WO2011127264A1 - Détection de fuites dans des systèmes à fluide circulant destinés à chauffer des formations sous la surface - Google Patents

Détection de fuites dans des systèmes à fluide circulant destinés à chauffer des formations sous la surface Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2011127264A1
WO2011127264A1 PCT/US2011/031553 US2011031553W WO2011127264A1 WO 2011127264 A1 WO2011127264 A1 WO 2011127264A1 US 2011031553 W US2011031553 W US 2011031553W WO 2011127264 A1 WO2011127264 A1 WO 2011127264A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
formation
conduit
heat
hydrocarbons
molten salt
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2011/031553
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Scott Vinh Nguyen
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 AU2011237624A priority Critical patent/AU2011237624B2/en
Priority to CA2792292A priority patent/CA2792292A1/fr
Priority to CN201180018308.3A priority patent/CN102834587B/zh
Priority to US13/083,246 priority patent/US8631866B2/en
Publication of WO2011127264A1 publication Critical patent/WO2011127264A1/fr
Priority to US14/160,031 priority patent/US9022109B2/en
Priority to US14/703,350 priority patent/US9399905B2/en

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B47/00—Survey of boreholes or wells
    • E21B47/10—Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements
    • E21B47/113—Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements using electrical indications; using light radiations
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK 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
    • E21B43/24—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection

