CA1166531A - Steam generation from low quality feedwater - Google Patents
Steam generation from low quality feedwaterInfo
- Publication number
- CA1166531A CA1166531A CA000386211A CA386211A CA1166531A CA 1166531 A CA1166531 A CA 1166531A CA 000386211 A CA000386211 A CA 000386211A CA 386211 A CA386211 A CA 386211A CA 1166531 A CA1166531 A CA 1166531A
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- steam
- stream
- produced
- contactor vessel
- feedwater
- Prior art date
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Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure Steam is produced from low quality feedwater. A
feedwater stream and a superheated steam stream are intro-duced into a contactor vessel where the superheated steam is contacted with the feedwater thereby producing saturated steam in the contactor vessel and precipitating minerals from the feedwater in the contactor vessel. The produced steam is withdrawn from the contactor vessel and divided into a primary stream and a secondary stream. The pri-mary stream of produced steam is flowed to a use terminal such as a well for injecting the same into a subsurface formation as part of a steam flood system or such as a steam turbine. The secondary stream of steam is super-heated and recycled to the contactor vessel. Waste water containing the solid minerals precipitated from the feed-water within the contactor vessel is withdrawn from the contactor vessel through a waste water discharge conduit.
feedwater stream and a superheated steam stream are intro-duced into a contactor vessel where the superheated steam is contacted with the feedwater thereby producing saturated steam in the contactor vessel and precipitating minerals from the feedwater in the contactor vessel. The produced steam is withdrawn from the contactor vessel and divided into a primary stream and a secondary stream. The pri-mary stream of produced steam is flowed to a use terminal such as a well for injecting the same into a subsurface formation as part of a steam flood system or such as a steam turbine. The secondary stream of steam is super-heated and recycled to the contactor vessel. Waste water containing the solid minerals precipitated from the feed-water within the contactor vessel is withdrawn from the contactor vessel through a waste water discharge conduit.
Description
STEAM GENERATION F ROM
LOW QU~LITY ~'EEDW~TER
Background of the Invention 1. Field oE the Invention The presen-t invention relates generally to appara--tus and rnethods for producing steam, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to apparatus and methods for produciny steam Erom low quality feedwater including oily saline water produced from an underground oil and gas production zone.
LOW QU~LITY ~'EEDW~TER
Background of the Invention 1. Field oE the Invention The presen-t invention relates generally to appara--tus and rnethods for producing steam, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to apparatus and methods for produciny steam Erom low quality feedwater including oily saline water produced from an underground oil and gas production zone.
2. Description of the Prior Art One manner oE stimulating the production of hydro-carbons fr~msubsurface formations is to inject steam intothe subsurface formation. An oil production operation based on such steam injec-tion normally requires a source of high ~uali-ty feedwater for ~te.lm genera-tion and also requires a means for disposing of oily saline produced water which is recoverecl from the formation along with the hydrocarbons.
In some areas, however, a reliable supply of high quality feedwater is not readily available, and it is, therefore, desirable to recycle oily saline produced water 25~ and u-tllize the same to generate steam to be injected back nto~the underground formation.
Several prior ar-t systems have provided means Eor generating steam from low quality feedwater or o-therwise rela-te~to some part of the s-team production sys-tem of -the 30 ~ present~invent~ion~as described below.
U. S.~Patent No. 2,947,68~ to Cain discloses a pro-ce;s~s~and system for genera-ting hot processed water from feedwater~havlng scale forming salts therein~ As illu-strated in~the;figure o-~ the Cain disclosure, that refer-~ènce~discloses a process~wherein low quali-ty feedwater 14 s~charged to a~heating -tower 10 first contacting hot flue gas from a~superheater, then ho-t gases from a burner 16, : ~ -.
-: .: .. . ~ -, - :
`` I 1fi~53~
precip:ita-ti.ng out sludcJe at 17. The heatecl water is aci-dified ancl purnpecl by pump 2l -to heating vessel 20 by out-let 24. Steam from heati.ng vesse:l. 20 exits by outle-t 26 and is prehea-ted by an exchanger 31 in superheater 29 prior to pressuring up by compressor 33 and superheating in exchanger 34 in superheater 29. The superheated steam pro-duced thereby flows from line 25 to heater 20 to form more steam, exiting by line 26, by a gas liquid contact with the wa-ter in heater 20. This process differs substantially from the present invention in that it produces hot water rather than steam.
