sulfur. The carbon may be obtained from hydrocarbons within the formation such as natural gas, crude oil, heavy oils, shale, tar sands, tar, asphalt, bitumen, and/or other hydrocarbons within the formation. Sulfur may be reacted with the carbon so as to produce carbon disulfide formulation, for example, sulfur in the liquid or vapor phase may be used for this reaction. In some embodiments, sulfur and/or sulfur dioxide and a carbon compound may be converted to carbon disulfide formulation, processes for which are disclosed in U.S. patent numbers 4,963,340, 2,636,810, 3,927,185, 4,057,613, and 4,822,938, and U.S. patent application publication number 2004/0146450, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. One suitable method of converting liquid sulfur and a hydrocarbon into a carbon disulfide formulation in the absence of oxygen is disclosed in WO 2007/131976. WO 2007/131976 is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
One suitable method of converting liquid sulfur and a hydrocarbon into a carbon disulfide formulation in the presence of oxygen is disclosed in WO 2007/131977. WO 2007/131977 is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Other suitable methods for converting sulfur compounds into a carbon disulfide formulation and/or a carbon oxysulfide formulation are disclosed in co- pending patent applications: U.S. Patent Publication 2006/0254769 having attorney docket number TH2616; U.S. Provisional Application 61/031 ,832 having attorney docket number TH3448; U.S. Provisional Application 61/024,694 having attorney docket number TH3443; PCT Patent Publication WO 2007/131976 having attorney docket number TS1746; PCT Patent Publication WO 2008/003732 having attorney docket number TS1818; PCT Patent Publication WO 2007/131977 having attorney docket number TS1833; and PCT Patent Application PCT/EP2007/059746 having attorney docket number TS9597, which are all herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
As discussed above, the reaction inputs and/or catalysts may be used in a surface process or found within the formation or injected into the formation in order to convert a sulfur containing compound into a carbon disulfide formulation and/or a carbon oxysulfide formulation.
Step 3: Carbon disulfide formulation and/or a carbon oxysulfide formulation may be produced in a surface process and/or produced within a formation. The carbon disulfide formulation and/or a carbon oxysulfide formulation may then be used in an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process to boost the production of oil from the formation, for example as disclosed in co-pending patent application TH2616, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. A mixture of oil and the carbon disulfide formulation may be produced to the surface, the carbon disulfide formulation separated, and optionally recycled to be injected into the formation or into another formation. At the conclusion of the EOR process, there will be a volume of carbon disulfide formulation within the formation. The carbon disulfide formulation may be separated from oil, the oil produced to the surface, and the carbon disulfide formulation converted into another sulfur containing compound.
The separation of oil and/or gas from a carbon disulfide and/or carbon oxysulfide formulation may be accomplished by any known method. Suitable methods include boiling off the carbon disulfide and/or carbon oxysulfide formulation, by increasing the temperature of the oil mixture. This will leave behind an elevated temperature oil with an increased mobility and lower viscosity to be produced. The temperature of the mixture can be increased by injecting steam or hot water, the use of in-situ heaters, or injecting another hot substance such as a liquid or a gas. Another suitable method to separate the oil mixture is to hydrolyze the carbon disulfide and/or carbon oxysulfide formulation. This can be accomplished by injecting steam and/or hot water into contact with the oil mixture. This will leave behind an elevated temperature oil with an increased mobility and lower viscosity to be produced. In some embodiments, the steam and/or hot water may be basic or alkaline, for example by adding amines or ammonia or other bases to the water or steam.
Another suitable method to separate the oil mixture is to oxidize the carbon disulfide and/or carbon oxysulfide formulation. This can be accomplished by injecting oxygen, air, or other oxygen containing gases into contact with the oil mixture. This will leave behind an elevated temperature oil with an increased mobility and lower viscosity to be produced.
Another suitable method to separate the oil mixture is to strip the carbon disulfide and/or carbon oxysulfide formulation from the oil. This can be accomplished by injecting nitrogen or other suitable stripping gases or liquids into contact with the oil mixture. This will leave behind an oil to be produced.
The recovery of oil and/or gas from an underground formation may be accomplished by any known method. Suitable methods include subsea production, surface production, primary, secondary, or tertiary production. The selection of the method used to recover the oil and/or gas from the underground formation is not critical.
In one embodiment, oil and/or gas may be recovered from a formation into a well, and flow through the well and flowline to a facility. In some embodiments, enhanced oil recovery, with the use of an agent for example steam, water, a surfactant, a polymer flood, and/or a miscible agent such as a carbon disulfide formulation, may be used to increase the flow of oil and/or gas from the formation.
Sulfide Conversion:
Any carbon disulfide and/or carbon oxysulfide present in the formation may be converted into another compound while within the formation by any suitable method. The selection of the method to convert the carbon disulfide and/or carbon oxysulfide is not critical. Suitable methods to convert the carbon disulfide and/or carbon oxysulfide include the formation of hydrogen sulfide and oxidation, which are set forth below.
