Cyclical steam injection process and equipment with water seal for thermal protection casing and pneumatic artificial lift for produced oil

Abstract

This patent describes a thermal oil extraction process that allows steam in a reservoir or group of reservoirs to convey oil. This invention also allows the oil extraction with compressed gas in order to obtain oil using an alternate method that does not require a rig intervention to replace the injection equipment for the extraction equipment and vice versa. In order to promote the produced oil lifting, this process uses energy stored in the compressed gas. The process of the current patent is controlled by a set of valves on the surface controlled by solenoids valves, which are commanded by a programmable logic controller (PLC), being that the process begins with the aperture of the Valves ( 1 ), ( 10 ), ( 11 ), and ( 12 ) and the Automatic Valve ( 13 ), being that the Valve ( 1 ) is destined to control the water flow from the Annulus ( 2 ) formed by the Casing ( 3 ) and the External Column ( 4 ); and still by the comeback water to be done by the Annulus ( 14 ) formed by the Intermediate Column ( 15 ) and Internal Column ( 16 ), which passes through the Retention Valves ( 18 ) and ( 19 ), accessing the Interior of the Internal Column ( 7 ) until it reaches the surface. A constructive variation to be applied in wells where the casing is unable to withstand steam and water injection high pressures, in a way of preserving the well's Casing ( 3 ) from the pressures that will occur during the injection process, where the installation of the Packer ( 32 ) above the Perforation ( 6 ) of the Reservoir Rock ( 5 ), being the temperature control made by water circulation, being the Valves ( 1 ) and ( 9 ) are opened and the water is injected in the Annulus ( 2 ) and returns by the Annulus ( 20 ), passing through the Valve ( 9 ), being directed to its final destination.

1 ) CYCLICAL STEAM INJECTION PROCESS AND EQUIPMENT WITH WATER SEAL FOR THERMAL PROTECTION CASING AND PNEUMATIC ARTIFICIAL LIFT FOR PRODUCED OIL, being a thermic oil extraction process that allows the steam injection at specific reservoir or a group of reservoirs, alternatively, with no further need of rig intervention in order to replace the injection equipment for the production equipment and vice versa, characterized by the fact that the process is controlled by a set of valves at the surface, that are being controlled by solenoid valves commanded by programmable logical controller (PLC), being that the process begins with the aperture of the Valves ( 1 ), ( 10 ), ( 11 ), and ( 12 ) and the Automatic Valve ( 13 ), being that the Valve ( 1 ) is destined to control the water flow from the Annulus ( 2 ) formed by the Casing ( 3 ) and the External Column ( 4 ); and still by the comeback water to be done by the Annulus ( 14 ) formed by the Intermediate Column ( 15 ) and Internal Column ( 16 ), which passes through the Retention Valves ( 18 ) and ( 19 ), accessing the Interior of the Internal Column ( 7 ) until it reaches the surface. 
     
     
         2 ) CYCLICAL STEAM INJECTION PROCESS AND EQUIPMENT WITH WATER SEAL FOR THERMAL PROTECTION CASING AND PNEUMATIC ARTIFICIAL LIFT FOR PRODUCED OIL, according to  claim 1 , characterized by the fact that the Adaptor/Hanger/Injector ( 27 ) is the equipment that holds the External Column ( 4 ), the Intermediate Column ( 15 ) and the Internal Column ( 16 ), being that the mentioned Adaptor/Hanger/Injector ( 27 ) possess internally three overlapped hangers, the Inferior Hanger ( 30 ) anchors the External Column ( 4 ), the Intermediate Hanger ( 29 ) anchors the Intermediate Column ( 15 ) and the Superior Hanger ( 28 ) anchors the Internal Column ( 16 ), which allows access to the Annulus ( 14 ) through the Valves ( 22 ) and ( 12 ), and to the Annulus ( 20 ) through the Valves ( 9 ) and ( 21 ). 
     
     
         3 ) CYCLICAL STEAM INJECTION PROCESS AND EQUIPMENT WITH WATER SEAL FOR THERMAL PROTECTION CASING AND PNEUMATIC ARTIFICIAL LIFT FOR PRODUCED OIL, according to  claim 1 , characterized by the fact that the beginning of the steam circulation process occurs with the opening of Valves ( 7 ), ( 8 ) and ( 9 ) which are destined to the steam rate control to the Annulus ( 20 ), formed by External Column ( 4 ) and the Intermediate Column ( 15 ); and still by the steam returning from the Annulus ( 14 ) formed by the Intermediate Column ( 15 ) and the Internal Column ( 16 ) which passes through the Retention Valves ( 18 ) and ( 19 ), accessing the Interior of the Internal Column ( 17 ) until it reaches the surface. 
     