Definitions

  • U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009-0095476 to Nguyen et al. describes a heating system for a subsurface formation includes a conduit located in an opening in the subsurface formation.
  • An insulated conductor is located in the conduit.
  • a material is in the conduit between a portion of the insulated conductor and a portion of the conduit.
  • the material may be a salt.
  • the material is a fluid at operating temperature of the heating system. Heat transfers from the insulated conductor to the fluid, from the fluid to the conduit, and from the conduit to the subsurface formation.
  • Embodiments described herein generally relate to systems, methods, and heaters for treating a subsurface formation. Embodiments described herein also generally relate to heaters that have novel components therein. Such heaters can be obtained by using the systems and methods described herein.
  • a method of treating a subsurface formation includes: circulating at least one molten salt through piping located in the formation to heat at least a portion of the formation and heat at least some hydrocarbons in the formation to at least a mobilization temperature of the hydrocarbons; providing an oxidizing fluid to at least a portion of the piping; and oxidizing coke formed in the piping.
  • a method of treating a subsurface formation includes circulating at least one molten salt through piping located in the formation to heat at least a portion of the formation and heat at least some hydrocarbons in the formation to at least a mobilization temperature of the hydrocarbons; and locating a liner in and/or around at least a portion of the piping to inhibit formation fluids from entering the piping and contacting the molten salt.
  • features from specific embodiments may be combined with features from other embodiments.
  • features from one embodiment may be combined with features from any of the other embodiments.
  • FIG. 16 depicts a graphical representation of the relationship of the salt volume fraction at outlet of a conduit over time for three different compressed air mass flow rates.
  • the overburden and/or the underburden may include a hydrocarbon containing layer or hydrocarbon containing layers that are relatively impermeable and are not subjected to temperatures during in situ heat treatment processing that result in significant characteristic changes of the hydrocarbon containing layers of the overburden and/or the underburden.
  • the underburden may contain shale or mudstone, but the underburden is not allowed to heat to pyrolysis temperatures during the in situ heat treatment process.
  • the overburden and/or the underburden may be somewhat permeable.
  • a "heat source” is any system for providing heat to at least a portion of a formation substantially by conductive and/or radiative heat transfer.
  • a heat source may include electrically conducting materials and/or electric heaters such as an insulated conductor, an elongated member, and/or a conductor disposed in a conduit.
  • a heat source may also include systems that generate heat by burning a fuel external to or in a formation. The systems may be surface burners, downhole gas burners, flameless distributed combustors, and natural distributed combustors. In some embodiments, heat provided to or generated in one or more heat sources may be supplied by other sources of energy.
  • hydrocarbons may be classified by API gravity. Heavy hydrocarbons generally have an API gravity below about 20°. Heavy oil, for example, generally has an API gravity of about 10-20°, whereas tar generally has an API gravity below about 10°. The viscosity of heavy hydrocarbons is generally greater than about 100 centipoise at 15 °C. Heavy hydrocarbons may include aromatics or other complex ring hydrocarbons.
  • Superposition of heat refers to providing heat from two or more heat sources to a selected section of a formation such that the temperature of the formation at least at one location between the heat sources is influenced by the heat sources.
  • Tar is a viscous hydrocarbon that generally has a viscosity greater than about 10,000 centipoise at 15 °C.
  • the specific gravity of tar generally is greater than 1.000.
  • Tar may have an API gravity less than 10°.
  • the heat input into the formation may cause expansion of the formation and geomechanical motion.
  • the heat sources may be turned on before, at the same time, or during a dewatering process.
  • Computer simulations may model formation response to heating. The computer simulations may be used to develop a pattern and time sequence for activating heat sources in the formation so that geomechanical motion of the formation does not adversely affect the functionality of heat sources, production wells, and other equipment in the formation.
  • Heating the formation may cause an increase in permeability and/or porosity of the formation. Increases in permeability and/or porosity may result from a reduction of mass in the formation due to vaporization and removal of water, removal of hydrocarbons, and/or creation of fractures.
  • Production wells 196 are used to remove formation fluid from the formation.
  • production well 196 includes a heat source.
  • the heat source in the production well may heat one or more portions of the formation at or near the production well.
  • the amount of heat supplied to the formation from the production well per meter of the production well is less than the amount of heat applied to the formation from a heat source that heats the formation per meter of the heat source.
  • Heat applied to the formation from the production well may increase formation permeability adjacent to the production well by vaporizing and removing liquid phase fluid adjacent to the production well and/or by increasing the permeability of the formation adjacent to the production well by formation of macro and/or micro fractures.
  • the liner may include a conduit substantially surrounding at least a portion of the conduit.
  • piping includes a liner that is resistant to corrosion by the fluid.
  • storage tank 270B may include a surge vessel which functions to absorb process disturbance and/or momentary unexpected flow changes.
  • the surge vessel may allow compressed air to escape while inhibiting removed salts from escaping.
  • Molten salts may be conveyed from storage tank 270B through heat exchanger 272 to storage tank 270C. Salts in storage tanks 270C may be conveyed using pumps 276 to a second set of U-shaped circulating molten salt heaters to heat another formation and/or a second portion of the formation.
  • Compressed gas shut-down system 268 depicted in FIG. 18 includes two independent systems. The two shut-down systems may be operated independently of each other.
  • the molten salt includes a carbonate salt or a mixture of carbonate salts.
  • Examples of different carbonate salts may include lithium, sodium, and/or potassium carbonate salts.
  • the molten salt may include about 40% to about 60% by weight lithium carbonate, from about 20% to about 40% by weight sodium carbonate salt and about 20% to about 30% by weight potassium carbonate.
  • the molten salt is a eutectic mixture of carbonate salts.
  • the eutectic carbonate salt mixture may be a mixture of carbonate salts having a melting point above 390 °C, or from about 390 °C to about 700 °C, or about 600 °C.
  • the vertical or overburden portions 280 of wellbore 222 are cemented with non- conductive cement or foam cement.
  • Portions 282 of heater 201 in the overburden may be made of material chemically resistant to hot carbonate salts (for example, stainless steel tubing).
  • Portion 286 of heater 201 may be manufactured from materials that degrade over time. For example, carbon steel, or alloys having a low chromium content.
  • Carbonate molten salt 284 may enter one end of heater 201 and exit another end of the heater. Flow of hot carbonate molten salt 284 provides heat to at least a portion of hydrocarbon layer 220.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Geophysics (AREA)
  • Production Of Liquid Hydrocarbon Mixture For Refining Petroleum (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un procédé de traitement d'une formation sous la surface, lequel procédé comprend la circulation d'au moins un sel fondu à travers au moins une conduite d'un élément chauffant à conduite dans une conduite, disposé dans la formation pour chauffer des hydrocarbures dans la formation jusqu'à au moins une température de mobilisation des hydrocarbures. Au moins certains des hydrocarbures sont produits à partir de la formation. Une résistance électrique d'au moins l'une des conduites de l'élément chauffant à conduite dans une conduite est estimée pour estimer une présence d'une fuite dans au moins l'une des conduites.
PCT/US2011/031553 2010-04-09 2011-04-07 Détection de fuites dans des systèmes à fluide circulant destinés à chauffer des formations sous la surface WO2011127264A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2011237624A AU2011237624B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2011-04-07 Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations
CA2792292A CA2792292A1 (fr) 2010-04-09 2011-04-07 Detection de fuites dans des systemes a fluide circulant destines a chauffer des formations sous la surface
CN201180018308.3A CN102834587B (zh) 2010-04-09 2011-04-07 用于加热地下地层的循环流体系统的泄漏检测
US13/083,246 US8631866B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2011-04-08 Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations
US14/160,031 US9022109B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-01-21 Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations
US14/703,350 US9399905B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2015-05-04 Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US32264310P 2010-04-09 2010-04-09
US61/322,643 2010-04-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2011127264A1 true WO2011127264A1 (fr) 2011-10-13