Hydrogen Sulfide Formation: In one example, the miscible solvent may include a carbon disulfide and/or carbon oxysulfide formulation. The carbon disulfide may be hydrolyzed within the formation into hydrogen sulfide and/or carbon oxysulfide formulation, for example by reaction with water and/or steam. Optionally, one or more catalysts such as alumina and/or titania, for example in a solution, as a powder, or as a suspension in water or other fluids may be introduced into the formation in order to catalyze the reaction from carbon disulfide to hydrogen sulfide.
The carbon disulfide can be hydrolyzed to hydrogen sulfide and/or carbon oxysulfide by any reaction or mechanism. The selection of the reaction or mechanism is not critical. One suitable mechanism by which the carbon disulfide is hydrolyzed to hydrogen sulfide is a known reaction, which has the formula:
CS2 + H2O → H2S + COS (Formula 1 )
The carbon disulfide may be hydrolyzed further within the formation into carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, for example by reaction with water or steam.
The carbon oxysulfide can be hydrolyzed to hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide by any reaction or mechanism. The selection of the reaction or mechanism is not critical. One suitable mechanism by which the carbon oxysulfide is hydrolyzed to hydrogen sulfide is a known reaction, which has the formula: COS + H2O → H2S + CO2 (Formula 2)
The hydrogen sulfide may then be recovered from one or more wells. In order to recover the hydrogen sulfide from the formation, water, air, carbon dioxide, or one or more other liquids or gases or remediation agents may be injected into the formation to aid in the recovery of the hydrogen sulfide from a well.
Oxidation Reactions:
In one example, the miscible solvent may include an alcohol and/or hydrocarbon such as natural gas, propane, butane, and/or pentane. The miscible solvent may be burned in place within the formation into primarily water and carbon dioxide, for example by the addition of oxygen, steam, peroxides, and/or heat.
In another example, the miscible solvent may include a carbon disulfide formulation. The carbon disulfide may be combusted or oxidized within the formation into sulfur dioxide and/or carbon dioxide, for example by the addition of oxygen, peroxides, and/or heat. The carbon disulfide can be oxidized by any reaction or mechanism. The selection of the reaction or mechanism is not critical. One suitable mechanism by which the carbon disulfide is oxidized to sulfur dioxide is a known reaction, which has the formula: CS2 + 3 O2 → 2SO2 + CO2 (Formula 3)
The sulfur dioxide may then be recovered from one or more wells, or left in place within the formation. In order to recover the sulfur dioxide from the formation, water, air, carbon dioxide, or one or more other liquids or gases or remediation agents may be injected into the formation to aid in the recovery of the sulfur dioxide from a well.
Figure 3a:
Referring now to Figure 3a, in one embodiment of the invention, system 200 is illustrated. System 200 includes underground formation 202, underground formation 204, underground formation 206, and underground formation 208. Production facility 210 is provided at the surface. Well 212 traverses formations 202 and 204, and has openings in formation 206. Portions 214 of formation 206 may optionally be fractured and/or perforated. Oil and gas from formation 206 is produced into portions 214, into well 212, and travels up to production facility 210. Production facility may then separate gas, which is sent to gas processing 216, and liquid, which is sent to liquid storage 218. Production facility also includes carbon disulfide formulation storage 230. Carbon disulfide, hydrogen sulfide and/or other sulfur containing compounds produced from well 212 may be sent to carbon disulfide formulation production 230. Carbon disulfide, hydrogen sulfide and/or other sulfur containing compounds may be pumped down well 212 that is shown by the down arrow and is pumped into formation 206, and is then separated and the oil and gas produced back up well 212 to production facility 210.
Figures 3b & 3c:
Referring now to Figures 3b and 3c, in some embodiments of the invention, system 200 is illustrated. System 200 includes underground formation 202, underground formation 204, underground formation 206, and underground formation 208. Production facility 210 is provided at the surface. Well 212 traverses formations 202 and 204, and has openings in formation 206. Portions 214 of formation 206 may be optionally fractured and/or perforated. During primary production, oil and gas from formation 206 is produced into portions 214, into well 212, and travels up to production facility 210. Production facility then separates gas, which is sent to gas processing 216, and liquid, which is sent to liquid storage 218. Production facility also includes carbon disulfide formulation storage 230. Carbon disulfide formulation, hydrogen sulfide and/or other sulfur containing compounds may be separated from oil and/or gas within the formation, before the oil and/or gas is produced into well 212, or after the oil and/or gas is produced into well 212 and to a surface facility. As shown in Figure 3b, sulfur containing compound, other liquids, gases, and/or catalysts may be pumped down well 212 that is shown by the down arrow and pumped into formation 206. Sulfur containing compound formulation may be left to soak in formation for a period of time from about 1 hour to about 15 days, for example from about 5 to about 50 hours, in order to react with hydrocarbons to form a miscible sulfur compound - oil formulation.
After the soaking / reaction period, as shown in Figure 3c, carbon disulfide formulation may be produced with the oil and/or gas, back up well 212 to production facility 210.
In some embodiments, sulfur containing compound may be pumped into formation 206 above the fracture pressure of the formation, for example from about 120% to about 200% of the fracture pressure.
Sulfur containing compound may be pumped into formation 206 at a temperature from about 200 to about 10000C, for example from about 400 to about 8000C, or from about 500 to about 7000C.
