Processes for producing hydrocarbons from a reservoir

Abstract

In one aspect, there is provided a process for producing hydrocarbons from a reservoir, comprising: within the reservoir, electrically heating a liquid heating fluid such that the liquid heating fluid is evaporated to produce a gaseous heating fluid that heats the liquid hydrocarbon material within the reservoir such that the heated liquid hydrocarbon material is mobilized and such that the gaseous heating fluid is condensed to produce a condensed heating fluid, wherein the liquid heating fluid includes at least a fraction of the condensed heating fluid such that at least a fraction of the condensed heating fluid is refluxed; and producing a fluid including the mobilized hydrocarbon material; wherein the hydrocarbon reservoir is spaced apart from the earth's surface by a minimum distance of less than 75 metres.

1 . A process for producing hydrocarbon material from a hydrocarbon reservoir comprising:
 within the reservoir, electrically heating a liquid heating fluid such that the liquid heating fluid is evaporated to produce a gaseous heating fluid that heats the liquid hydrocarbon material within the reservoir such that the heated liquid hydrocarbon material is mobilized and such that the gaseous heating fluid is condensed to produce a condensed heating fluid, wherein the liquid heating fluid includes at least a fraction of the condensed heating fluid such that at least a fraction of the condensed heating fluid is refluxed; and   producing a fluid including the mobilized hydrocarbon material;   wherein the hydrocarbon reservoir is spaced apart from the earth's surface by a minimum distance of less than 75 metres.   
     
     
         2 . A process for producing hydrocarbon material from a hydrocarbon reservoir comprising:
 within the reservoir, electrically heating a liquid heating fluid such that the liquid heating fluid is evaporated to produce a gaseous heating fluid;   heating hydrocarbon material with the gaseous heating fluid such that the heated hydrocarbon material is mobilized and such that the gaseous heating fluid is condensed to produce a condensed heating fluid;   wherein the liquid heating fluid includes at least a fraction of the condensed heating fluid such that at least a fraction of the condensed heating fluid is refluxed; and   producing a produced fluid including at least the mobilized hydrocarbon material;   wherein the hydrocarbon reservoir is spaced apart from the earth's surface by a minimum distance of less than 75 metres   
     
     
         3 . A process for producing hydrocarbon material from a hydrocarbon reservoir comprising a high pressure phrase and a low pressure phase, wherein the low pressure phase follows the high pressure phase;
 wherein:
 the low pressure phase includes, while the reservoir is disposed below a predetermined low pressure:
 within the reservoir, electrically heating a liquid heating fluid such that the liquid heating fluid is evaporated to produce a gaseous heating fluid that heats the liquid hydrocarbon material within the reservoir such that the heated liquid hydrocarbon material is mobilized and such that the gaseous heating fluid is condensed to produce a condensed heating fluid, wherein the liquid heating fluid being evaporated includes at least a fraction of the condensed heating fluid such that at least a fraction of the condensed heating fluid is refluxed; and 
 producing a production fluid including the mobilized hydrocarbon material; 
 
 and 
 the high pressure phase includes, while the reservoir is disposed above a predetermined high pressure:
 within the reservoir, electrically heating a liquid heating fluid such that the liquid heating fluid is evaporated to produce a gaseous heating fluid that heats the liquid hydrocarbon material within the reservoir such that the heated liquid hydrocarbon material is mobilized and such that the gaseous heating fluid is condensed to produce a condensed heating fluid, wherein the liquid heating fluid being evaporated includes at least a fraction of the condensed heating fluid such that at least a fraction of the condensed heating fluid is refluxed; and 
 producing a production fluid including the mobilized hydrocarbon material. 
 
   
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 :
 wherein, during the low pressure phase, the predetermined low pressure is less than 1500 kPa.   
     
     
         6 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 :
 wherein, during the low pressure phase, the predetermined low pressure is less than 1000 kPa.   
     
     
         7 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 :
 wherein, during the high pressure phase, the predetermined high pressure is greater than 1750 kPa.   
     
     
         8 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 :
 wherein, during the high pressure phase, the predetermined high pressure is greater than 2000 kPa.   
     
     
         9 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 ;
 wherein the ratio of the predetermined high pressure to the predetermined low pressure is greater than 1.5.   
     
     
         10 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 ;
 wherein the ratio of the predetermined high pressure to the predetermined low pressure is greater than 2.   
     
     
         11 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 ;
 wherein the ratio of the predetermined high pressure to the predetermined low pressure is greater than 3.   
     
     
         12 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 ;
 wherein the duration of the low pressure phase is at least one (1) month.   
     
     
         13 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 ;
 wherein the duration of the high pressure phase is at least one (1) month.   
     
     
         14 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 ;
 wherein the high pressure phase and the low pressure phase define a cycle, and the cycle is repeated at least once.   
     
     
         15 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 ;
 wherein the high pressure phase and the low pressure phase define a cycle, and the cycle is repeated at least twice.   
     
     
         16 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 ; further comprising:
 during at least a fraction of the duration of the low pressure phase, supplying supplemental liquid heating fluid to the reservoir from a source at the surface, such that the liquid heating fluid being evaporated includes the supplemental liquid heating fluid.   
     
     
         17 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 during at least a fraction of the duration of the high pressure phase, supplying supplemental liquid heating fluid to the reservoir from a source at the surface, such that the liquid heating fluid being evaporated includes the supplemental liquid heating fluid.   
     
     
         18 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 during a fraction of the duration of the low pressure phase, suspending the producing of the production fluid.   
     
     
         19 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 during a fraction of the duration of the high pressure phase, suspending the producing of the production fluid.   
     
     
         20 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 during a fraction of the duration of the low pressure phase, suspending the producing of the production fluid; and   during at least a fraction of the time period while the producing is suspended, supplying supplemental liquid heating fluid to the reservoir from a source at the surface, such that the liquid heating fluid being evaporated includes the supplemental liquid heating fluid.   
     
     
         21 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 during a fraction of the duration of the high pressure phase, suspending the producing of the production fluid; and   during at least a fraction of the time period while the producing is suspended, supplying supplemental liquid heating fluid to the reservoir from a source at the surface, such that the liquid heating fluid being evaporated includes the supplemental liquid heating fluid.