초록 ▼

A method, apparatus and composition for safe energy delivery down hole resulting in increased recovery of subterranean hydrocarbons. The method utilizes, for example, the reaction of non-alkane fuels and selective oxidizers which are non-selective toward alkane chemical compounds. The method further

A method, apparatus and composition for safe energy delivery down hole resulting in increased recovery of subterranean hydrocarbons. The method utilizes, for example, the reaction of non-alkane fuels and selective oxidizers which are non-selective toward alkane chemical compounds. The method further utilizes an acid solution reaction with aforementioned reaction for elimination of any insoluble products of reaction permitting flow within formation strata. The energy released in the subterranean reaction is utilized to heat the production tubing, the wellbore, the formation or the formation hydrocarbons thereby lowering fluid viscosity and permitting greater flow especially for heavy oils, asphaltene deposits and/or paraffin deposits. Further, safe delivery of oxidizers can be accomplished without limit on depth as the selective oxidizer may be delivered to point of use down hole as most all formations of interest contain primarily alkane hydrocarbons and will not react with the non-alkane selective oxidizer.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation, strata, or at least one subterranean reservoir comprising: a. Injecting at least one liquid first fluid from the surface of the earth through at least one conduit into at least one wellbore with one or more perforations for cont

1. A method for recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation, strata, or at least one subterranean reservoir comprising: a. Injecting at least one liquid first fluid from the surface of the earth through at least one conduit into at least one wellbore with one or more perforations for contact with a subterranean reservoir of hydrocarbons, to a location down said wellbore next to said one or more perforations;b. Said wellbore being in fluid communication with at least one subterranean formation;c. Said injected first fluid at least partially comprising an oxidizing agent;d. Said oxidizing agent comprising a selective oxidizing agent which is non-selective in reaction toward alkane chemistry and is for use as a selective oxidizing agent in a combustion reaction in said method;e. Injecting at least a second fluid comprised at least partially of a non-alkane fuel from the surface of the earth through at least one conduit into said wellbore to a location down said wellbore next to said one or more perforations, wherein said non-alkane fuel is made of a organic chemical compound and is for use as a fuel in a combustion reaction in said method;f. At a time after a said first fluid and a said second fluid are injected to a location down said wellbore next to said one or more perforations, reaction of said oxidizing agent at least partially with said non-alkane fuel in a combustion reaction to release energy including heat and create one or more reaction products of said combustion reaction;g. Injecting at least a third fluid comprised at least partially of a acid solution from the surface of the earth through at least one conduit into said wellbore to a location down said wellbore next to said one or more perforations, wherein said acid solution is for use to react with one or more reaction products of a combustion reaction in said system;h. At a time after completion of a said combustion reaction and after a said third fluid is injected to a location down said wellbore next to said one or more perforations and before said heat of said combustion reaction is dissipated, reaction of said acid solution with said reaction products of said combustion reaction of said oxidizing agent with said fuel, wherein said reaction of said acid solution with said reaction products of said combustion reaction: (1) is operable to remove said reaction products of said combustion reaction; and(2) is an exothermic reaction, resulting in additional energy release including additional heat;i. Recovery back to the surface of the earth of one or more subterranean hydrocarbons. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the said selective oxidizing agent comprises KMnO4 for use as a selective oxidizing agent in a combustion reaction in said method. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the said selective oxidizing agent comprises: Sodium Dichromate (Na2Cr2O7), Ammonium Permanganate (NH4MnO4), Calcium Permanganate (Ca(MnO4)2), or Sodium Permanganate (NaMnO4), for use as a selective oxidizing agent in a combustion reaction in said method. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the said non-alkane fuel comprises a alkene, alkene or alcohol for use as a fuel in a combustion reaction in said method. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the said fuel comprises Glycerol (C3H8O3) or Methanol (CH4O) for use as a fuel in a combustion reaction in said method. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said acid solution comprises a combination of: oxalic acid and hydrochloric acid. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said second fluid or said third fluid comprises a reductive leaching agent. 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the said injected first fluid is heated above surface ambient temperature prior to injection. 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the said fluids are heated above surface ambient temperature prior to injection at least partially by method of heat of dilution. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein said conduit is a continuous tube having a distal end below the surface and a proximal end in said wellbore. 11. The method of claim 1 wherein said conduit is a continuous tube having a distal end below the surface and a proximal end above the surface of the earth. 12. The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the said reactions occur within a distal end reactor attached to said conduits. 13. The method of claim 1 wherein said conduit is placed within at least one other said conduit. 14. The method of claim 1 wherein the reaction of the said selective oxidizing agent with the said second fluid occurs at least partially in the wellbore. 15. The method of claim 1 wherein the reaction of the said selective oxidizing agent with the said second fluid systems occurs at least partially in the said formation. 16. The method of claim 1 wherein the injection of said fluids occurs at a pressure sufficient to hydraulically fracture at least one subterranean stratum. 17. The method of claim 1 wherein the injection of said fluids occurs at a pressure below hydraulic fracture pressure of at least one subterranean stratum. 18. The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the products of reaction of the said selective oxidizing agent and the said fuel are utilized as a proppant material. 