Sulfur containing compound may be pumped into formation 206 at a pressure from about 2 to about 200 bars, for example from about 3 to about 100 bars, or from about 5 to about 50 bars.
Figure 3d:
Referring now to Figure 3d, in some embodiments of the invention, system 300 is illustrated. System 300 includes underground formation 302, formation 304, formation 306, and formation 308. Production facility 310 is provided at the surface. Well 312 traverses formation 302 and 304 has openings at formation 306. Portions of formation 314 may be optionally fractured and/or perforated. As oil and gas is produced from formation 306 it enters portions 314, and travels up well 312 to production facility 310. Gas and liquid may be separated, and gas may be sent to gas storage 316, and liquid may be sent to liquid storage 318. Production facility 310 is able to store and/or produce carbon disulfide formulation, which may be produced and stored in carbon disulfide formulation production 330. Carbon disulfide formulation, hydrogen sulfide and/or other sulfur containing compounds may be separated from oil and/or gas, after the oil and/or gas is produced to well 312 and to surface facilities. Carbon disulfide formulation may also be optionally recycled back to the formation, or to another formation.
A carbon disulfide and/or a carbon oxysulfide formulation, and optionally other liquids, gases, and/or catalysts may be pumped down well 332, to portions 334 of formation 306. The carbon disulfide and/or the carbon oxysulfide formulation traverses formation 306 and reacts with one or more hydrocarbons to make a miscible oil mixture with the carbon disulfide and/or carbon oxysulfide formulation, which aids in the production of oil and gas, and then the mixture may be produced to well 312 and to production facilities 310, and then the carbon disulfide formulation and oil and/or gas may be separated. Carbon disulfide formulation may then be recycled and reinjected into the formation or to another target formation.
In some embodiments, carbon disulfide formulation or carbon disulfide formulation mixed with other components may be miscible in oil and/or gas in formation 306.
In some embodiments, carbon disulfide formulation or carbon disulfide formulation mixed with other components may be mixed in with oil and/or gas in formation 306 to form a miscible mixture. The mixture may then be produced to well 312, then separated. In some embodiments, carbon disulfide formulation or carbon disulfide formulation mixed with other components may not mix in with oil and/or gas in formation 306, so that carbon disulfide formulation or carbon disulfide formulation mixed with other components travels as a plug across formation 306 to force oil and/or gas to well 312. In some embodiments, a quantity of carbon disulfide formulation or carbon disulfide formulation mixed with other components may be injected into well 332, followed by another component to force carbon disulfide formulation or carbon disulfide formulation mixed with other components across formation 306, for example air; water in gas or liquid form; water mixed with one or more salts, polymers, and/or surfactants; carbon dioxide; other gases; other liquids; and/or mixtures thereof.
Figure 3e: Figure 3e illustrates the system of Figure 3d at the conclusion of an EOR process. There is a volume of carbon disulfide formulation mixed with oil and/or gas within underground formation 302. System 300 may be used to separate and/or convert carbon disulfide formulation within underground formation 302.
System 300 includes underground formation 302, formation 304, formation 306, and formation 308. Production facility 310 is provided at the surface. Well 312 traverses formation 302 and 304 has openings at formation 306. Portions of formation 314 may be optionally fractured and/or perforated.
A separating agent may be injected into well 332 and into formation 306 as shown by the arrows. A separating agent may also be injected into well portion 332 and out of the bottom of well portion 332 as shown by the arrows and into formation 306. As discussed above, the separating agent may act to separate the oil and/or gas from the carbon disulfide formulation, and/or to raise the temperature and mobility of the oil. Suitable separating agents include steam, water, air, oxygen containing gases, nitrogen, amines, and other liquids and gases known in the art to separate oil / carbon disulfide formulation mixtures.
After the separating agent has been injected for a period of time, separated oil and/or gas 344 may be produced to well potion 312 as shown by arrows, for example at a point in the well above where the separating agent was injected. In addition, carbon disulfide formulation, separating agent, converted carbon disulfide formulation, and/or a mixture thereof may form a lower density blanket 342 above oil and/or gas 344. Blanket 342 may be used to force oil and/or gas 344 towards well portion 312. After the oil and/or gas 344 is produced, blanket 342 may be produced to well portion 312 or left in formation 306.
In some embodiments, well 312 may be used to inject separating agent for a first time period, and then well 312 may be used to produce oil and/or gas for a second time period. In some embodiments, well 312 may be alternatively cycled between injecting the separating agent and producing oil and/or gas, for example from about 2 to about 100 cycles, for example from about 5 to about 10 cycles.
Figure 4: Referring now to Figure 4, in some embodiments of the invention, carbon disulfide formulation production 430 is illustrated. Carbon disulfide formulation production 430 has an input of hydrogen sulfide and/or other sulfur containing compounds. Hydrogen sulfide may be converted into sulfur dioxide by oxidation reaction 432. Hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide may be converted to sulfur at 434. Sulfur may be combined with a carbon compound to produce carbon disulfide formulation at 436. The carbon disulfide formulation and hydrogen sulfide produced at 436 may be the output. Carbon disulfide formulation and/or a carbon disulfide formulation containing mixture may be the output from carbon disulfide formulation production 430.
