Method for enhanced oil recovery using cyclic steam stimulation and electromagnetic heating

Abstract

A method for enhanced oil recovery using cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) and electromagnetic heating (EMH). One or more CSS cycles are conducted on a subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir in order to dilate the reservoir and improve permeability, followed by EMH application for thermal recovery of the hydrocarbon to surface. The alternating process can be repeated as desired while economically viable. The method is particularly applicable to produce heavy hydrocarbons such as bitumen or heavy oil from a heterogeneous reservoir that has low permeability.

1 . A method for recovering a hydrocarbon from a subsurface reservoir, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. drilling a first well into the reservoir;   b. injecting a heated fluid through the first well into the reservoir;   c. allowing the heated fluid to heat a first portion of the hydrocarbon;   d. producing the first portion of the hydrocarbon to surface through the first well;   e. applying electromagnetic heat to the reservoir to heat a second portion of the hydrocarbon; and   f. producing the second portion of the hydrocarbon to surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising repeating steps b-d at least once before applying the electromagnetic heat. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising repeating steps b-e at least once after applying the electromagnetic heat. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electromagnetic heat is applied by a tool situate in the first well adjacent the reservoir. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of drilling a second well into the reservoir, wherein the electromagnetic heat is applied by a tool situate in the second well and at least a part of the second portion of the hydrocarbon is produced to surface through the second well. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electromagnetic heat is liner/casing conveyed. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electromagnetic heat is reservoir conveyed. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the electromagnetic heat is from a source selected from the group consisting of a resistive heat and induction heat. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the electromagnetic heat is from a source selected from the group consisting of resistive AC/low frequency, induction heat, radiofrequency radiation heat and microwave radiation heat. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electromagnetic heat is applied with at least one viscosity reducing agent. 
     
     
         11 . A method for recovering a hydrocarbon from a subsurface low-permeability reservoir using electromagnetic heating, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. drilling a first well into the reservoir;   b. injecting a heated fluid through the first well into the reservoir under a pressure higher than reservoir pressure, dilating the reservoir and increasing permeability;   c. allowing the heated fluid to heat a first portion of the hydrocarbon;   d. producing the first portion of the hydrocarbon to surface through the first well;   e. applying electromagnetic heat to the reservoir to heat a second portion of the hydrocarbon; and   f. producing the second portion of the hydrocarbon to surface.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising repeating steps b-d at least once before applying the electromagnetic heat. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising repeating steps b-e at least once after applying the electromagnetic heat. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the electromagnetic heat is applied by a tool situate in the first well adjacent the reservoir. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of drilling a second well into the reservoir, wherein the electromagnetic heat is applied by a tool situate in the second well and at least a part of the second portion of the hydrocarbon is produced to surface through the second well. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the electromagnetic heat is liner/casing conveyed. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the electromagnetic heat is reservoir conveyed. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the electromagnetic heat is from a source selected from the group consisting of a resistive heat and induction heat. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the electromagnetic heat is from a source selected from the group consisting of resistive AC/low frequency, induction heat, radiofrequency radiation heat and microwave radiation heat. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the electromagnetic heat is applied with at least one viscosity reducing agent. 
     
     
         21 . A method for reducing water usage in a steam-based thermal hydrocarbon recovery technique, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. drilling a first well into a reservoir containing a hydrocarbon;   b. injecting steam through the first well into the reservoir under a pressure higher than reservoir pressure, dilating the reservoir and increasing permeability;   c. allowing the steam to heat a first portion of the hydrocarbon;   d. producing the first portion of the hydrocarbon to surface through the first well;   e. applying electromagnetic heat to the reservoir to heat a second portion of the hydrocarbon; and   f. producing the second portion of the hydrocarbon to surface.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising repeating steps b-d at least once before applying the electromagnetic heat. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising repeating steps b-e at least once after applying the electromagnetic heat. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the electromagnetic heat is applied by a tool situate in the first well adjacent the reservoir. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of drilling a second well into the reservoir, wherein the electromagnetic heat is applied by a tool situate in the second well and at least a part of the second portion of the hydrocarbon is produced to surface through the second well. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the electromagnetic heat is liner/casing conveyed. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the electromagnetic heat is reservoir conveyed. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the electromagnetic heat is from a source selected from the group consisting of a resistive heat and induction heat. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the electromagnetic heat is from a source selected from the group consisting of resistive AC/low frequency, induction heat, radiofrequency radiation heat and microwave radiation heat. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the electromagnetic heat is applied with at least one viscosity reducing agent. 
     
     
         31 . A method for reducing electricity usage in an electromagnetic heat thermal hydrocarbon recovery technique, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. drilling a first well into a reservoir containing a hydrocarbon;   b. injecting a heated fluid through the first well into the reservoir under a pressure higher than reservoir pressure, dilating the reservoir and increasing permeability;   c. allowing the heated fluid to heat a first portion of the hydrocarbon;   d. producing the first portion of the hydrocarbon to surface through the first well;   e. applying electromagnetic heat to the reservoir to heat a second portion of the hydrocarbon; and   f. producing the second portion of the hydrocarbon to surface.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising repeating steps b-d at least once before applying the electromagnetic heat. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising repeating steps b-e at least once after applying the electromagnetic heat. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the electromagnetic heat is applied by a tool situate in the first well adjacent the reservoir. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising the step of drilling a second well into the reservoir, wherein the electromagnetic heat is applied by a tool situate in the second well and at least a part of the second portion of the hydrocarbon is produced to surface through the second well. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the electromagnetic heat is liner/casing conveyed. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the electromagnetic heat is reservoir conveyed. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the electromagnetic heat is from a source selected from the group consisting of a resistive heat and induction heat. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the electromagnetic heat is from a source selected from the group consisting of resistive AC/low frequency, induction heat, radiofrequency radiation heat and microwave radiation heat. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the electromagnetic heat is applied with at least one viscosity reducing agent. 
     
     
         41 . A method for increasing production of hydrocarbon in an electromagnetic heat thermal recovery technique, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. drilling a first well into a reservoir containing the hydrocarbon;   b. injecting a heated fluid through the first well into the reservoir under a pressure higher than reservoir pressure, dilating the reservoir and increasing permeability;   c. allowing the heated fluid to heat a first portion of the hydrocarbon;   d. producing the first portion of the hydrocarbon to surface through the first well;   e. applying electromagnetic heat to the reservoir to heat a second portion of the hydrocarbon; and   f. producing the second portion of the hydrocarbon to surface.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  further comprising repeating steps b-d at least once before applying the electromagnetic heat. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41  further comprising repeating steps b-e at least once after applying the electromagnetic heat. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the electromagnetic heat is applied by a tool situate in the first well adjacent the reservoir. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 41  further comprising the step of drilling a second well into the reservoir, wherein the electromagnetic heat is applied by a tool situate in the second well and at least a part of the second portion of the hydrocarbon is produced to surface through the second well. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the electromagnetic heat is liner/casing conveyed. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the electromagnetic heat is reservoir conveyed. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the electromagnetic heat is from a source selected from the group consisting of a resistive heat and induction heat. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the electromagnetic heat is from a source selected from the group consisting of resistive AC/low frequency, induction heat, radiofrequency radiation heat and microwave radiation heat. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the electromagnetic heat is applied with at least one viscosity reducing agent.