Apparatus and Method for Extracting Petroleum from Underground Sites Using Reformed Gases

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for removing oil or natural gas from the ground. In one example, the method may include reforming a fuel source by reaction with water to generate driver gas, and injecting the driver gas into the oil well. The reforming operation may include causing the combustion of a combustible material with ambient oxygen for the release of energy; and heating a reforming reaction fuel and water sources, with the energy released from the combustion of the combustible material, to a temperature above that required for the reforming reaction wherein the fuel and water sources are reformed into driver gas. In one example, the amount of the combustible material combusted is sufficient to result in the release of enough energy to heat an amount of the reforming reaction fuel and water sources to the temperature above that required for the reforming reaction to proceed. The driver gas may be used to help extract oil from the ground and especially oil from depleted oil wells. It may also be used to drive natural gas trapped underground or in coal beds to the surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for removing oil from an oil well, comprising:
 a first storage container for storing a combustible material;   a second storage container for storing a reforming reaction fuel source;   a third container for storing water for reaction with the reforming fuel;   a first chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the first chamber for combusting the combustible material with ambient oxygen for the release of energy, the inlet of the first chamber fluidly coupled with the first storage container; and   a second chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the second chamber fluidly coupled with the second and third storage containers, a portion of the second chamber positioned within a portion of the first chamber, the second chamber fluidly isolated from the first chamber;   wherein the energy released in the first chamber heats the reforming reaction fuel and water sources in the second chamber to a temperature above the reforming reaction fuel source's vaporization point thereby reforming fuel source into driver gas exiting the outlet of the second chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second storage container includes a mixture of water with the reforming reaction fuel source. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first chamber includes an igniter for igniting the combustible material. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second chamber is adapted to receive a catalyst to reduce the amount of energy required to heat the reforming reaction fuel and water source to a temperature above which the reforming reaction will proceed. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the driver gas includes hydrogen gas. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the combustible material and reforming reaction fuel source are the same. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the combustible material and/or reforming reaction fuel source are an alcohol. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the combustible material and/or reforming reaction fuel source are a crude petroleum product. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the combustible material and/or reforming reaction fuel source are a refined petroleum product. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first heat exchanger coupled with the outlet of the first chamber and thermodynamically coupled with the inlet or interior of the second chamber, the first heat exchanger for heating the reforming reaction fuel source.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second heat exchanger coupled with the outlet of the second chamber and thermodynamically coupled with the inlet of the second chamber, the second heat exchanger for pre-heating the reforming reaction fuel source and for cooling the driver gas.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a heat exchanger is positioned within the second chamber, and gases entering this heat exchanger from the first chamber are used to heat the second chamber to the temperature required for the reforming reaction to proceed. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a heating element for heating the reaction chamber to a predetermined temperature required to perform an autothermal reforming reaction between the reformer fuel, oxidizing agent and water.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a counter-flow heat exchanger to transfer heat from the released driver gas to the incoming reformer fuel.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the reforming reaction fuel source includes coal, a derivative of coal, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the reforming reaction fuel source includes wood.