Alternatives:
In some embodiments, carbon disulfide derived salts can be dissolved in water, and the resulting solution pumped into formations 206 and/or 306. The dissolved carbon disulfide formulations may decompose, yielding carbon disulfide in formations 206 and/or 306.
In some embodiments of the invention, gas and liquid produced from well 212 and/or 312 may be separated, for example with a gravity separator or a centrifuge, or with other methods known in the art. The gas portion may be sent to carbon disulfide formulation production 230 and/or 330. In some embodiments of the invention, all of the components of system 200 and/or system 300 may be within about 10 km of each other, for example about 5, 3, or 1 km. In some embodiments, oil and/or gas produced from well 212 and/or 312 may be transported to a refinery and/or a treatment facility. The oil and/or gas may be processed to produced to produce commercial products such as transportation fuels such as gasoline and diesel, heating fuel, lubricants, chemicals, and/or polymers. Processing may include distilling and/or fractionally distilling the oil and/or gas to produce one or more distillate fractions. In some embodiments, the oil and/or gas, and/or the one or more distillate fractions may be subjected to a process of one or more of the following: catalytic cracking, hydrocracking, hyd retreating, coking, thermal cracking, distilling, reforming, polymerization, isomehzation, alkylation, blending, and dewaxing.
It is to be appreciated that any of the embodiments to complete Step 1 may be combined with any of the embodiments to complete Step 2, which may be combined with any of the embodiments to complete Step 3.
The selection of a method to complete any of Steps 1-3 is not critical.
Illustrative Embodiments:
In one embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a system for producing oil and/or gas comprising a formation comprising a mixture of oil and/or gas and a carbon disulfide formulation and/or a carbon oxysulfide formulation; a mechanism for releasing a separating agent into the formation, the separating agent adapted to separate the oil and/or gas from the carbon disulfide formulation and/or the carbon oxysulfide formulation. In some embodiments, the system also includes a mechanism for recovering the oil and/or gas from the formation. In some embodiments, the mechanism for recovering comprises a well in the underground formation and a recovery facility at a topside of the well. In some embodiments, the mechanism for recovering comprises a first well drilled in the underground formation for recovering the oil and/or gas, and a production facility at a topside of the first well; and the mechanism for releasing the separating agent comprises a second well in the underground formation for releasing the separating agent into the formation. In some embodiments, the mechanism for recovering comprises a first well drilled in the underground formation for recovering the oil and/or gas, and a production facility at a topside of the first well; and the mechanism for releasing the separating agent comprises the first well in the underground formation for releasing the separating agent into the formation. In some embodiments, the the first well comprises a first portion for recovering the oil and/or gas, and a second portion for releasing the separating agent. In some embodiments, the first well is used for releasing the separating agent for a first time period, and then used for recovering the oil and/or gas for a second time period. In some embodiments, the system also includes a heater within the formation adapted to heat at least one of the separating agent, oil, and/or gas. In some embodiments, the system also includes a mechanism adapted to convert the carbon disulfide formulation and/or the carbon oxysulfide formulation into another compound within the formation. In some embodiments, the mechanism to convert comprises a mechanism to produce hydrogen sulfide and/or a mechanism to oxidize. In some embodiments, the separating agent is selected from the group of air, oxygen, oxygen containing gases, nitrogen, amines, steam, water, and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a method for producing oil and/or gas comprising providing a formation comprising a mixture of oil and/or gas and a carbon disulfide formulation and/or a carbon oxysulfide formulation; releasing a separating agent into a formation; and separating the oil and/or gas from the carbon disulfide formulation and/or the carbon oxysulfide formulation. In some embodiments, the method also includes recovering oil and/or gas from the underground formation. In some embodiments, the recovering is done from a first well and the releasing the separating agent is done from the first well. In some embodiments, the recovering is done from a first well and the releasing the separating agent is done from a second well. In some embodiments, the recovering is done from a higher point in the formation, and the releasing the separating agent is done from a lower point in the formation. In some embodiments, the method also includes heating the separating agent prior to injecting the separating agent into the formation, or while within the formation. In some embodiments, the method also includes converting the carbon disulfide formulation and/or a carbon oxysulfide formulation into another compound within the formation. In some embodiments, the method also includes converting at least a portion of a recovered oil and/or gas from the formation into a material selected from the group consisting of transportation fuels such as gasoline and diesel, heating fuel, lubricants, chemicals, and/or polymers.
Those of skill in the art will appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in terms of the disclosed embodiments of the invention, configurations, materials and methods without departing from their spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the claims appended hereafter and their functional equivalents should not be limited by particular embodiments described and illustrated herein, as these are merely exemplary in nature.