19. The method of claim 1 wherein recovery back to surface of subterranean hydrocarbons is through said wellbore. 20. The method of claim 1 wherein recovery back to surface of subterranean hydrocarbons is through wellbores other than those wherein said oxidizing agent was injected. 21. The method of claim 1 wherein the reaction of said oxidizing agent and said fuel includes an amount of fuel in excess of an amount required for a stoichiometric reaction of said oxidizing agent and said fuel. 22. The method of claim 1 wherein the reaction of said oxidizing agent and said fuel includes an amount of oxidizer in excess of an amount required for a stoichiometric reaction of said oxidizing agent and said fuel. 23. The method of claim 1 wherein the reaction of said acid solution and said products of reaction of said oxidizing agent at least partially with said fuel includes an amount of acid in excess of an amount required for a stoichiometric reaction of said acid solution and said products of reaction. 24. The method of claim 1 wherein the reaction of said oxidizing agent and said fuel, and the reaction of said products of reaction of said oxidizing agent at least partially with said fuel and said acid occur at least in part inside of a bottom hole assembly. 25. The method of claim 24 wherein the bottom hole assembly is attached to the distal end of at least one said conduit. 26. The method of claim 24 wherein the bottom hole assembly utilizes at least partially a mixing tube for mixing of said oxidizer and said fuel prior to addition of said acid. 27. The method of claim 1 wherein the said reactions occur in close proximity but above the downhole location of said fluid communication with said subterranean formation. 28. The method of claim 1 wherein the said reactions occur in close proximity but below the downhole location of said fluid communication with said subterranean formation. 29. The method of claim 1 wherein said conduit having at least one reaction chamber below the surface of the earth. 30. An injection system operable for use with one or more selective oxidizing agents and operable for use in recovering one or more hydrocarbons from a formation, strata, or at least one subterranean reservoir, comprising: A. a first fluid container operable to contain at least a first fluid;B. a second fluid container operable to contain at least a second fluid;C. a third fluid container operable to contain at least a third fluid;D. a plurality of pumps operable to pump one or more fluids;E. a wellbore extending at least partially into a subterranean formation, strata or reservoir;F. a well casing contained at least partially inside said wellbore, said well casing: operable to be in communication with said first fluid container and/or with said second fluid container and comprising one or more perforations or holes in said well casing permitting a fluid inside said well casing to flow out of said well casing;G. one or more conduits operable for delivering a fluid into said well casing, including a first conduit, a second conduit, and a third conduit, wherein each is operable for delivering a fluid into said well casing or to a selected location down or near bottom of said wellbore;H. one or more conduits operable for recovery of one or more hydrocarbons, wherein recovery of one or more hydrocarbons is through said wellbore;I. said injection system comprising further limitations, wherein said injection system comprises: i. a selective oxidizing agent for use as a selective oxidizing agent in a combustion reaction in said system, which includes oxygen, and is selective to non-alkane chemistry and non-selective to alkane chemistry, wherein said selective oxidizing agent is operable for preferential attack by oxygen on one or more chemical components in a material wherein said one or more chemical components are not of alkane chemistry;ii. a fuel, wherein a said fuel is a non-alkane fuel which is a fluid which includes a plurality of organic chemical components which are not of alkane chemistry and a said fuel is for use in a combustion reaction in said system;iii. a acid solution which is a fluid for use to react with reaction products of a combustion reaction in said system, wherein further said acid solution includes a combination of oxalic acid and hydrochloric acid;iv. wherein said first fluid at least partially includes a said selective oxidizing agent, wherein utilizing one or more pumps of said plurality of pumps a said first fluid is injected via said first conduit into said well casing to flow down to at or near bottom of said wellbore or out into a formation, strata or reservoir at or near bottom of said wellbore;v. wherein said second fluid at least partially includes a said non-alkane fuel, wherein utilizing one or more pumps of said plurality of pumps a said second fluid is injected via said second conduit into said well casing to flow down to at or near bottom of said wellbore or out into a formation, strata or reservoir at or near bottom of said wellbore;vi. wherein said third fluid at least partially includes a said acid solution for use to react with reaction products of a combustion reaction in said system, wherein utilizing one or more pumps of said plurality of pumps a said third fluid is injected via said third conduit into said well casing to flow down to at or near bottom of said wellbore or out into a formation, strata or reservoir at or near bottom of said wellbore;vii. wherein at a time after a said first fluid and a said second fluid are injected, via said first conduit and said second conduit respectively, into said well casing to flow down to at or near bottom of said wellbore or out into a formation, strata or reservoir at or near bottom of said wellbore, said first fluid and said second fluid or a mixture thereof are operable to cause one or more reactions, wherein said one or more reactions: is a reaction of a said selective oxidizing agent and a said non-alkane fuel;takes place without being aided by a catalyst; andis a combustion reaction, resulting in energy release including heat and creation of one or more reaction products;viii. wherein at a time after completion of a said combustion reaction and after a said third fluid is injected via said third conduit into said well casing to flow down to at or near bottom of said wellbore or out into a formation, strata or reservoir at or near bottom of said wellbore and before said heat of said combustion reaction is dissipated, said acid solution of said third fluid is to react with one or more reaction products of said combustion reaction, or a mixture thereof, wherein said reaction of said acid solution with reaction products of said combustion reaction: is operable to remove said reaction products of said combustion reaction; andis an exothermic reaction, resulting in additional energy release including additional heat.