British Pa-tent No. 669,923 di.scloses a system for making dis-tilled water from low quality water such as sea water. Sea water enters pre-heater 4 by inlet 3 and is heated by ~ay of a gas liquid interface by superheated steam entering by inlets 5. Sludge from scaling minerals is disposed of by outlet 6. The heated brine then passes throuyh a distilla-tion process and a portion of the steam generated during -that distillation process is superhea-ted in superheater 21 and recycled to the preheater 4 by the : outlets 5.
U. S~ Patent No. 3,410,796 -to IIull and an article entitled "The Thermosludge Wa-ter Treating and Steam Gener-:~ ation Process" from the December, 1967 of -the Journal of Petroleum ~'ec.hnoloyy at pages 1537-1540 thereof, describe a process generally referred to as the "thermosludge"
: : process. Re.ferring to the Hull patent, low quality feed-:water~enters the system by line 12 and scaling elements are removed as sludge:from water feed tank 10 which is
In some areas, however, a reliable supply of high quality feedwater is not readily available, and it is, therefore, desirable to recycle oily saline produced water 25~ and u-tllize the same to generate steam to be injected back nto~the underground formation.
Several prior ar-t systems have provided means Eor generating steam from low quality feedwater or o-therwise rela-te~to some part of the s-team production sys-tem of -the 30 ~ present~invent~ion~as described below.
U. S.~Patent No. 2,947,68~ to Cain discloses a pro-ce;s~s~and system for genera-ting hot processed water from feedwater~havlng scale forming salts therein~ As illu-strated in~the;figure o-~ the Cain disclosure, that refer-~ènce~discloses a process~wherein low quali-ty feedwater 14 s~charged to a~heating -tower 10 first contacting hot flue gas from a~superheater, then ho-t gases from a burner 16, : ~ -.
-: .: .. . ~ -, - :
`` I 1fi~53~
precip:ita-ti.ng out sludcJe at 17. The heatecl water is aci-dified ancl purnpecl by pump 2l -to heating vessel 20 by out-let 24. Steam from heati.ng vesse:l. 20 exits by outle-t 26 and is prehea-ted by an exchanger 31 in superheater 29 prior to pressuring up by compressor 33 and superheating in exchanger 34 in superheater 29. The superheated steam pro-duced thereby flows from line 25 to heater 20 to form more steam, exiting by line 26, by a gas liquid contact with the wa-ter in heater 20. This process differs substantially from the present invention in that it produces hot water rather than steam.
British Pa-tent No. 669,923 di.scloses a system for making dis-tilled water from low quality water such as sea water. Sea water enters pre-heater 4 by inlet 3 and is heated by ~ay of a gas liquid interface by superheated steam entering by inlets 5. Sludge from scaling minerals is disposed of by outlet 6. The heated brine then passes throuyh a distilla-tion process and a portion of the steam generated during -that distillation process is superhea-ted in superheater 21 and recycled to the preheater 4 by the : outlets 5.
U. S~ Patent No. 3,410,796 -to IIull and an article entitled "The Thermosludge Wa-ter Treating and Steam Gener-:~ ation Process" from the December, 1967 of -the Journal of Petroleum ~'ec.hnoloyy at pages 1537-1540 thereof, describe a process generally referred to as the "thermosludge"
: : process. Re.ferring to the Hull patent, low quality feed-:water~enters the system by line 12 and scaling elements are removed as sludge:from water feed tank 10 which is
3~0 ~hea-ted by recycled steam from line 40. Hot feedwater ha~-ing~much of; the mineral con-tent -thereof removed passes : by line 14 t~ stripper 24, and is -treated with sulfite : : and;amine on ~-the way. Steam is generated by line 26, from stripper 24, which conducts -the produced steam to the poin-t : 35~ of use thereof. Blowdown from the stripper 24 and steam :
drum 30 passes by outlet 34 through a low pressure separa--tor 33 which drops out more sludge of precipitated minerals by means of line 42, and which passes the steam content of : :. :
:
: - : ' : ' ' :
.. . .
~ 1 fi~3 11 the blowdown to -the water feed tanl~ 10 by line ~0. The s-tripper 2~ ancl steam drum 30 are heated by a thermosiphon system wherein water passes by :Line 32 to a s~eam chest where a heat exchanger ~ transmits heat to the steam from a mol-ten salt circuit. Al-though the systern illustrated in -the Hull reference cloes produce steam as opposed to merely producing water, its manner of doing so is such that the heat exchanger -tubes within the heaters are in contact with hard water and scaling is a problem as is disc]osed in column 6, lines ~8-56 of the ~ull patent.