Claims

C L A I M S
1. A system for producing oil and/or gas comprising: a formation comprising a mixture of oil and/or gas and a carbon disulfide formulation and/or a carbon oxysulfide formulation; a mechanism for releasing a separating agent into the formation, the separating agent adapted to separate the oil and/or gas from the carbon disulfide formulation and/or the carbon oxysulfide formulation.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism for recovering the oil and/or gas from the formation.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the mechanism for recovering comprises a well in the underground formation and a recovery facility at a topside of the well.
4. The system of one or more of claims 2-3, wherein the mechanism for recovering comprises a first well drilled in the underground formation for recovering the oil and/or gas, and a production facility at a topside of the first well; and wherein the mechanism for releasing the separating agent comprises a second well in the underground formation for releasing the separating agent into the formation.
5. The system of one or more of claims 2-3, wherein the mechanism for recovering comprises a first well drilled in the underground formation for recovering the oil and/or gas, and a production facility at a topside of the first well; and wherein the mechanism for releasing the separating agent comprises the first well in the underground formation for releasing the separating agent into the formation.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first well comprises a first portion for recovering the oil and/or gas, and a second portion for releasing the separating agent.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein the first well is used for releasing the separating agent for a first time period, and then used for recovering the oil and/or gas for a second time period.
8. The system of one or more of claims 1-7, further comprising a heater within the formation adapted to heat at least one of the separating agent, oil, and/or gas.
9. The system of one or more of claims 1-8, further comprising a mechanism adapted to convert the carbon disulfide formulation and/or the carbon oxysulfide formulation into another compound within the formation.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the mechanism to convert comprises a mechanism to produce hydrogen sulfide and/or a mechanism to oxidize.
1 1. The system of one or more of claims 1-10, wherein the separating agent is selected from the group of air, oxygen, oxygen containing gases, nitrogen, amines, steam, water, and mixtures thereof.
12. A method for producing oil and/or gas comprising: providing a formation comprising a mixture of oil and/or gas and a carbon disulfide formulation and/or a carbon oxysulfide formulation; releasing a separating agent into a formation; and separating the oil and/or gas from the carbon disulfide formulation and/or the carbon oxysulfide formulation.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising recovering oil and/or gas from the underground formation.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the recovering is done from a first well and the releasing the separating agent is done from the first well.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the recovering is done from a first well and the releasing the separating agent is done from a second well.
16. The method of one or more of claims 13-15, wherein the recovering is done from a higher point in the formation, and the releasing the separating agent is done from a lower point in the formation.
17. The methods of one or more of claims 12-16, further comprising heating the separating agent prior to injecting the separating agent into the formation, or while within the formation.
18. The method of one or more of claims 12-17, further comprising converting the carbon disulfide formulation and/or a carbon oxysulfide formulation into another compound within the formation.
19. The method of one or more of claims 13-18, further comprising converting at least a portion of a recovered oil and/or gas from the formation into a material selected from the group consisting of transportation fuels such as gasoline and diesel, heating fuel, lubricants, chemicals, and/or polymers.
PCT/US2009/040478 2008-04-16 2009-04-14 Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas WO2009129219A2 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2721264A CA2721264A1 (en) 2008-04-16 2009-04-14 Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas
CN200980117454.4A CN102027194B (en) 2008-04-16 2009-04-14 Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas
US12/937,966 US20110094750A1 (en) 2008-04-16 2009-04-14 Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas
RU2010146495/03A RU2525406C2 (en) 2008-04-16 2009-04-14 System and method of oil and/or gas production

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US4534608P 2008-04-16 2008-04-16
US61/045,346 2008-04-16

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009129219A2 true WO2009129219A2 (en) 2009-10-22
WO2009129219A3 WO2009129219A3 (en) 2009-12-03

