Method and system of optimized steam-assisted gravity drainage with oxygen ("sagdoxo") for oil recovery

Abstract

A steam assisted gravity drainage with injected oxygen (SAGDOX) process to recover hydrocarbons in a hydrocarbon reservoir including: (a) starting the SAGDOX process at a first oxygen to steam ratio; (b) measuring a produced water to oil ratio (v/v) PWOR associated with the first oxygen to steam ratio; (c) adjusting the oxygen to steam ratio to obtain a predetermined PWOR; and (d) continuing steps (a) to (c) until a target PWOR is obtained improving the hydrocarbon recovery rate.

1 . The use of produced-water-to-oil ratio (v/v) (“PWOR”) in thermal enhanced oil recovery (“EOR”), for controlling said thermal EOR. 
     
     
         2 . The use of  claim 1  wherein PWOR is used in optimizing said thermal EOR. 
     
     
         3 . A steam assisted gravity drainage with injected oxygen (SAGDOX) process to recover hydrocarbons in a hydrocarbon reservoir comprising:
 (a) starting said SAGDOX process at a first oxygen to steam ratio;   (b) measuring a produced water to oil ratio (v/v) PWOR associated with said first oxygen to steam ratio;   (c) adjusting said oxygen to steam ratio to obtain a predetermined PWOR; and   (d) continuing steps (a) to (c) until a target PWOR is obtained improving said hydrocarbon recovery rate.   
     
     
         4 . A steam assisted gravity drainage with injected oxygen (“SAGDOX”) process to recover hydrocarbons, wherein said SAGDOX process has a steam to oxygen ratio of from about 19 to greater than zero. 
     
     
         5 . A steam assisted gravity drainage with injected oxygen process (“SAGDOX”) to recover hydrocarbons, wherein said SAGDOX has a oxygen to steam ratio determined by a produced water to oil ratio (“PWOR”). 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 3  wherein said PWOR is between about 0.5 and greater to a maximum such that the amount of oxygen approaches zero but is greater than zero. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6  wherein said PWOR is between about 0.5 and 2.00, and said oxygen to steam ratio is from about 0% to 100% oxygen to steam. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 6  wherein said PWOR is 1.0. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 3  wherein the oxygen has an oxygen content of 95 to 99.99 (v/v) percent. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 8  wherein the oxygen is enriched air, with an oxygen content of 21 to 95 (v/v) percent. 
     
     
         11 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein the hydrocarbon in said hydrocarbon reservoir to be recovered is bitumen with an API density of less than 10 and an in situ viscosity greater than 100,000 cp. 
     
     
         12 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein the hydrocarbon in said hydrocarbon reservoir to be recovered is heavy oil with an API density between 10 and 20 and an in situ viscosity greater than 1,000 cp. 
     
     
         13 . The use according to  claim 1 ,  2  or  3  where a PWOR target is determined by changing said PWOR until bitumen productivity is maximized.