Processes for effecting hydrocarbon production from reservoirs having a low permeability zone by cooling and heating

Abstract

A process is provided for producing hydrocarbon material from a reservoir, including: cooling at least a portion of a low permeability zone within the reservoir with effect that water, disposed within the low permeability zone, freezes and expands, with effect that one or more flow paths are formed through the low permeability zone; mobilizing hydrocarbon material within the reservoir such that the mobilized hydrocarbon material is conducted through the low permeability zone via the one or more flow paths; and after the conduction of the mobilized hydrocarbon material through the low permeability zone via the one or more flow paths, producing the mobilized hydrocarbon material.

1 . A process for producing hydrocarbon material from a reservoir, comprising:
 cooling at least a portion of a low permeability zone within the reservoir with effect that water, disposed within the low permeability zone, freezes and expands, with effect that one or more flow paths are formed through the low permeability zone;   mobilizing hydrocarbon material within the reservoir such that the mobilized hydrocarbon material is conducted through the low permeability zone via the one or more flow paths; and   after the conduction of the mobilized hydrocarbon material through the low permeability zone via the one or more flow paths, producing the mobilized hydrocarbon material.   
     
     
         2 . A process for producing hydrocarbon material from a reservoir, comprising:
 cooling at least a portion of a low permeability zone within the reservoir such that stress is reduced within the at least a portion of a low permeability zone;   pressurizing the cooled portion of the low permeability zone with effect that one or more flow paths are formed through the low permeability zone;   mobilizing hydrocarbon material within the reservoir such that the mobilized hydrocarbon material is conducted through the low permeability zone via the one or more flow paths; and   after the conduction of the mobilized hydrocarbon material through the low permeability zone via the one or more flow paths, producing the mobilized hydrocarbon material.   
     
     
         3 . A process for producing hydrocarbon material from a reservoir, comprising:
 heating at least a portion of a low permeability zone within the reservoir with effect that water, disposed within the low permeability zone, vaporizes and effects formation of one or more flow paths through the low permeability zone;   mobilizing hydrocarbon material within the reservoir such that the mobilized hydrocarbon material is conducted through the low permeability zone via the one or more flow paths; and   after the conduction of the mobilized hydrocarbon material through the low permeability zone via the one or more flow paths, producing the mobilized hydrocarbon material.   
     
     
         4 . A process for producing hydrocarbon material from a reservoir, comprising:
 heating at least a portion of a low permeability zone within the reservoir;   reducing pressure of the at least a portion of a low permeability zone, with effect that water, disposed within the low permeability zone, vaporizes and effects formation of one or more flow paths through the low permeability zone;   mobilizing hydrocarbon material within the reservoir such that the mobilized hydrocarbon material is conducted through the low permeability zone via the one or more flow paths; and   after the conduction of the mobilized hydrocarbon material through the low permeability zone via the one or more flow paths, producing the mobilized hydrocarbon material.   
     
     
         5 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  4 ;
 wherein:
 the mobilizing is effected by stimulation with a production-initiating fluid injected into the reservoir via an injection well, wherein the production-initiating fluid including steam; and 
 the conduction is effected by gravity drainage to a production well; 
 
 such that the mobilizing and the conducting is effected by a SAGD process. 
 
     
     
         6 . The process as claimed in  claim 5 ;
 wherein the low permeability zone is disposed between a horizontal section of the injection well and a horizontal section of the production well.   
     
     
         7 . The process as claimed in  claim 6 ;
 wherein at least a continuous portion of the permeability zone is disposed between a horizontal section of the injection well and a horizontal section of the production well, and the continuous portion has an axis, and the axis has a length of at least 50 metres.   
     
     
         8 . The process as claimed in  claim 7 ;
 wherein:
 the injection and production wells define a first well pair; and 
 the at least a continuous portion of the low permeability zone is also extending across at least ⅓ of a spacing distance between the first well pair and a second well pair. 
   
     
     
         9 . The process as claimed in  claim 7 ;
 wherein:
 the injection and production wells define a first well pair; and 
 the at least a continuous portion of the low permeability zone is disposed between the horizontal sections of the first and second wells and is also extending from between the horizontal sections and towards a second well pair by a distance of at least 25 metres. 
   
     
     
         9 . The process as claimed in  claim 6 ;
 wherein:
 the injection and production wells define a first well pair; and 
 at least a continuous laterally-extending portion of the low permeability zone is disposed between the horizontal sections of the first and second wells and is also extending across at least ⅓ of a spacing distance between the first well pair and a second well pair. 
   
     
     
         10 . The process as claimed in  claim 6 ;
 wherein:
 the injection and production wells define a first well pair; and 
 at least a continuous laterally-extending portion of the low permeability zone is disposed between the horizontal sections of the first and second wells and is also extending from between the horizontal sections and towards a second well pair by a distance of at least 50 metres. 
   
     
     
         11 . The process as claimed in  claim 5 ;
 wherein the low permeability zone is disposed above a horizontal section of the injection well.   
     
     
         12 . The process as claimed in  claim 11 ;
 wherein the low permeability zone is disposed above the horizontal section of the injection well by a minimum distance of less than 15 metres.   
     
     
         13 . The process as claimed in  claim 11   wherein the low permeability zone is disposed above the horizontal section of the well and at a height of less than 35 metres above the bottom of the reservoir.   
     
     
         14 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  13 
 wherein the low permeability zone has an absolute permeability of less than 1000 millidarcies. 
 
     
     
         15 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  13 ;
 wherein the low permeability zone has an absolute permeability of less than 10 millidarcies. 
 
     
     
         16 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  15 ;
 wherein the low permeability zone has a dimension of at least 10 metres. 
 
     
     
         17 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  15 ;
 wherein at least a continuous portion of the low permeability zone is disposed within a horizontal plane within the reservoir, wherein the horizontal plane-disposed continuous portion of the low permeability zone is characterized by an area of at least 100 square metres. 
 
     
     
         18 . A process for producing hydrocarbon material from a reservoir, comprising:
 cooling at least a portion of a low permeability zone within the reservoir such that stress is reduced within the at least a portion of a low permeability zone;   pressurizing the cooled portion of the low permeability zone with effect that one or more flow paths are formed through the low permeability zone; and   receiving hydrocarbon material, that is conducted through the one or more of the flow paths, within a production well; and   producing the received hydrocarbon material.   
     
     
         19 . The process as claimed in  claim 18 ;
 wherein the pressurizing is effected in response to hydraulic fracturing.