Heavy oil recovery process: Conceptual engineering of a downhole methanator and preliminary estimate of facilities cost for application to North Slope Alaska
The West Sak (Upper Cretaceous) sands, overlaying the Kuparuk field, would rank among the largest known oil fields in the US, but technical difficulties have so far prevented its commercial exploitation. Steam injection is the most successful and the most commonly-used method of heavy oil recovery, but its application to the West Sak presents major problems. Such difficulties may be overcome by using a novel approach, in which steam is generated downhole in a catalytic Methanator, from Syngas made at the surface from endothermic reactions (Table 1). The Methanator effluent, containing steam and soluble gases resulting from exothermic reactions (Table 1), is cyclically injected into the reservoir by means of a horizontal drainhole while hot produced fluids flow form a second drainhole into a central production tubing. The downhole reactor feed and BFW flow downward to two concentric tubings. The large-diameter casing required to house the downhole reactor assembly is filled above it with Arctic Pack mud, or crude oil, to further reduce heat leaks. A quantitative analysis of this production scheme for the West Sak required a preliminary engineering of the downhole and surface facilities and a tentative forecast of well production rates. The results, based on published information on the West Sak, have been used to estimate the cost of these facilities, per daily barrel of oil produced. A preliminary economic analysis and conclusions are presented together with an outline of future work. Economic and regulatory conditions which would make this approach viable are discussed. 28 figs.
- Research Organization:
- S-Cal Research Corp., San Rafael, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG01-89CE15446
- OSTI ID:
- 6231840
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/CE/15446-T5; ON: DE92002637
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
02 PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ALASKAN NORTH SLOPE
DRAINAGE
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
DRILLING FLUIDS
GAS INJECTION
METHANE
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PROGRESS REPORT
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
STEAM INJECTION
SYNTHESIS GAS
ALASKA
ALKANES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FEDERAL REGION X
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROCARBONS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RECOVERY
RESOURCES
USA
320303* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Equipment & Processes
020300 - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
020700 - Petroleum- Economics
Industrial
& Business Aspects