U. S. Patent No. 2,756,208 to Axelrad et al. dis-closes a process for producing hot water utilizing high pressure steam from a conventional boiler to contact water and hea-t the same.-Another prior art process generally known as the "vapor therm process" is described in ERDA publication No. 10 entitled "Enhanced Recovery of Oil and Gas" at pages 55-57 thereof, and is also described in Report Num-ber 72 of -the "Firs-t International Conference on the F'uture of Heavy Crude and Tar Sands", entitlecl "The Vapor Therm Process for Recovery of Viscous Crude Oil" by F.~. Young, Jr. and R.W. Krajicek. The vapor therm process includes a high pressure air compressor, a high pressure combustion chamber, a water chamber, a water injection and blowdown ; 25 drum and related pumps and :instrumen-tation. The high pressure combustion gas is con-tacted with low quality feedwater to generate steam. The mixture of steam and combustion gases is -then injected in-to the wells to per-;form the flood~ing operation. Blowdown water including precipitated mineral solids is withdrawn from the contac-tor.
Another prior ar-t process devel-oped by Esso Resources and described in Application No. 770866 to -the Energy Resources Conservation Board, May 1978, includes the gen-eration of superhea-ted steam in a utility type boiler and the subsequen-tly blending of the superhea-ted steam with heated produced brine. Approximately one barrel of high ,, , ~ 3~;~S3~
drum 30 passes by outlet 34 through a low pressure separa--tor 33 which drops out more sludge of precipitated minerals by means of line 42, and which passes the steam content of : :. :
:
: - : ' : ' ' :
.. . .
~ 1 fi~3 11 the blowdown to -the water feed tanl~ 10 by line ~0. The s-tripper 2~ ancl steam drum 30 are heated by a thermosiphon system wherein water passes by :Line 32 to a s~eam chest where a heat exchanger ~ transmits heat to the steam from a mol-ten salt circuit. Al-though the systern illustrated in -the Hull reference cloes produce steam as opposed to merely producing water, its manner of doing so is such that the heat exchanger -tubes within the heaters are in contact with hard water and scaling is a problem as is disc]osed in column 6, lines ~8-56 of the ~ull patent.
U. S. Patent No. 2,756,208 to Axelrad et al. dis-closes a process for producing hot water utilizing high pressure steam from a conventional boiler to contact water and hea-t the same.-Another prior art process generally known as the "vapor therm process" is described in ERDA publication No. 10 entitled "Enhanced Recovery of Oil and Gas" at pages 55-57 thereof, and is also described in Report Num-ber 72 of -the "Firs-t International Conference on the F'uture of Heavy Crude and Tar Sands", entitlecl "The Vapor Therm Process for Recovery of Viscous Crude Oil" by F.~. Young, Jr. and R.W. Krajicek. The vapor therm process includes a high pressure air compressor, a high pressure combustion chamber, a water chamber, a water injection and blowdown ; 25 drum and related pumps and :instrumen-tation. The high pressure combustion gas is con-tacted with low quality feedwater to generate steam. The mixture of steam and combustion gases is -then injected in-to the wells to per-;form the flood~ing operation. Blowdown water including precipitated mineral solids is withdrawn from the contac-tor.
Another prior ar-t process devel-oped by Esso Resources and described in Application No. 770866 to -the Energy Resources Conservation Board, May 1978, includes the gen-eration of superhea-ted steam in a utility type boiler and the subsequen-tly blending of the superhea-ted steam with heated produced brine. Approximately one barrel of high ,, , ~ 3~;~S3~
-4-~.
quali-ty water is required for each barrel of saline water to be recycled. The saturated steam generated by the blending of -the superheated steam with produced brine is then injected in the subsurface forma-tion.
Summary of the Invention By the present invention, a low quality feedwater stream is introduced into a contactor vessel. Superheated steam is also introduced into the contactor vessel and contacted with the feedwater to thereby produce saturated steam in the contactor vessel and -to precipitate minerals from the feedwater in the contactor vessel. The preci-pitated minerals are removed from the contactor vessel by withdrawing a waste wa-ter stream containing said miner-als from -the contactor vessel.
If saturated s-team is required at a use terminal, the saturated steam is wi-thdrawn from the con-tactor vessel and divided into a primary and secondary stream. The ~primary stream is then flowed to -the use terminal, which may be an injection well in a steam flooding system for a subsurface bydrocarbon producing formation. The secon-dary stream is directed -to a steam compressor from which it is directed to a su~L~erheate~ The superheated ~ secondary stream of steam is then recycled to the con~
tactor vessel.