Family

ID=41199682

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2009/040478 WO2009129219A2 (en) 2008-04-16 2009-04-14 Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20110094750A1 (en)
CN (1) CN102027194B (en)
CA (1) CA2721264A1 (en)
RU (1) RU2525406C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2009129219A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2867455A4 (en) * 2012-06-27 2016-04-06 Shell Int Research Petroleum recovery process and system

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3863717A (en) * 1973-01-16 1975-02-04 Schlumberger Cie Dowell Methods for forcing a liquid into a low pressure formation
US4549608A (en) * 1984-07-12 1985-10-29 Mobil Oil Corporation Hydraulic fracturing method employing special sand control technique
US20070235187A1 (en) * 2006-04-10 2007-10-11 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Low Temperature Oxidation for Enhanced Oil Recovery

Family Cites Families (89)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2330934A (en) * 1939-09-11 1943-10-05 Pure Oil Co Sulphur oxidation of hydrocarbons
US2492719A (en) * 1943-06-26 1949-12-27 Pure Oil Co Preparation of carbon disulfide
US2636810A (en) * 1947-12-15 1953-04-28 Fmc Corp Manufacture of carbon disulfide
US2670801A (en) * 1948-08-13 1954-03-02 Union Oil Co Recovery of hydrocarbons
US3794114A (en) * 1952-06-27 1974-02-26 C Brandon Use of liquefiable gas to control liquid flow in permeable formations
US2747672A (en) * 1953-09-11 1956-05-29 California Research Corp Method of heating subterranean formations
US3087788A (en) * 1959-04-06 1963-04-30 Fmc Corp Combined catalytic and non-catalytic process of producing hydrogen sulfide and carbon disulfide
US3110344A (en) * 1959-10-23 1963-11-12 Sinclair Research Inc Oil recovery process utilizing oilmiscible solvents
US3250595A (en) * 1962-07-12 1966-05-10 Fmc Corp Method of producing carbon bisulfide
US3254960A (en) * 1963-11-26 1966-06-07 Sun Oil Co Wave reactor
US3345135A (en) * 1963-12-06 1967-10-03 Mobil Oil Corp The catalytic oxidation of hydrocarbons in the presence of hydrogen sulfide to produce carbon disulfide and oxides of carbon
US3393733A (en) * 1966-08-22 1968-07-23 Shell Oil Co Method of producing wells without plugging of tubing string
US3415573A (en) * 1966-08-22 1968-12-10 Shell Oil Co Method of sulfur recovery from sulfur-containing hydrogen sulfide rich formations
US3402768A (en) * 1967-03-29 1968-09-24 Continental Oil Co Oil recovery method using a nine-spot well pattern
US3498378A (en) * 1967-06-09 1970-03-03 Exxon Production Research Co Oil recovery from fractured matrix reservoirs
US3581821A (en) * 1969-05-09 1971-06-01 Petra Flow Inc Cryothermal process for the recovery of oil
US3732166A (en) * 1969-12-17 1973-05-08 Petrolite Corp Process of cleaning wells with carbon disulfide emulsions
US3943160A (en) * 1970-03-09 1976-03-09 Shell Oil Company Heat-stable calcium-compatible waterflood surfactant
US3647906A (en) * 1970-05-11 1972-03-07 Shell Oil Co Alpha-olefin production
US4305463A (en) * 1979-10-31 1981-12-15 Oil Trieval Corporation Oil recovery method and apparatus
US3672448A (en) * 1970-12-30 1972-06-27 Texaco Inc Interface advance control in secondary recovery program by reshaping of the interface between driving and driven fluids and by the use of a dynamic gradient barrier
US3724552A (en) * 1971-11-01 1973-04-03 Mobil Oil Corp Well treating method to remove paraffin deposition
US3754598A (en) * 1971-11-08 1973-08-28 Phillips Petroleum Co Method for producing a hydrocarbon-containing formation
US3724553A (en) * 1971-11-18 1973-04-03 Mobil Oil Corp Paraffin well treatment method
US3729053A (en) * 1972-01-05 1973-04-24 Amoco Prod Co Method for increasing permeability of oil-bearing formations
US3805892A (en) * 1972-12-22 1974-04-23 Texaco Inc Secondary oil recovery
US3927185A (en) * 1973-04-30 1975-12-16 Fmc Corp Process for producing carbon disulfide
US3822748A (en) * 1973-05-04 1974-07-09 Texaco Inc Petroleum recovery process
US3823777A (en) * 1973-05-04 1974-07-16 Texaco Inc Multiple solvent miscible flooding technique for use in petroleum formation over-laying and in contact with water saturated porous formations
US3838738A (en) * 1973-05-04 1974-10-01 Texaco Inc Method for recovering petroleum from viscous petroleum containing formations including tar sands
US3878892A (en) * 1973-05-04 1975-04-22 Texaco Inc Vertical downward gas-driven miscible blanket flooding oil recovery process
US3840073A (en) * 1973-05-04 1974-10-08 Texaco Inc Miscible displacement of petroleum
