Method for recovery of hydrocarbons from a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation

Abstract

Methods for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation are described herein. A comprising hydrogen sulfide is combusted in one or more surface facilities exterior to the hydrocarbon containing formation to produce a sulfur oxides stream. At least a portion of the sulfur oxides stream is provided to a hydrocarbon containing formation. Steam may be provided to the hydrocarbon containing formation. Mixing of the steam and/or water in the formation with the sulfur oxides generates heat of solution in the hydrocarbon containing formation for mobilizing formation fluids.

1 . A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
 providing a fuel comprising hydrogen sulfide to one or more surface facilities exterior to a hydrocarbon containing formation;   combusting at least a portion of the fuel comprising hydrogen sulfide in the presence of an oxidant in at least one of the surface facilities to produce at least one combustion by-products stream comprising one or more sulfur oxides;   contacting at least a portion of the combustion by-products stream comprising one or more sulfur oxides with water to generate heat; and   transferring the heat generated by contacting the combustion by-products stream with water to the hydrocarbon containing formation.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 providing a stream comprising steam to a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein at least a portion of the stream comprising steam comprises at least a portion of the water contacted with the combustion by-products stream to generate heat.   
   
   
       3 . The method  claim 2  further comprising the step of providing at least a portion of the combustion by-products stream comprising one or more sulfur oxides to at least a portion of a hydrocarbon containing formation; wherein at least a portion of the stream comprising steam is contacted with the combustion by-products stream in the hydrocarbon formation. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising heating at least a portion of the stream comprising steam with at least a portion of the combustion by-products stream prior to providing the stream comprising steam to the hydrocarbon containing formation. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the at least a portion of the stream comprising steam is contacted with the combustion by-products stream in the wellbore adjacent the hydrocarbon formation. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein at least a portion of the water contacted with the combustion by-products stream is water present in the hydrocarbon formation. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the water contacted with the combustion by-products stream is water present in the hydrocarbon formation. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel comprises at least 1% hydrogen sulfide by volume as determined by ASTM Method D2420. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel comprises elemental sulfur. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the combustion by-products stream comprising one or more sulfur oxides comprises introducing the combustion by-products stream comprising one or more sulfur oxides into one or more wells in the hydrocarbon containing formation positioned proximate a portion of hydrocarbon formation containing the steam. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the combustion by-products stream comprising one or more sulfur oxides comprises introducing combustion by-products stream comprising one or more sulfur oxides into a downstream portion of a steam injection well. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sulfur oxides comprises sulfur dioxide and contacting comprises solvating at least a portion of the formation fluids with the sulfur dioxide. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of mobilizing at least a portion of hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation with the generated heat; and recovering at least a portion of the mobilized hydrocarbons. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen sulfide is obtained by separating the hydrogen sulfide from formation fluid produced from hydrocarbon containing formations, gas reservoirs, surface facilities, or combinations thereof.