     
         4 ) CYCLICAL STEAM INJECTION PROCESS AND EQUIPMENT WITH WATER SEAL FOR THERMAL PROTECTION CASING AND PNEUMATIC ARTIFICIAL LIFT FOR PRODUCED OIL, according to  claims 1  and  2 , characterized by the fact that the Valves ( 11 ) and ( 12 ) and the Automatic Valve ( 13 ) are closed after the steam returns along with water at the surface, pushing the conjunct steam/water flow through the Perforation ( 6 ), to be injected at the Reservoir Rock ( 5 ). 
     
     
         5 ) CYCLICAL STEAM INJECTION PROCESS AND EQUIPMENT WITH WATER SEAL FOR THERMAL PROTECTION CASING AND PNEUMATIC ARTIFICIAL LIFT FOR PRODUCED OIL, according to  claims 1  and  2 , destined to beginning of the oil production process, characterized by the fact of the closure of Valves ( 1 ), ( 7 ), ( 8 ) and ( 9 ) and the aperture of the Valves ( 11 ), ( 12 ), and ( 22 ) at the steam injection cycle end. 
     
     
         6 ) CYCLICAL STEAM INJECTION PROCESS AND EQUIPMENT WITH WATER SEAL FOR THERMAL PROTECTION CASING AND PNEUMATIC ARTIFICIAL LIFT FOR PRODUCED OIL, according to  claims 1  and  2 , destined to the beginning of the oil lifting process, characterized by the opening of the Automatic Valve ( 23 ) for the access to the compressed gas to the Annulus ( 14 ) and to the Chamber ( 31 ), being that the gas flow will carry the oil from the Chamber ( 31 ), forcing the closure of the Retention Valve ( 18 ) and the aperture of the Retention Valve ( 19 ), directing the flow for the Interior of the Internal Column ( 17 ) to the surface; the opening of the Automatic Valve ( 24 ) will follow in order to decompress the Annulus ( 14 ) and the Chamber ( 31 ), allowing that the oil from the Reservoir Rock ( 5 ) stored at the Casing Interior ( 25 ) refills the Chamber ( 31 ). 
     
     
         7 ) CYCLICAL STEAM INJECTION PROCESS AND EQUIPMENT WITH WATER SEAL FOR THERMAL PROTECTION CASING AND PNEUMATIC ARTIFICIAL LIFT FOR PRODUCED OIL, according to  claims 1  and  2 , being a constructive variation to be applied in wells where the casing is unable to withstand steam and water injection high pressures, in a way of preserving the well's Casing ( 3 ) from the pressures that will occur during the injection process, characterized by the installation of the Packer ( 32 ) above the Perforation ( 6 ) of the Reservoir Rock ( 5 ), being the temperature control made by water circulation, being the Valves ( 1 ) and ( 9 ) are opened and the water is injected in the Annulus ( 2 ) and returns by the Annulus ( 20 ), passing through the Valve ( 9 ), being directed to its final destination. 
     
     
         8 ) CYCLICAL STEAM INJECTION PROCESS AND EQUIPMENT WITH WATER SEAL FOR THERMAL PROTECTION CASING AND PNEUMATIC ARTIFICIAL LIFT FOR PRODUCED OIL, according to  claim 7 , characterized by the beginning of the process to be made with steam injection, where the Cap ( 33 ) is withdrawn, the Valves ( 34 ) and ( 10 ) are opened and the Retention Valve ( 19 ) and ( 18 ) are retreated, being the Valve ( 34 ) closed right away; done that, Valves ( 22 ), ( 35 ) and ( 36 ) are opened and the steam is injected through the Annulus ( 14 ), passing through where the Retention Valve ( 18 ) lies, though the Casing Interior ( 25 ) and, through the Perforation ( 6 ), until the Reservoir Rock ( 5 ); with the end of the steam cycle injection and after the Soaking period is fulfilled, the oil production process will be initiated, closing the Valves ( 1 ), ( 35 ), and ( 36 ), opening the Valve ( 34 ) and reinstalling the Retention Valves ( 19 ) and ( 18 ), followed by the closure of the Valve ( 34 ); then, the oil lifting process is activated with the aperture of the Valves ( 11 ) and ( 12 ), and it initiates with the opening of the Automatic Valve ( 23 ), which will grant to the compressed gas access to the Annulus ( 14 ) and the Chamber ( 31 )—where the oil to be lifted will be stored. This gas flow will push the oil out of the Chamber ( 31 ) forcing the Retention Valve's ( 18 ) closure and the opening of the Retention Valve ( 19 ), directing the flow to the Interior of the Internal Column ( 17 ) up to the surface; next, the Automatic Valve ( 24 ) is opened, promoting the Annulus ( 14 ) and the Chamber ( 31 ) to decompress.