If superheated steam is required at the use terminal, the saturated steam is withdrawn from the contactor vessel and directed to the steam compressor and then to the 30 ~superheater. ~Superheated stéam Erom the superheater is then divided into a primary stream and a secondary stream.
The primary stream is flowed to the use terminal, which may be a steam powered~generator. The secondary stream is recycled -to the contactor vessel.
35 ~ ~ A general objec-t of the present invention is the provision of apparatus and methods for producing steam.
Another object of the present invention is the pro-vision of apparatus and methods for producing steam from , ~ : . ' .
.
.
I ~6~53~1 ~ _5_ c low quality feedwa-ter such as oi]y saline procluced water or boiler blowdown water.
And another objec-t of the present :invention is -the provision of improved appara-tus and methods for steam flooding a subsurface hydrocarbon formation by recycling oily saline produced water.
Yet another obje-ct of the present lnvention is the provision of improved appara-tus and methods for generating power with a steam powered yenera-tion device.
And another object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus and methods for producing steam from low quality feedwater while avoiding problems of scaling of heat exchangers by utilizing a gas-liquid con--tact for steam generation.
Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus and methods for generating steam from low quality feedwater, and removing precipitated minerals from a steam-feedwa-ter contacting vessel.
And another object of the presen-t invention is the provision of appara-tus and methods for initially starting a steam genera-tion system which u]tima-tely relies on re-cycled superhea-ted steam for the generation of saturated steam produced by the sys-tem.
Numerous other o~jects, fea-tures and advantages of ~; 25 the presen-t invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following dis-closure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying .
drawlngs.
Brief Description of the Drawings F~G. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the s-team : : , generation sys-tem of the present invention illustrating the same being utilized to steam flood a subsurface hyclro-carbon producing formation.
; FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic block diagram of the steam genera-tion system of the present invention, , illustratin~j the same being utilized to produce super-heated s-team for powerincJ a steam powered ~eneratiny sys-tem.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments . . . , _ . . . _ _ . . _ . . . _ _ STEAM INJECTED WELLS
Referrin~ now -to the drawings, and par-ticularly to FIG. 1, the steam production system of the present inven~
tion is shown and generally designated by the numeral 10.
The steam production system 10 includes a separator-con-tactor 12, which may generally be referred -to as a contac-~ 15 tor vessel 12.
; ~ The contactor vessel 12 provides a means for contacting feedwater and superheated steam to produce sa-turated steam and waste water. The was-te wa-ter contains mineral solids precipita-ted from the feedwa-ter.
~ Low quality or hard feedwater is introduced to the separa-tor vessel~12 by a first conduit 14, which may be referred to as an inlet condui-t means.
Superheated steam is introduced to the contactor vessel 12~ by a second conduit 16, which may be referred to as a recycle~ condui-t means.
A third conduit 18 withdraws satura-ted steam from -the contactor vessel 12 and carries -the same to a conduit unction~20 which may generally be referred -to as a divi-der~means 20 for dividing the saturated steam from third 3~0;~ condult~18~1nto a~primary stream and a secondary stream.
A fourth condui-t~22, which may be referred to as a flow conduit means, is connected to a~well 24 and the first stream of saturated steam flows -throu~h conduit 22 to the we~]1 24 where the same is used for~flooding a subsurface 35 ~ hydrocarbon~producing formation 26.
; A~fifth conduit 28 direc-ts the secondary stream of satur~ated steam from divider means 20 to a superheater 30.
, :. . ~: .
: :
-, . . . ..
,.;1,." 1.. .
j ..
I ~ 6~3 ~
~. --7--Connected within fifth co:nduit 28 is a low compression ratio steam cor,lpressor 32. Third and fifth conduits 18 &
and 23 may be collectively referred to as an outlet conduit means for withdrawing saturated s-team frorn vessel 12 and
quali-ty water is required for each barrel of saline water to be recycled. The saturated steam generated by the blending of -the superheated steam with produced brine is then injected in the subsurface forma-tion.
Summary of the Invention By the present invention, a low quality feedwater stream is introduced into a contactor vessel. Superheated steam is also introduced into the contactor vessel and contacted with the feedwater to thereby produce saturated steam in the contactor vessel and -to precipitate minerals from the feedwater in the contactor vessel. The preci-pitated minerals are removed from the contactor vessel by withdrawing a waste wa-ter stream containing said miner-als from -the contactor vessel.
