Heavy fluid injection method for cellar hydrocarbon recovery

Abstract

A method for producing residual hydrocarbon located in a cellar region of a reservoir after SAGD hydrocarbon production, wherein a higher-density fluid is injected into a first producer well to displace the residual hydrocarbon toward a second, adjacent producer well. The method may also produce residual hydrocarbon located in infill regions.

1 . A method for producing residual hydrocarbon located in a cellar region of a reservoir after SAGD hydrocarbon production, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. drilling a first SAGD well pair into the reservoir, comprising a first injector well and a first producer well;   b. drilling a second SAGD well pair into the reservoir, comprising a second injector well and a second producer well, adjacent the first SAGD well pair;   c. operating the first and second SAGD well pairs to produce hydrocarbon from the reservoir, leaving the residual hydrocarbon in the cellar of the reservoir;   d. ceasing production of the hydrocarbon through the first producer well;   e. injecting a fluid into the reservoir through one of the first injector well and the first producer well, the fluid having a density greater than the density of the residual hydrocarbon;   f. allowing the residual hydrocarbon to be displaced from the cellar toward the second producer well by the injecting of the fluid; and   g. producing the residual hydrocarbon through the second producer well.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step, after step d. but before step e., of injecting steam through the one of the first injector well and the first producer well to condition the reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fluid is a brine solution. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fluid is heated before injection. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising the step of using vacuum insulated tubing to retain heat in the fluid prior to the fluid entry into the reservoir. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein an acid is added to the fluid before injection, to reduce liner scaling. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising using inflow control devices on the one of the first injector well and the first producer well to control fluid injection locations. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of producing infill hydrocarbon from between the first and second SAGD well pairs while producing the residual hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of injecting steam with the fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of placing electrical cables in the one of the first injector well and the first producer well to apply in-situ heat to the fluid during injection into the reservoir. 
     
     
         11 . A method for producing residual hydrocarbon located in a cellar region of a reservoir after SAGD hydrocarbon production, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. drilling a first SAGD well pair into the reservoir, comprising a first injector well and a first producer well;   b. drilling a second SAGD well pair into the reservoir, comprising a second injector well and a second producer well, adjacent the first SAGD well pair;   c. drilling a third SAGD well pair into the reservoir, comprising a third injector well and a third producer well, such that the first SAGD well pair is situated between the second SAGD well pair and the third SAGD well pair;   d. operating the first, second and third SAGD well pairs to produce hydrocarbon from the reservoir, leaving the residual hydrocarbon in the cellar of the reservoir;   e. ceasing production of the hydrocarbon through the first producer well;   f. injecting a fluid into the reservoir through one of the first injector well and the first producer well, the fluid having a density greater than the density of the residual hydrocarbon;   g. allowing the residual hydrocarbon to be displaced from the cellar toward the second and third producer wells by the injecting of the fluid; and   h. producing the residual hydrocarbon through the second and third producer wells.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step, after step e. but before step f., of injecting steam through the one of the first injector well and the first producer well to condition the reservoir. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the fluid is a brine solution. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the fluid is heated before injection. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising using vacuum insulated tubing to retain heat in the fluid prior to the fluid entry into the reservoir. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein an acid is added to the fluid before injection, to reduce liner scaling. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of using inflow control devices on the one of the first injector well and the first producer well to control fluid injection locations. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of producing infill hydrocarbon from between the first and second SAGD well pairs and from between the first and third SAGD well pairs while producing the residual hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of injecting steam with the fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of placing electrical cables in the one of the first injector well and the first producer well to apply in-situ heat to the fluid during injection into the reservoir. 
     
     
         21 . A method for displacing residual hydrocarbon located in a cellar region of a reservoir after SAGD hydrocarbon production, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. drilling and operating a first SAGD well pair comprising a first injector well and a first producer well, and a second SAGD well pair comprising a second injector well and a second producer well, leaving the residual hydrocarbon in the cellar of the reservoir;   b. ceasing production through the first producer well;   c. injecting a fluid into the reservoir through one of the first injector well and the first producer well, the fluid having a density greater than the density of the residual hydrocarbon;   d. allowing the residual hydrocarbon to be displaced by the fluid from the cellar toward the second producer well; and   e. producing the residual hydrocarbon through the second producer well.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step, after step b. but before step c., of injecting steam through the one of the first injector well and the first producer well to condition the reservoir. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the fluid is a brine solution. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the fluid is heated before injection. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising the step of using vacuum insulated tubing to retain heat in the fluid prior to the fluid entry into the reservoir. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein an acid is added to the fluid before injection, to reduce liner scaling. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising using inflow control devices on the one of the first injector well and the first producer well to control fluid injection locations. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of producing infill hydrocarbon from between the first and second SAGD well pairs while producing the residual hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of injecting steam with the fluid. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of placing electrical cables in the one of the first injector well and the first producer well to apply in-situ heat to the fluid during injection into the reservoir.