Family

ID=44763281

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2011/031553 WO2011127264A1 (fr) 2010-04-09 2011-04-07 Détection de fuites dans des systèmes à fluide circulant destinés à chauffer des formations sous la surface

Country Status (4)

Country Link
CN (1) CN102834587B (fr)
AU (1) AU2011237624B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2792292A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2011127264A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015055712A1 (fr) * 2013-10-16 2015-04-23 Wintershall Holding GmbH Procédé de traitement thermique d'un gisement d'hydrocarbures souterrain

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015153705A1 (fr) * 2014-04-01 2015-10-08 Future Energy, Llc Systèmes d'apport d'énergie thermique et de production de pétrole, et procédés associés
CN108087032B (zh) * 2017-12-26 2019-04-19 安徽科技学院 一种石英砂矿区生态监测用传感器安装装置

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5569845A (en) * 1995-05-16 1996-10-29 Selee Corporation Apparatus and method for detecting molten salt in molten metal
US20090095476A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-04-16 Scott Vinh Nguyen Molten salt as a heat transfer fluid for heating a subsurface formation
US20090113995A1 (en) * 2007-05-02 2009-05-07 Golding Randy D Method and apparatus for leak detection
US20090194286A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-06 Stanley Leroy Mason Multi-step heater deployment in a subsurface formation
US7575052B2 (en) * 2005-04-22 2009-08-18 Shell Oil Company In situ conversion process utilizing a closed loop heating system

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1004029B (zh) * 1986-03-14 1989-04-26 法国电力公司 运行中换热器的检漏
DE19960174A1 (de) * 1999-12-14 2001-06-28 Leybold Vakuum Gmbh Verfahren zur Lecksuche und Lecklokalisierung sowie zur Durchführung dieser Verfahren geeignete Vorrichtungen
US6742593B2 (en) * 2000-04-24 2004-06-01 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using heat transfer from a heat transfer fluid to heat the formation
CN1717529B (zh) * 2002-10-24 2010-05-26 国际壳牌研究有限公司 用于加热地下或者地下井孔的方法和系统
CN1936413A (zh) * 2006-09-29 2007-03-28 淄博思科光电科技有限公司 一种地下管线泄漏检测方法及其装置
KR100965302B1 (ko) * 2008-05-06 2010-06-22 중앙제어 주식회사 누수 감지 장치

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5569845A (en) * 1995-05-16 1996-10-29 Selee Corporation Apparatus and method for detecting molten salt in molten metal
US7575052B2 (en) * 2005-04-22 2009-08-18 Shell Oil Company In situ conversion process utilizing a closed loop heating system
US20090095476A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-04-16 Scott Vinh Nguyen Molten salt as a heat transfer fluid for heating a subsurface formation
US20090113995A1 (en) * 2007-05-02 2009-05-07 Golding Randy D Method and apparatus for leak detection
US20090194286A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-06 Stanley Leroy Mason Multi-step heater deployment in a subsurface formation

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015055712A1 (fr) * 2013-10-16 2015-04-23 Wintershall Holding GmbH Procédé de traitement thermique d'un gisement d'hydrocarbures souterrain

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN102834587A (zh) 2012-12-19
AU2011237624B2 (en) 2015-01-22
CN102834587B (zh) 2015-04-29
CA2792292A1 (fr) 2011-10-13
AU2011237624A1 (en) 2012-09-20

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