If saturated s-team is required at a use terminal, the saturated steam is wi-thdrawn from the con-tactor vessel and divided into a primary and secondary stream. The ~primary stream is then flowed to -the use terminal, which may be an injection well in a steam flooding system for a subsurface bydrocarbon producing formation. The secon-dary stream is directed -to a steam compressor from which it is directed to a su~L~erheate~ The superheated ~ secondary stream of steam is then recycled to the con~
tactor vessel.
If superheated steam is required at the use terminal, the saturated steam is withdrawn from the contactor vessel and directed to the steam compressor and then to the 30 ~superheater. ~Superheated stéam Erom the superheater is then divided into a primary stream and a secondary stream.
The primary stream is flowed to the use terminal, which may be a steam powered~generator. The secondary stream is recycled -to the contactor vessel.
35 ~ ~ A general objec-t of the present invention is the provision of apparatus and methods for producing steam.
Another object of the present invention is the pro-vision of apparatus and methods for producing steam from , ~ : . ' .
.
.
I ~6~53~1 ~ _5_ c low quality feedwa-ter such as oi]y saline procluced water or boiler blowdown water.
And another objec-t of the present :invention is -the provision of improved appara-tus and methods for steam flooding a subsurface hydrocarbon formation by recycling oily saline produced water.
Yet another obje-ct of the present lnvention is the provision of improved appara-tus and methods for generating power with a steam powered yenera-tion device.
And another object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus and methods for producing steam from low quality feedwater while avoiding problems of scaling of heat exchangers by utilizing a gas-liquid con--tact for steam generation.
Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus and methods for generating steam from low quality feedwater, and removing precipitated minerals from a steam-feedwa-ter contacting vessel.
And another object of the presen-t invention is the provision of appara-tus and methods for initially starting a steam genera-tion system which u]tima-tely relies on re-cycled superhea-ted steam for the generation of saturated steam produced by the sys-tem.
Numerous other o~jects, fea-tures and advantages of ~; 25 the presen-t invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following dis-closure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying .
drawlngs.
Brief Description of the Drawings F~G. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the s-team : : , generation sys-tem of the present invention illustrating the same being utilized to steam flood a subsurface hyclro-carbon producing formation.
; FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic block diagram of the steam genera-tion system of the present invention, , illustratin~j the same being utilized to produce super-heated s-team for powerincJ a steam powered ~eneratiny sys-tem.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments . . . , _ . . . _ _ . . _ . . . _ _ STEAM INJECTED WELLS
Referrin~ now -to the drawings, and par-ticularly to FIG. 1, the steam production system of the present inven~
tion is shown and generally designated by the numeral 10.
The steam production system 10 includes a separator-con-tactor 12, which may generally be referred -to as a contac-~ 15 tor vessel 12.
; ~ The contactor vessel 12 provides a means for contacting feedwater and superheated steam to produce sa-turated steam and waste water. The was-te wa-ter contains mineral solids precipita-ted from the feedwa-ter.
~ Low quality or hard feedwater is introduced to the separa-tor vessel~12 by a first conduit 14, which may be referred to as an inlet condui-t means.
Superheated steam is introduced to the contactor vessel 12~ by a second conduit 16, which may be referred to as a recycle~ condui-t means.
A third conduit 18 withdraws satura-ted steam from -the contactor vessel 12 and carries -the same to a conduit unction~20 which may generally be referred -to as a divi-der~means 20 for dividing the saturated steam from third 3~0;~ condult~18~1nto a~primary stream and a secondary stream.
A fourth condui-t~22, which may be referred to as a flow conduit means, is connected to a~well 24 and the first stream of saturated steam flows -throu~h conduit 22 to the we~]1 24 where the same is used for~flooding a subsurface 35 ~ hydrocarbon~producing formation 26.
; A~fifth conduit 28 direc-ts the secondary stream of satur~ated steam from divider means 20 to a superheater 30.
, :. . ~: .
: :
-, . . . ..
,.;1,." 1.. .
j ..
I ~ 6~3 ~
~. --7--Connected within fifth co:nduit 28 is a low compression ratio steam cor,lpressor 32. Third and fifth conduits 18 &
and 23 may be collectively referred to as an outlet conduit means for withdrawing saturated s-team frorn vessel 12 and
5 conducting at least a portion of the same to superheater 30.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the ar-t that the relative positions of compressor 32 and super-heater 30 could be reversed. In many situations the most 10 suitable configuration is to install compressor 32 between two superheaters.
An outlet of the superheater 30 is connected to second conduit 16 for recycling the superheated second stream of steam to the contactor vessel 12 where the process repeats : 15 itself.
