초록 ▼

Methods and apparatus for removing oil or natural gas from the ground may include, for example, reforming a fuel source by reaction with water to generate driver gas, and injecting the driver gas into the oil well. The reforming operation may include causing the combustion of a combustible material

Methods and apparatus for removing oil or natural gas from the ground may include, for example, reforming a fuel source by reaction with water to generate driver gas, and injecting the driver gas into the oil well. The reforming operation may include causing the combustion of a combustible material with ambient oxygen for the release of energy; and heating a reforming reaction fuel and water sources, with the energy released from the combustion of the combustible material, to a temperature above that required for the reforming reaction wherein the fuel and water sources are reformed into driver gas. In one example, the amount of the combustible material combusted is sufficient to result in the release of enough energy to heat an amount of the reforming reaction fuel and water sources to the temperature above that required for the reforming reaction to proceed. The driver gas may be used to help extract oil from the ground and especially oil from depleted oil wells. It may also be used to drive natural gas trapped underground or in coal beds to the surface.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for recovering oil from an oil well comprising: a portable, self-contained apparatus for reforming a fuel source comprising a biomass source to generate a driver gas that includes products of reforming the fuel source which consist of hydrogen gas mixed with carbon dioxide gas, anda comp

1. A system for recovering oil from an oil well comprising: a portable, self-contained apparatus for reforming a fuel source comprising a biomass source to generate a driver gas that includes products of reforming the fuel source which consist of hydrogen gas mixed with carbon dioxide gas, anda compressor for compressing the driver gas to a pressure appropriate for injection into an oil well;wherein, the portable, self-contained apparatus further comprises a counter-flow heat exchanger wherein the heat exchanger provides energy from the released driver gas to the incoming reformer fuel source to facilitate an autothermal reformer reaction; andwherein the portable, self-contained apparatus for reforming the fuel source is located on-site of the oil well for the generation of the driver gas. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a non-combustible source to provide energy for reforming the fuel source. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein energy used to drive the reforming reaction is provided by a source selected from the group consisting of solar energy, nuclear energy, wind energy, grid electricity, hydroelectric power, and mixtures thereof. 4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a reaction chamber for combining the fuel source, water, and an oxidizer. 5. The system of further comprising a driver gas outlet port for removal of driver gas produced in the reaction chamber. 6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a delivery pipe for delivery of the fuel source. 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the fuel source further comprises a fuel selected from the group consisting of coal, alcohols, olefins, paraffins, ethers, aromatic hydrocarbons, propane, diesel fuels, gasolines, crude oil, natural gas, and mixtures thereof. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the biomass source is selected from the group consisting of forest and mill residues, agricultural crops and wastes, brush, hay, straw, switch grass, corn stalks, corn stover, kudzu, grass, wood and wood pastes, pine beetle kill, wood chips, sawdust, animal wastes, livestock operation residues, paper waste, paper mill process effluent, paper, cardboard, aquatic plants, algae, trees and plants, organic landfill wastes, municipal, residential, industrial wastes, cellulosic material, and mixtures thereof. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the driver gas is generated from the fuel source by heating the fuel source with water to at least about 150° C. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the driver gas is generated from the fuel source by heating the fuel source with water and a catalyst to at least about 150° C. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of an iron based catalyst, a zinc oxide catalyst, a copper based catalyst, and an alumina catalyst. 12. A system for recovering oil from an oil well comprising: a portable, self-contained apparatus for reforming a fuel source comprising coal to generate a driver gas that includes products of reforming the fuel source which consist of hydrogen gas mixed with carbon dioxide gas, anda compressor for compressing the driver gas to a pressure appropriate for injection into an oil well; andwherein, the portable, self-contained apparatus further comprises a counter-flow heat exchanger wherein the heat exchanger provides energy from the released driver gas to the incoming reformer fuel source to facilitate an autothermal reformer reaction; andwherein the portable, self-contained apparatus for reforming the fuel source is located on-site of the oil well for the generation of the driver gas. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the portable apparatus comprises a combustion reaction to provide energy for reforming the fuel source. 14. The system of claim 12 further comprising a reaction chamber for combining the fuel source, water, and an oxidizer. 15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a driver gas outlet port for removal of driver gas produced in the reaction chamber. 16. The system of claim 12 further comprising a delivery pipe for delivery of the fuel source. 17. The system of claim 12, wherein the driver gas is generated from the fuel source by heating the fuel with water to at least about 150° C. 18. The system of claim 12, wherein the driver gas is generated from the fuel source by heating the fuel with water and a catalyst to at least about 150° C. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of an iron based catalyst, a zinc oxide catalyst, a copper based catalyst, and an alumina catalyst. 20. The system of claim 12 wherein the fuel source further comprises a fuel selected from the group consisting of biomass, alcohols, olefins, paraffins, ethers, aromatic hydrocarbons, propane, diesel fuels, gasolines, crude oils, natural gas, and mixtures thereof. 21. The system of claim 12, wherein energy used to drive the reforming reaction is provided by a source selected from the group consisting of solar energy, nuclear energy, wind energy, grid electricity, hydroelectric power, electricity produced by burning hydrogen formed as a product of the reforming reaction, and mixtures thereof.