Recovery from a hydrocarbon reservoir

Abstract

A method and systems for using a non-volatile solvent to recover heavy oils are provided. In a method a solvent that includes a non-volatile component is injected into the reservoir. A mobilizing fluid is injected into the reservoir. Fluid is produced from the reservoir, wherein the fluid comprises the solvent, the mobilizing fluid, and the hydrocarbons from the reservoir.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir, comprising
 injecting a solvent comprising a non-volatile component into a well in the reservoir;   injecting a mobilizing fluid into the reservoir; and   producing fluid from the reservoir, wherein the fluid comprises the solvent, the mobilizing fluid, and the hydrocarbons from the reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , where the mobilizing fluid is steam, heated water, volatile solvent, or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising co-injecting the solvent with the mobilizing fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising injecting the solvent separately from the mobilizing fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising injecting the solvent on a continuous basis. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising injecting the solvent prior to the start of a process shutdown. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising injecting the solvent during a restart period after a process shutdown. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising heating the solvent before injection. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising injecting the solvent using a tubular in either an injection well, a production well, or both. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising injecting the same solvent into both an injection well and a production well. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the volume of solvent injected into the reservoir is limited to an amount used to make a blend with the hydrocarbon for shipping. 
     
     
         12 . The methods of  claim 1 , comprising:
 injecting the solvent into a production well, an injection well, or both;   recovering the solvent; and   reinjecting the solvent into an alternate injection or production well.   
     
     
         13 . A system for recovering heavy oil from a reservoir, comprising:
 a reservoir comprising heavy oil;   an injection well configured to inject at least a mobilizing agent into the reservoir;   a production well configured to produce at least the heavy oil and the mobilizing agent from the reservoir; and   a tubular placed within the injection well, the production well, or both, wherein the tubular is configured to convey a solvent into a well, and wherein the solvent comprises a non-volatile component.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the solvent is the same solvent used to dilute the heavy oil for shipping. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein a different solvent is injected in each of the production well and the injection well. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , where at least 50 vol. % of the injected solvent remains as a liquid at the conditions in the reservoir. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the solvent comprises an inorganic component. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , comprising an artificial lift system configured to remove production fluids from the production well. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , where the volume of solvent injected lowers the viscosity of an oil/solvent blend to stay below a viscosity constraint associated with an artificial lift system. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the production well, the injection well, or both, are horizontal. 
     
     
         21 . A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir after a no-flow condition, comprising:
 injecting a solvent comprising a non-volatile component into the reservoir, wherein the solvent contacts the reservoir;   soaking the solvent in contact with the reservoir;   placing the reservoir back in service;   injecting a mobilizing fluid into the reservoir; and   producing fluid from the reservoir, wherein the fluid comprises the solvent, the mobilizing fluid, and the hydrocarbons from the reservoir.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the mobilizing fluid is steam, heated water, volatile solvent, or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the solvent is injected prior to starting a process shutdown. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the solvent is injected during a restart period after a process shutdown. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the solvent is continuously injected during a process shutdown. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the solvent is intermittently injected during a process shutdown, and wherein the solvent that is injected is from another interval of the reservoir.