US3847221A (en) * 1973-05-04 1974-11-12 Texaco Inc Miscible displacement of petroleum using carbon disulfide and a hydrocarbon solvent
US3850245A (en) * 1973-05-04 1974-11-26 Texaco Inc Miscible displacement of petroleum
US3908762A (en) * 1973-09-27 1975-09-30 Texaco Exploration Ca Ltd Method for establishing communication path in viscous petroleum-containing formations including tar sand deposits for use in oil recovery operations
US3946812A (en) * 1974-01-02 1976-03-30 Exxon Production Research Company Use of materials as waterflood additives
US4008764A (en) * 1974-03-07 1977-02-22 Texaco Inc. Carrier gas vaporized solvent oil recovery method
US4122156A (en) * 1975-08-13 1978-10-24 New England Power Company Process for the production of carbon disulfide from sulfur dioxide removed from a flue gas
US3983939A (en) * 1975-10-31 1976-10-05 Texaco Inc. Method for recovering viscous petroleum
US4077471A (en) * 1976-12-01 1978-03-07 Texaco Inc. Surfactant oil recovery process usable in high temperature, high salinity formations
US4182416A (en) * 1978-03-27 1980-01-08 Phillips Petroleum Company Induced oil recovery process
US4216079A (en) * 1979-07-09 1980-08-05 Cities Service Company Emulsion breaking with surfactant recovery
US4330038A (en) * 1980-05-14 1982-05-18 Zimpro-Aec Ltd. Oil reclamation process
US4543434A (en) * 1981-01-28 1985-09-24 Mobil Oil Corporation Process for producing liquid hydrocarbon fuels
US4393937A (en) * 1981-03-25 1983-07-19 Shell Oil Company Olefin sulfonate-improved steam foam drive
US4488976A (en) * 1981-03-25 1984-12-18 Shell Oil Company Olefin sulfonate-improved steam foam drive
US4476113A (en) * 1981-10-27 1984-10-09 Union Oil Company Of California Stabilized fumigant composition comprising an aqueous solution of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, carbon disulfide and sulfur
GB2136034B (en) * 1983-09-08 1986-05-14 Zakiewicz Bohdan M Dr Recovering hydrocarbons from mineral oil deposits
US4727937A (en) * 1986-10-02 1988-03-01 Texaco Inc. Steamflood process employing horizontal and vertical wells
US4822938A (en) * 1988-05-03 1989-04-18 Mobil Oil Corporation Processes for converting methane to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons via sulfur-containing intermediates
US5076358A (en) * 1988-07-22 1991-12-31 Union Oil Company Of California Petroleum recovery with organonitrogen thiocarbonates
US4963340A (en) * 1989-03-13 1990-10-16 Mobil Oil Corporation Cyclic process for converting methane to carbon disulfide
DE3918265A1 (en) * 1989-06-05 1991-01-03 Henkel Kgaa PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF ETHANE SULPHONATE BASE TENSID MIXTURES AND THEIR USE
GB2232428B (en) * 1989-06-06 1993-05-05 Shell Int Research Surfactant composition
US5065821A (en) * 1990-01-11 1991-11-19 Texaco Inc. Gas flooding with horizontal and vertical wells
US5014784A (en) * 1990-01-26 1991-05-14 Texaco Inc. Steamflooding in multi layered reservoirs
US5167280A (en) * 1990-06-24 1992-12-01 Mobil Oil Corporation Single horizontal well process for solvent/solute stimulation
US5120935A (en) * 1990-10-01 1992-06-09 Nenniger John E Method and apparatus for oil well stimulation utilizing electrically heated solvents
US5607016A (en) * 1993-10-15 1997-03-04 Butler; Roger M. Process and apparatus for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a reservoir of hydrocarbons
US5634984A (en) * 1993-12-22 1997-06-03 Union Oil Company Of California Method for cleaning an oil-coated substrate
US6506349B1 (en) * 1994-11-03 2003-01-14 Tofik K. Khanmamedov Process for removal of contaminants from a gas stream
US5609845A (en) * 1995-02-08 1997-03-11 Mobil Oil Corporation Catalytic production of hydrogen from hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide
US5803171A (en) * 1995-09-29 1998-09-08 Amoco Corporation Modified continuous drive drainage process
NL1002524C2 (en) * 1996-03-04 1997-09-05 Gastec Nv Catalyst for the selective oxidation of sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur, process for the preparation of such a catalyst and method for the selective oxidation of sulfur compounds elemental sulfur.
US5826656A (en) * 1996-05-03 1998-10-27 Atlantic Richfield Company Method for recovering waterflood residual oil
US6022834A (en) * 1996-05-24 2000-02-08 Oil Chem Technologies, Inc. Alkaline surfactant polymer flooding composition and process
US6851473B2 (en) * 1997-03-24 2005-02-08 Pe-Tech Inc. Enhancement of flow rates through porous media
GB9706044D0 (en) * 1997-03-24 1997-05-14 Davidson Brett C Dynamic enhancement of fluid flow rate using pressure and strain pulsing
