Distributed steam generation process for use in hydrocarbon recovery operations

Abstract

A method and system for producing steam for use in heavy hydrocarbon recovery operations. In an arrangement with or without a central processing facility and/or a plurality of well pads in communication with the central processing facility, each well pad is provided with equipment for separation of materials produced from its respective wells, and steam generation equipment for that well pad, thus allowing for simplified piping transport.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for separating water from materials produced from a subsurface hydrocarbon recovery operation, wherein the operation comprises a central processing facility in fluid communication with at least one well pad, the at least one well pad for servicing at least one related hydrocarbon recovery well, the method comprising the steps of:
 locating produced materials treatment means at the at least one well pad;   producing produced materials from the at least one related hydrocarbon recovery well at the at least one well pad; and   treating the produced materials using the produced materials treatment means to separate water from the produced materials.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of treating the produced materials using the produced materials treatment means to separate gas and/or solids and/or hydrocarbon from the produced materials. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the hydrocarbon is separated, further comprising the step of transporting the hydrocarbon from the at least one well pad to the central processing facility. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step of partially upgrading the hydrocarbon at the at least one well pad before transporting the hydrocarbon to the central processing facility. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the gas is separated, further comprising the step of treating the gas at the at least one well pad by using gas treating means located at the at least one well pad. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein treating the gas comprises reducing sulphur content of the gas. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the hydrocarbon is separated, further comprising the step of diluting the hydrocarbon with a diluent at the at least one well pad before transporting the hydrocarbon to the central processing facility. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of demulsifying the produced materials with a demulsifier to enable separation of the produced materials. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of feeding the water to steam generation means located at the at least one well pad and generating steam from the water. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of injecting the steam into the at least one related hydrocarbon recovery well. 
     
     
         11 . A method for generating steam for use in a subsurface hydrocarbon recovery operation, wherein the operation comprises a central processing facility in fluid communication with at least one well pad, the at least one well pad for servicing at least one related hydrocarbon recovery well, the method comprising the steps of:
 locating produced materials treatment means and steam generation means at the at least one well pad;   producing produced materials from the at least one related hydrocarbon recovery well at the at least one well pad;   treating the produced materials using the produced materials treatment means to separate water from the produced materials;   feeding the water to the steam generation means to generate steam from the water; and   injecting the steam into the at least one related hydrocarbon recovery well.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of treating the produced materials using the produced materials treatment means to separate gas and/or solids and/or hydrocarbon from the produced materials. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the hydrocarbon is separated, further comprising the step of transporting the hydrocarbon from the at least one well pad to the central processing facility. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of partially upgrading the hydrocarbon at the at least one well pad before transporting the hydrocarbon to the central processing facility. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the gas is separated, further comprising the step of treating the gas at the at least one well pad by using gas treating means located at the at least one well pad. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein treating the gas comprises reducing sulphur content of the gas. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of diluting the hydrocarbon with a diluent at the at least one well pad before transporting the hydrocarbon to the central processing facility. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of demulsifying the produced materials with a demulsifier to enable separation of the produced materials. 
     
     
         19 . A system for steam generation for use in subsurface hydrocarbon recovery, the system comprising:
 a central processing facility;   at least one well pad in fluid communication with the central processing facility, wherein the at least one well pad is adjacent to at least one related hydrocarbon recovery well, the at least one related hydrocarbon recovery well for producing produced materials;   produced materials treatment means at the at least one well pad configured to separate water from the produced materials produced from the at least one hydrocarbon recovery well;   steam generation means at the at least one well pad for receiving the water and generating steam from the water; and   steam injection means for injecting the steam into the at least one related hydrocarbon recovery well.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the produced materials treatment means are configured to separate gas and/or solids and/or hydrocarbon from the produced materials. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the produced materials treatment means are configured to separate the hydrocarbon from the produced materials, further comprising pipeline means for transporting the hydrocarbon from the at least one well pad to the central processing facility. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising an upgrading plant at the at least one well pad for partially upgrading the hydrocarbon before transporting the hydrocarbon to the central processing facility. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the produced materials treatment means are configured to separate gas from the produced materials, further comprising gas treating means located at the at the least one well pad for treating the gas at the at least one well pad. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the gas treating means are for reducing sulphur content of the gas. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising a diluent source for diluting the hydrocarbon with a diluent at the at least one well pad before transporting the hydrocarbon to the central processing facility. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 19  further comprising a demulsifier source for providing demulsifier to the produced materials to enable separation of the produced materials.