Processes for producing hydrocarbons from a reservoir

Abstract

There is provided a process for producing hydrocarbons from a reservoir. The process includes within the hydrocarbon 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, and electrically heating at least a fraction of the condensed heating fluid such that the at least a condensed heating fluid fraction is re-evaporated, and while the evaporation, the condensing, and the re-evaporation are being effected, producing a produced fluid including at least the mobilized hydrocarbon material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for producing hydrocarbon material from a hydrocarbon reservoir comprising:
 within the hydrocarbon 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;   electrically heating the condensed heating fluid such that the condensed heating fluid is re-evaporated; and   while the evaporation, the condensing, and the re-evaporation are being effected, producing produced fluid, wherein the produced fluid includes at least a fraction of the mobilized hydrocarbon material.   
     
     
         2 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein a reflux is effected, and wherein the reflux includes the combination of the evaporation, the condensing and the re-evaporation.   
     
     
         3 . The process as claimed in  claim 2 ;
 wherein at least a fraction of the reflux is effected by an electric heater that is disposed within the hydrocarbon reservoir.   
     
     
         4 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 ;
 wherein the electric heater is disposed in indirect heat transfer communication with at least a fraction of the condensed heating fluid.   
     
     
         5 . The process as claimed in  claim 4 ;
 wherein the electric heater is disposed within a housing, and liquid heat transfer fluid, having a boiling point that is greater than the boiling point of the liquid heating fluid at the pressure of the hydrocarbon reservoir portion from which the mobilized hydrocarbon material is being produced, is disposed within the housing between the heater and an internal surface of the housing, such that a heater assembly is provided that includes the housing, the electric heater, and the heat transfer fluid;   and wherein the heater assembly is disposed within a collection reservoir configured for receiving reservoir fluid;   and wherein the heater assembly is configured for effecting heating of the reservoir fluid, such that the electrical heating of the condensed heating fluid is effected by electrical heating of the reservoir fluid by the heater assembly, and such that the electrical heating of the condensed heating fluid is effected by the step of electrically heating the reservoir fluid by the heater assembly;   and further comprising:   prior to the electrical heating of the reservoir fluid, collecting the reservoir fluid within the collection reservoir.   
     
     
         6 . The process as claimed in  claim 5 ;
 wherein the electrical heating of the collected reservoir fluid is such that the temperature of the collected reservoir fluid is greater than or equal to at least the boiling point of the liquid heating fluid at the pressure of the hydrocarbon reservoir portion from which the mobilized hydrocarbon material is being produced.   
     
     
         7 . The process as claimed in  claim 5 ;
 wherein the electrical heating of the collected reservoir fluid is such that the temperature of the collected reservoir fluid is less than 350 degrees Celsius.   
     
     
         8 . The process as claimed in  claim 5 ;
 wherein the electrical heating of the collected reservoir fluid is effected in response to sensing of a temperature, of the collected reservoir fluid, that is at or below a predetermined temperature that is based upon the boiling point of the liquid heating fluid at the pressure of the hydrocarbon reservoir portion from which the mobilized hydrocarbon material is being produced.   
     
     
         9 . The process as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 prior to the electrical heating of the collected reservoir fluid, sensing a temperature of the collected reservoir fluid that is at or below a predetermined temperature that is based upon the boiling point of the liquid heating fluid at the pressure of the hydrocarbon reservoir portion from which the mobilized hydrocarbon material is being produced.   
     
     
         10 . The process as claimed in  claim 5 ;
 wherein electrical heating of the liquid heat transfer fluid by the electric heater effects the electrical heating of the collected reservoir fluid;   and wherein the electrical heating of the liquid heat transfer fluid is such that the temperature of the liquid heat transfer fluid is greater than the boiling point of the liquid heating fluid, at the pressure of the hydrocarbon reservoir portion from which the mobilized hydrocarbon material is being produced, by at least 10 degrees Celsius.   
     
     
         11 . The process as claimed in  claim 4 ;
 wherein the electric heater is disposed within a collection reservoir configured for receiving reservoir fluid;   and wherein the electric heater is configured for effecting heating of the reservoir fluid, such that the electrical heating of the condensed heating fluid is effected by electrical heating of the collected reservoir fluid by the electric heater, such that the electrical heating of the at least a fraction of the condensed heating fluid is effected by the step of electrically heating the collected reservoir fluid by the electric heater;   and further comprising:   prior to the electrical heating of the reservoir fluid, collecting the reservoir fluid within the collection reservoir.   
     
     
         12 . The process as claimed in  claim 11 ;
 wherein the electrical heating of the collected reservoir fluid is such that the temperature of the collected reservoir fluid is greater than or equal to at least the boiling point of the liquid heating fluid at the pressure of the hydrocarbon reservoir portion from which the mobilized hydrocarbon material is being produced.   
     
     
         13 . The process as claimed in  claim 11 ;
 wherein the electrical heating of the collected reservoir fluid is effected in response to sensing of a temperature, of the collected reservoir fluid, that is at or below a predetermined temperature that is based upon the boiling point of the liquid heating fluid at the pressure of the hydrocarbon reservoir portion from which the mobilized hydrocarbon material is being produced.   
     
     
         14 . The process as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 prior to the electrical heating of the collected reservoir fluid, sensing a temperature of the collected reservoir fluid that is at or below a predetermined temperature that is based upon the boiling point of the liquid heating fluid at the pressure of the hydrocarbon reservoir portion from which the mobilized hydrocarbon material is being produced.   
     
     
         15 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 ;
 wherein the producing of the produced fluid is effected via a production well that is disposed within the hydrocarbon reservoir;   and wherein the collection reservoir is disposed within the production well, such that the electric heater is disposed within the production well, and the at least a fraction of the reflux is effected by the electric heater disposed within the production well, and such that the collected reservoir fluid includes the mobilized hydrocarbon material.   
     
     
         16 . The process as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 prior to the producing of the produced fluids, conducting the reservoir fluid to the production well by gravity drainage.   
     
     
         17 . The process as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 after the conducting of the reservoir fluid to the production well, and prior to the producing, collecting the reservoir fluid within the production well.   
     
     
         18 . The process as claimed in  claim 15 ;
 wherein the production well includes a heel;   and wherein the electrical heating of the collected reservoir fluid is such that the temperature of the collected reservoir fluid, disposed at the heel of the production well, is greater than or equal to the boiling point of the liquid heating fluid at the pressure of the hydrocarbon reservoir portion from which the mobilized hydrocarbon material is being produced.   
     
     
         19 . The process as claimed in  claim 18 ;
 wherein the electrical heating of the collected reservoir fluid is effected in response to sensing of a temperature, of the collected reservoir fluid disposed at the heel of the production well, that is at or below a predetermined temperature that is based upon the boiling point of the liquid heating fluid at the pressure of the hydrocarbon reservoir portion from which the mobilized hydrocarbon material is being produced.   
     
     
         20 . The process as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising:
 prior to the electrical heating of the collected reservoir fluid, sensing a temperature, of the collected reservoir fluid that is disposed at the heel of the production well, that is at or below a predetermined temperature that is based upon the boiling point of the liquid heating fluid at the pressure of the hydrocarbon reservoir portion from which the mobilized hydrocarbon material is being produced.