A sixth conduit 34, which may be referred to as a waste conduit, provides a means for removing precipitated minerals from the contactor vessel 12 by withdrawing a waste water stream containing said minerals from the con-20 tactor vessel 12.
.
:
Example ;~: : An example of the basic steam generation system of FIG.
: : 25 1 for producing 25 miLlion BTU's per hour at 500 psig through flow conduit 22 -to the well 24 is given in the fol-lowing Table l. :The various f:Luid streams are indicated by the numbers of the conduits through which -they flow.
Fuel~and power~inputs to superheater 30 and compressor 32 30 ~ are lndicated schematically by energy input streams 31 and 3:3t respectively. ~
:: :
.
- ~ ~
., : " ..
~ 1 6GS 3 1 Table :[
_ APPROXI~ TE ENERGY AND MATERIAL Bl\L,~NCE ~OR A RE,CYCL~, STEAM GENERATOR
25_ M Btu/ ~r . OU'L'P UT ~T 5 00 Ps -1. a Rate Total Temp Pressure I,OOO ~nt:halpy Enthalpy Stream Description F Psia _ Ib/llr BtUllb r~MBtu!hr 14 C~ld ~eed 50 50023. l 18 O. 4 18 Sat. Vapor467 500144.:L1204.4173.6 22 Sat. Vapor467 50020.81204.4 25.0 28 Sat. Vapor470 515123.31204.3148.5 16 Superheated 800 500 123.31412.1 174.2 34 Sat. Llquid 467 500 2.3 449 1.0*
31 Fuel 2.0**16000 32.1 33 Power (diesel) 225 IIP .1~**18000 2. () * 60% ~an be recovered by flashing, to heat feedwat~r.
** at 80% heat efficiency *** at 0.5 lbs/HP hour.
AUXILIARY EQUIPME,NT
____ _ : Referring agai.n to FIG. 1, the varlous auxiliary equipment connected to the main power generation system ~; ~: just described will now be described.
The waste water withdrawn from contactor vessel 12 :~ through conduit 34 is directed to a flash drum 36 where i-t is flashed to approximately atmospheric pressure. Low ~: : pressure steam created in flash drum 36 is directed by conduit 38 to a junction 40 with inlet 14 for pre-heating the feedwater inlet stream in conduit 14. .
Water carrying precipitated mineral solids is direc-ted through a conduit 42 to a settling -tank 44 where the solid `30 materials are separated from the water. Water from settling tank :44 may be recycled by a conduit 46 and a recycle pump : 48 disposed -thereln to the feedwater inlet s-tream in con-duit 14.
: The feedwater s-tream in conduit 14 is pumped to vessel 12 by a feedwater pump 49.
. One problem which may be encountered with a system like that shown in FIG. 1 is tha-t superheated steam is ~ required to~produce satu.rated steam and once the system : ~ ~", ~ ~
.
, r~ 3 ~
.. g .
is on line, -the superheatecl s-team itselE :is produced from the saturatecl steam. Therefore, upon initially s-tarting up the system, there is no saturatecl s-team with which to pro-duce superheated steam from the normal recycle process.
This problem may be overcome in several ways.
One manner is to utilize air, nitrogen, or some other suitable gas, the inpu-t of which is represented at condui-t 50, which is pumped by compressor 52 into -the superheater 30 which may be u-tilized to heat the gas. The use of nitro-gen is preferrable for corrosion pro-tection. The heated gas is then introduced to the contactor vessel 12 -through conduit 16 and generates steam within the contactor vessel 12. Subsequently, after sufficient steam is being generated in the contactor vessel 12 so that adequate amounts thereof may be recycled to conduit 28 and thro~ superheater 30, the gas supply may be cut off by closing valve 54 thereby re-placing the step of heating gas with the desired superheating of the secondary stream of steam.
Another manner of overcoming the problem of providiny initial startup steam is to provide a conventional low pres-sure auxiliary boiler 56 to which a smaller supply of soft feedwater is p~rovided by conduit 53. 1'he steam generated in boiler 56 may then be fed to superheater 30 by conduit 60. Again, once sufficient satura-ted steam is being gener-ated in contactor vessel 12 -to provide adequate amounts of steam in the recycle line 28, the auxiliary boiler 56 may be shut down.
With -the system shown in FIG. 1, the primary stream of produced saturated steam is directed to well 24 by con-30 duit 22 as previously mentioned. A pressure regulatingmeans 62 wi-thin condui-t 22 regula-tes the pressure of steam being injected into the well.
A mixture of hydrocarbons and oily saline produced water is produced from well 24 by production line 64, 35 which may be referred to as a production conduit means.
