Installation to heat the productive zone of the reservoir of a hydrocarbon extraction well

Abstract

A heating installation for the productive zone of the reservoir of a well for the extraction of hydrocarbons through a well linking the surface to this reservoir, including a substantially cylindrical casing consolidating the wellbore and hydrocarbon extraction method housed inside the casing and method enabling a hot heat-transfer fluid to be injected from the surface to the reservoir. The installation includes through the well a first thermally insulated tubing of injection of the hot fluid from the surface to the reservoir, second tubing surrounding the first tubing to return the hot fluid to the surface and a third tubing to extract the hydrocarbons independent from the first and second tubing, the tubings extending from the surface to the reservoir.

1 . A heating installation for the productive zone of the reservoir of a well for the extraction of hydrocarbons through the well linking the surface to this reservoir, comprising a substantially cylindrical casing consolidating said well and a hydrocarbon extraction means housed inside said casing and means enabling a hot heat-transfer fluid to be circulated from the surface to the reservoir, wherein it comprises through the well a first thermally insulated tubing of injection of the hot fluid from the surface to the reservoir, a second tubing surrounding the first tubing to return the hot fluid to the surface and a third tubing of extraction of the hydrocarbons independent from the first and second tubing, said tubings extending from the surface to the reservoir. 
     
     
         2 . The heating installation according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second tubing are linked to a hot fluid production unit comprising a storage or an expansion tank, a pump and a heater to ensure a continuous circulation of the hot fluid in said tubing. 
     
     
         3 . The heating installation according to  claim 1 , wherein the first tubing is open at its distal end and the second tubing is closed at its distal end. 
     
     
         4 . The heating installation according to  claim 1 , wherein the first tubing is thermally insulated by means of a compression-resistant insulation. 
     
     
         5 . The heating installation according to  claim 1 , wherein the third tubing is linked to an extraction unit to bring the hydrocarbons produced in the screen or drain back to the surface. 
     
     
         6 . The heating installation according to  claim 5 , wherein the third tubing is open at its distal end and is provided with a well-bottom pump. 
     
     
         7 . The heating installation according to  claim 1 , wherein the first tubing is constituted by a first inner pipe surrounded by a second concentric outer pipe and by an insulation housed in the space between the two pipes. 
     
     
         8 . The heating installation according to  claim 7 , wherein the thermal insulation is a microporous material and in that a reduced pressure is established in the space between the two pipes. 
     
     
         9 . The heating installation according to  claim 8 , wherein the reduced pressure between the two pipes of the first tubing is of between 1 and 100 mbar. 
     
     
         10 . The heating installation according to  claim 7 , wherein the first tubing is provided with an electrical heating wire arranged against the outer wall of the inner pipe. 
     
     
         11 . The heating installation according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat-transfer fluid used to heat the reservoir is an industrial thermal oil or water. 
     
     
         12 . The application of the heating installation according to  claim 1 , to the closed-circuit preheating of a reservoir upstream of the hydrocarbon extraction phase.