Method of heating hydrocarbons

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a method and means of injecting hot fluids into a hydrocarbon formation using a combustion and steam generating device installed at or near the well-head of an injector well. The various embodiments are directed generally to substantially increasing energy efficiency of thermal recovery operations by efficiently utilizing the energy of the combustion products and waste heat from the generator. The generator apparatuses can be installed at the well-head which, in turn, can be located close to the producing formation. The combustion products may be injected into a well along with steam or sequestered at another location.

1 . A method for recovering a hydrocarbon from an underground hydrocarbon-containing material, comprising: 
 (a) in a manned excavation positioned in proximity to the hydrocarbon-containing material, generating a heated hydrocarbon production fluid;    (b) introducing, via a wellhead positioned in the manned excavation, the heated hydrocarbon production fluid into the hydrocarbon-containing material to mobilize at least part of the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon-containing material; and    (c) thereafter recovering the mobilized hydrocarbon from the hydrocarbon-containing material.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heated hydrocarbon production fluid is steam, wherein the wellhead is positioned adjacent to a liner of the manned excavation, wherein an injection well passes from the wellhead, through the liner, and into the hydrocarbon-containing material, and wherein the generating step (a) is performed by a steam generating device positioned in the manned excavation.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein waste heat from the steam generating device is used to preheat at least a portion of input water to the device.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein an exhaust gas of the steam generating device is combined with the production fluid and introduced into the hydrocarbon-containing material in step (b).  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the steam generating device is positioned at a distance of no more than about 20 meters from the wellhead and a distance of no more than about 200 meters from the hydrocarbon-containing material; wherein the manned excavation comprises multiple wellheads and steam generating devices, wherein each wellhead is in communication with a respective steam generating device, and wherein the steam generating device performs at least one of steam stimulation and flooding.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wellhead comprises a controllable wellhead apparatus, the apparatus comprising a first input for the heated hydrocarbon production fluid, a second input for heated gaseous exhaust products, a third input for water, and a manifold in communication with the first, second, and third inputs to introduce, in step (b), a mixture of the heated hydrocarbon production fluid, heated gaseous exhaust products, and water into the hydrocarbon-containing material.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating step is performed by a generating device, wherein the generating device comprises a diesel engine, a compressor, and a drive shaft extending therebetween to enable the diesel engine to drive the compressor, wherein an exhaust gas from the engine is routed to the compressor to be incorporated into the heated hydrocarbon production fluid, and wherein a heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the engine to heat water, using waste heat from the engine, for introduction into the hydrocarbon-containing material.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the generating device comprises a further heat exchanger in communication with the compressor and the water to transfer heat from the compressor to the water.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating step is performed by a generating device is a liquid propellant motor having one or more pistons being configured to compress water or steam for introduction into the hydrocarbon-containing material.  
   
   
       10 . A hydrocarbon production system, comprising: 
 (a) a manned excavation positioned in proximity to a hydrocarbon-containing material;    (b) a generating device, positioned in the manned excavation, operable to generate a heated hydrocarbon production fluid;    (c) an injection well comprising a wellhead, the wellhead being positioned in the manned excavation and the injection well extending from the manned excavation, the injection well being operable to introduce the heated hydrocarbon production fluid into the hydrocarbon-containing material to mobilize at least part of the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon-containing material; and    (c) a collector well operable to recover the mobilized hydrocarbon from the hydrocarbon-containing material.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the heated hydrocarbon production fluid is steam, wherein the wellhead is positioned adjacent to a liner of the manned excavation, wherein the injection well passes from the wellhead, through the liner, and into the hydrocarbon-containing material, wherein the heated hydrocarbon production fluid is primarily steam, and wherein the manned excavation comprises multiple wellheads and steam generating devices, wherein each wellhead is in communication with a respective steam generating device, and wherein the steam generating device performs at least one of steam stimulation and flooding.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein waste heat from the steam generating device is used to preheat at least a portion of input water to the device, wherein an exhaust gas of the steam generating device is combined with the production fluid and introduced into the hydrocarbon-containing material, and wherein the steam generating device is positioned at a distance of no more than about 20 meters from the wellhead and a distance of no more than about 200 meters from the hydrocarbon-containing material.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the wellhead comprises a controllable wellhead apparatus, the apparatus comprising a first input for the heated hydrocarbon production fluid, a second input for heated gaseous exhaust products, a third input for water, and a manifold in communication with the first, second, and third inputs to introduce, simultaneously, a mixture of the heated hydrocarbon production fluid, heated gaseous exhaust products, and water into the injection well.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the generating device comprises a diesel engine, a compressor, and a drive shaft extending therebetween to enable the diesel engine to drive the compressor, wherein an exhaust gas from the engine is routed to the compressor to be incorporated into the heated hydrocarbon production fluid, and wherein a heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the engine to heat water, using waste heat from the engine, for introduction into the hydrocarbon-containing material.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the generating device comprises a further heat exchanger in communication with the compressor and the water to transfer heat from the compressor to the water.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the generating device is a liquid propellant motor having one or more pistons being configured to compress water or steam for introduction into the hydrocarbon-containing material.  
   
   
       17 . A hydrocarbon production system, comprising: 
 (a) a diesel engine;    (b) a compressor;    (c) a drive shaft interconnecting the diesel engine to the compressor; and    (d) a conduit transporting an exhaust gas of the diesel engine to the compressor for injection, by an injection well, into a hydrocarbon-containing material to mobilize the hydrocarbons.    
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the engine to heat water, using waste heat from the engine, for introduction into the hydrocarbon-containing material.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the generating device comprises a heat exchanger in communication with the compressor and the water to transfer heat from the compressor to the water and wherein the heated water is introduced into the hydrocarbon-containing material.  
   
   
       20 . A hydrocarbon production method, comprising: 
 (a) operating a diesel engine to produce an exhaust gas comprising carbon oxides and a rotating drive shaft;    (b) operating a compressor, by the rotating drive shaft, to form a compressed gas, the compressed gas comprising at least part of the exhaust gas from the diesel engine; and    (c) introducing the compressed gas into a hydrocarbon-containing material to mobilize the hydrocarbons for production.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the engine to transfer heat from the engine to the water for introduction of the heated water into the hydrocarbon-containing material.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the compressor and the water to transfer heat from the compressor to the water for introduction of the heated water into the hydrocarbon-containing material.