It is directed by production line 64 to an oil separator 66 from which an oil line 68 carries the liquid hydro-, ~
:, 5 3 ;11 ~ --10--carbon and from which an oi:Ly wa-ter line 70 conducts the oily saline produced water. The oily saline produced water may be recycled from condui-t 70 to feedwa-ter line 14 by a produc-tion recycle conduit 72.
STEAM DRIVEN POWER GEI~iERATOR
Referring now to FIG. 2 the main power generation system of -the present invention is again shown, in a slightly modified form from that of FIG. 1, being adapted for the production of superheated steam rather than saturated steam.
In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the outlet conduit 18 directs all of the saturated steam produced by vessel 12 to compressor 32, from which the produced steam flows through cond~lit 28 to superheater 30.
The recycle conduit 16 includes a dlvider means 74, which is a junction with a superheated steam flow conduit 76, for dividing the superheated steam from superheater ~ 30 into a primary stream and a secondary stream.
; ~ 20 Flow conduit 76 flows the primary stream of super-heated produced steam to a power turbine 78, which may be generally referred to as a use terminal.
Recycle conduit 16 recycles the secondary stream of superheated produced steam to vessel 12.
2~5~ Turbine 78 drives an~electric generator 80 through a shaft 82. Low pressure steam exits turbine 78 by conduit 84 to a condensor 86. High quality water discharged from condensor 86 may ei-ther be recycled to feedwater stream 14 through a discharge recycle conduit 88 or it may be directed ;20 ~to a process zone 90 requiring high quality feedwater.
All~the various auxiliary equipment shown in FIG. 1 may also be used with the modified equipmen-t in FIG. 2.
The ~lvider means 74 and superheated steam flow con-duit 76 could also be added to the system of FIG. 1 so ; tha~t one system could produce both saturated and super-` heated steam for use at one or two use -terminals.
~ J
;
' '
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the ar-t that the relative positions of compressor 32 and super-heater 30 could be reversed. In many situations the most 10 suitable configuration is to install compressor 32 between two superheaters.
An outlet of the superheater 30 is connected to second conduit 16 for recycling the superheated second stream of steam to the contactor vessel 12 where the process repeats : 15 itself.
A sixth conduit 34, which may be referred to as a waste conduit, provides a means for removing precipitated minerals from the contactor vessel 12 by withdrawing a waste water stream containing said minerals from the con-20 tactor vessel 12.
.
:
Example ;~: : An example of the basic steam generation system of FIG.
: : 25 1 for producing 25 miLlion BTU's per hour at 500 psig through flow conduit 22 -to the well 24 is given in the fol-lowing Table l. :The various f:Luid streams are indicated by the numbers of the conduits through which -they flow.
Fuel~and power~inputs to superheater 30 and compressor 32 30 ~ are lndicated schematically by energy input streams 31 and 3:3t respectively. ~
:: :
.
- ~ ~
., : " ..
~ 1 6GS 3 1 Table :[
_ APPROXI~ TE ENERGY AND MATERIAL Bl\L,~NCE ~OR A RE,CYCL~, STEAM GENERATOR
25_ M Btu/ ~r . OU'L'P UT ~T 5 00 Ps -1. a Rate Total Temp Pressure I,OOO ~nt:halpy Enthalpy Stream Description F Psia _ Ib/llr BtUllb r~MBtu!hr 14 C~ld ~eed 50 50023. l 18 O. 4 18 Sat. Vapor467 500144.:L1204.4173.6 22 Sat. Vapor467 50020.81204.4 25.0 28 Sat. Vapor470 515123.31204.3148.5 16 Superheated 800 500 123.31412.1 174.2 34 Sat. Llquid 467 500 2.3 449 1.0*
31 Fuel 2.0**16000 32.1 33 Power (diesel) 225 IIP .1~**18000 2. () * 60% ~an be recovered by flashing, to heat feedwat~r.
** at 80% heat efficiency *** at 0.5 lbs/HP hour.
AUXILIARY EQUIPME,NT
____ _ : Referring agai.n to FIG. 1, the varlous auxiliary equipment connected to the main power generation system ~; ~: just described will now be described.
The waste water withdrawn from contactor vessel 12 :~ through conduit 34 is directed to a flash drum 36 where i-t is flashed to approximately atmospheric pressure. Low ~: : pressure steam created in flash drum 36 is directed by conduit 38 to a junction 40 with inlet 14 for pre-heating the feedwater inlet stream in conduit 14. .
