Method and system of producing hydrocarbon

Abstract

Heated production well for enhancing production of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon reservoir are described. By heating the production well, heat is imparted to the reservoir and helps to mobilize the hydrocarbons and improve hydrocarbon production. A method of producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon reservoir, includes using a heated production well positioned in the hydrocarbon reservoir, the heated production well having a higher temperature than the ambient temperature of the hydrocarbon reservoir.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon reservoir, the method comprising:
 injecting fluid via an injection well into the reservoir;   circulating a non-hydrocarbon based heated fluid through a production well to impart heat into the hydrocarbon reservoir; and   producing hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon reservoir to a production site,   wherein the non-hydrocarbon based heated fluid has a higher temperature than the ambient temperature of the hydrocarbon reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein circulating a non-hydrocarbon based heated fluid is initiated after a start-up phase of the hydrocarbon production has been completed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-hydrocarbon based heated fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the production well comprises an insulated coil tube for transferring the heated fluid to various portions of the production well. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the production well comprises an insulated coil tube for transferring the heated fluid to the toe of the production well. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of circulating the non-hydrocarbon based heated fluid through the production well and producing hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon reservoir are carried out simultaneously. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps of injecting fluid via the injection well and circulating the non-hydrocarbon based heated fluid through the production well are carried out simultaneously. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein fluid is injected into the reservoir via injection wells positioned substantially horizontally on both sides of the production well. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-hydrocarbon based heated fluid comprises steam. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-hydrocarbon based heated fluid circulating through the production well is between about 30° C. and about 180° C. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the injection well and the production well are horizontal wells spaced apart from between about 25 m and about 200 m. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein between about 50 m 3 /day and about 120 m 3 /day of the non-hydrocarbon based heated fluid is circulated through the production well. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the production well is insulated to reduce heat loss of the non-hydrocarbon based heated fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heated fluid temperature is 80° C. or below and a heat exchanger is used to heat the non-hydrocarbon based heated fluid. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon reservoir has a viscosity of below 100,000 cP before injection of the non-hydrocarbon based heated fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon reservoir has a viscosity of between about 500 and 20,000 cP before injection of the non-hydrocarbon based heated fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon reservoir has a viscosity of between about 1,000 and 10,000 cP before injection of the non-hydrocarbon based heated fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon reservoir has a thickness of 10 m or less. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon reservoir has a thickness of between about 3 m and 6 m. 
     
     
         20 . A system for producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon reservoir, the system comprising:
 a first injection well positioned in the hydrocarbon reservoir for injecting fluid into the reservoir; and   a production well positioned in the hydrocarbon reservoir, the production well comprising a wellbore for circulating a non-hydrocarbon based heated fluid therein for imparting heat to the hydrocarbon reservoir and producing hydrocarbon from the reservoir,   wherein the non-hydrocarbon based heated fluid has a higher temperature than the ambient temperature of the hydrocarbon reservoir.   
     
     
         21 . A method of producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon reservoir, the method comprising:
 circulating a non-hydrocarbon based heated fluid through a production well to impart heat into the hydrocarbon reservoir; and   producing hydrocarbon from the hydrocarbon reservoir to a production site,   
       wherein the non-hydrocarbon based heated fluid has a higher temperature than the ambient temperature of the hydrocarbon reservoir.