US7644759B2 (en) * 1997-03-24 2010-01-12 Wavefront Energy & Environmental Services Inc. Enhancement of flow rates through porous media
US6149344A (en) * 1997-10-04 2000-11-21 Master Corporation Acid gas disposal
RU2137839C1 (en) * 1998-06-05 1999-09-20 Курашов Виктор Михайлович Microbiological method of sulfur and nitrogen content decrease in petroleum and hydrogen sulfide in deposit waters and casing-head gases
US6136282A (en) * 1998-07-29 2000-10-24 Gas Research Institute Method for removal of hydrogen sulfide from gaseous streams
WO2000037775A1 (en) * 1998-12-22 2000-06-29 Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Oil recovery method for waxy crude oil using alkylaryl sulfonate surfactants derived from alpha-olefins
US6946111B2 (en) * 1999-07-30 2005-09-20 Conocophilips Company Short contact time catalytic partial oxidation process for recovering sulfur from an H2S containing gas stream
US6497855B1 (en) * 2000-03-22 2002-12-24 Lehigh University Process for the production of hydrogen from hydrogen sulfide
KR100786412B1 (en) * 2000-09-07 2007-12-17 더 비오씨 그룹 피엘씨 Method of recovering sulphur from a gas stream containing hydrogen sulphide
DE60103070T2 (en) * 2000-09-07 2004-11-25 The Boc Group Plc, Windlesham METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OBTAINING SULFUR FROM GAS FLOWS CONTAINING SULFUR HYDROGEN
US6706108B2 (en) * 2001-06-19 2004-03-16 David L. Polston Method for making a road base material using treated oil and gas waste material
MY129091A (en) * 2001-09-07 2007-03-30 Exxonmobil Upstream Res Co Acid gas disposal method
AU2003222204A1 (en) * 2002-03-25 2003-10-13 Tda Research, Inc. Catalysts and process for oxidizing hydrogen sulfide to sulfur dioxide and sulfur
US7073578B2 (en) * 2002-10-24 2006-07-11 Shell Oil Company Staged and/or patterned heating during in situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation
EA007581B1 (en) * 2002-12-17 2006-12-29 Шелл Интернэшнл Рисерч Маатсхаппий Б.В. Process for the catalytic selective oxidation of sulphur compounds
US7090818B2 (en) * 2003-01-24 2006-08-15 Stauffer John E Carbon disulfide process
US7025134B2 (en) * 2003-06-23 2006-04-11 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Surface pulse system for injection wells
US7601320B2 (en) * 2005-04-21 2009-10-13 Shell Oil Company System and methods for producing oil and/or gas
BRPI0710598A2 (en) * 2006-04-27 2011-08-16 Shell Int Research system and method for producing oil and / or gas
US8136590B2 (en) * 2006-05-22 2012-03-20 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas
EP2049767A1 (en) * 2006-08-10 2009-04-22 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Methods for producing oil and/or gas
CN101861445B (en) * 2007-11-19 2014-06-25 国际壳牌研究有限公司 Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3863717A (en) * 1973-01-16 1975-02-04 Schlumberger Cie Dowell Methods for forcing a liquid into a low pressure formation
US4549608A (en) * 1984-07-12 1985-10-29 Mobil Oil Corporation Hydraulic fracturing method employing special sand control technique
US20070235187A1 (en) * 2006-04-10 2007-10-11 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Low Temperature Oxidation for Enhanced Oil Recovery

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20110094750A1 (en) 2011-04-28
RU2525406C2 (en) 2014-08-10
CN102027194B (en) 2015-04-01
RU2010146495A (en) 2012-05-27
WO2009129219A3 (en) 2009-12-03
CN102027194A (en) 2011-04-20
CA2721264A1 (en) 2009-10-22

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7426959B2 (en) Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas
RU2494233C2 (en) Oil and/or gas extraction system and method
TWI509062B (en) Treating sulfur containing hydrocarbons recovered from hydrocarbonaceous deposits
US8869891B2 (en) Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas
US8656997B2 (en) Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas
US20110114331A1 (en) Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas
US8528645B2 (en) Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas
US20110094750A1 (en) Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 200980117454.4

Country of ref document: CN

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 09733471

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A2

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2721264

Country of ref document: CA

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2010146495

Country of ref document: RU

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 12937966

Country of ref document: US

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 09733471

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A2