Methods and Systems for Providing Steam

Abstract

A system is provided for improved steam generation. The system includes at least two steam systems, wherein a wet steam output from a first steam system is passed through a first separator. The first separator configured to separate dry steam from condensate, and a piping connection is configured to blend the condensate with a boiler feed water stream at the inlet of a second steam system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for improved steam generation, comprising:
 at least two steam systems, wherein a wet steam output from a first steam system is passed through a first separator;   the first separator configured to separate dry steam from condensate; and   a piping connection configured to supplement a boiler feed water stream with the condensate at the inlet of a second steam system.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a piping connection configured to dispose of the condensate. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the amount of condensate supplementing the boiler feed water stream is changed based, at least in part, on a demand for dry steam. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the amount of condensate supplementing the boiler feed water stream is changed based, at least in part, on preventing dissolved solids from precipitating in a steam system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a steam system comprises a once-through steam generator, or a heat recovery steam generator, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a hydrocarbon development comprises a cyclic steam stimulation process, a steamflood process, a steam assisted gravity drainage process, a thermal solvent process, a sub-surface mining operation, or a surface mining operation, or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to produce wet steam, dry steam, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a second separator on the wet steam output from the second steam system configured to separate dry steam from condensate; and   piping to feed the condensate to an inlet on a third steam system in a blend with boiler feed water.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of thermal recovery processes in a hydrocarbon development. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , comprising a first portion of the plurality of thermal recovery processes configured to use a wet steam stream and a second portion of the plurality of thermal recovery processes configured to use a dry steam stream. 
     
     
         11 . A method for improving recovery from a hydrocarbon reservoir, the method comprising:
 matching a steam quality to a hydrocarbon development, wherein the steam is generated by a steam generation facility comprising a plurality of steam systems; and   adapting the steam generation facility to match a change in steam usage caused by a change in the hydrocarbon development, wherein adapting comprises:
 cascading a condensate stream from a separator on an outlet of at least one steam system to an inlet of another steam system; and 
 replacing a portion of a boiler feed water stream with the condensate stream at the inlet, wherein the portion of boiler feed water replaced is determined by a ratio of dry steam to wet steam used in the hydrocarbon development. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising performing a plurality of thermal recovery processes on regions within the hydrocarbon development, wherein different recovery processes are used for different regions or at different times. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising performing a solvent assisted thermal recovery process in the hydrocarbon development. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising:
 vaporizing a solvent stream in a heat exchanger sourcing heat from a wet steam line; and   combining the vaporized solvent stream with dry steam.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising transitioning the steam generation facility from wet steam to dry steam. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising balancing quantity of condensate reused with the quality of the steam generated to keep dissolved solids from precipitating in a steam system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising sequentially converting a plurality of steam systems from wet steam service to dry steam service to match a change in the steam quality used in the hydrocarbon development. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising reverting a portion of the plurality of steam systems to wet steam service to match a change in the steam quality used in the hydrocarbon development. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising adjusting the steam quality at the exit of each of the plurality of steam systems to ensure that contaminants present in a boiler feed water remain soluble in the steam system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising adding a steam system to the plurality of steam systems to utilize surplus boiler feed water freed when converting a steam system from wet steam service to dry steam service. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising shutting-in steam systems as a result of a reduction in boiler feed water resulting from a conversion of a portion of the steam systems from wet steam service to dry steam service. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising:
 drilling a plurality of infill steam injection wells between each of a plurality of steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) wellpairs;   injecting dry steam into a plurality of steam injection wells in the plurality of SAGD wellpairs; and   injecting wet steam into the plurality of infill steam injection wells.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising:
 injecting dry steam into a plurality of steam injection wells in a plurality of steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) wellpairs; and   injecting wet steam into a plurality of steamflood wells.