Water carrying precipitated mineral solids is direc-ted through a conduit 42 to a settling -tank 44 where the solid `30 materials are separated from the water. Water from settling tank :44 may be recycled by a conduit 46 and a recycle pump : 48 disposed -thereln to the feedwater inlet s-tream in con-duit 14.
: The feedwater s-tream in conduit 14 is pumped to vessel 12 by a feedwater pump 49.
. One problem which may be encountered with a system like that shown in FIG. 1 is tha-t superheated steam is ~ required to~produce satu.rated steam and once the system : ~ ~", ~ ~
.
, r~ 3 ~
.. g .
is on line, -the superheatecl s-team itselE :is produced from the saturatecl steam. Therefore, upon initially s-tarting up the system, there is no saturatecl s-team with which to pro-duce superheated steam from the normal recycle process.
This problem may be overcome in several ways.
One manner is to utilize air, nitrogen, or some other suitable gas, the inpu-t of which is represented at condui-t 50, which is pumped by compressor 52 into -the superheater 30 which may be u-tilized to heat the gas. The use of nitro-gen is preferrable for corrosion pro-tection. The heated gas is then introduced to the contactor vessel 12 -through conduit 16 and generates steam within the contactor vessel 12. Subsequently, after sufficient steam is being generated in the contactor vessel 12 so that adequate amounts thereof may be recycled to conduit 28 and thro~ superheater 30, the gas supply may be cut off by closing valve 54 thereby re-placing the step of heating gas with the desired superheating of the secondary stream of steam.
Another manner of overcoming the problem of providiny initial startup steam is to provide a conventional low pres-sure auxiliary boiler 56 to which a smaller supply of soft feedwater is p~rovided by conduit 53. 1'he steam generated in boiler 56 may then be fed to superheater 30 by conduit 60. Again, once sufficient satura-ted steam is being gener-ated in contactor vessel 12 -to provide adequate amounts of steam in the recycle line 28, the auxiliary boiler 56 may be shut down.
With -the system shown in FIG. 1, the primary stream of produced saturated steam is directed to well 24 by con-30 duit 22 as previously mentioned. A pressure regulatingmeans 62 wi-thin condui-t 22 regula-tes the pressure of steam being injected into the well.
A mixture of hydrocarbons and oily saline produced water is produced from well 24 by production line 64, 35 which may be referred to as a production conduit means.
It is directed by production line 64 to an oil separator 66 from which an oil line 68 carries the liquid hydro-, ~
:, 5 3 ;11 ~ --10--carbon and from which an oi:Ly wa-ter line 70 conducts the oily saline produced water. The oily saline produced water may be recycled from condui-t 70 to feedwa-ter line 14 by a produc-tion recycle conduit 72.
STEAM DRIVEN POWER GEI~iERATOR
Referring now to FIG. 2 the main power generation system of -the present invention is again shown, in a slightly modified form from that of FIG. 1, being adapted for the production of superheated steam rather than saturated steam.
In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the outlet conduit 18 directs all of the saturated steam produced by vessel 12 to compressor 32, from which the produced steam flows through cond~lit 28 to superheater 30.
The recycle conduit 16 includes a dlvider means 74, which is a junction with a superheated steam flow conduit 76, for dividing the superheated steam from superheater ~ 30 into a primary stream and a secondary stream.
; ~ 20 Flow conduit 76 flows the primary stream of super-heated produced steam to a power turbine 78, which may be generally referred to as a use terminal.
Recycle conduit 16 recycles the secondary stream of superheated produced steam to vessel 12.
2~5~ Turbine 78 drives an~electric generator 80 through a shaft 82. Low pressure steam exits turbine 78 by conduit 84 to a condensor 86. High quality water discharged from condensor 86 may ei-ther be recycled to feedwater stream 14 through a discharge recycle conduit 88 or it may be directed ;20 ~to a process zone 90 requiring high quality feedwater.
All~the various auxiliary equipment shown in FIG. 1 may also be used with the modified equipmen-t in FIG. 2.
The ~lvider means 74 and superheated steam flow con-duit 76 could also be added to the system of FIG. 1 so ; tha~t one system could produce both saturated and super-` heated steam for use at one or two use -terminals.
~ J
;
' '
6 ~ 3 :~
Thus it is seen that the apparatus and me-thods for producinc3 s-team from low quality feedwater of the present invention are readily adap-ted to achieve the ends and ad-vantayes mentioned as well as those inherent therein.
While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been illus-tra-ted and described for the purpose of this disclosure, numerous chancJes in the arrangement and construction of parts may be made by -those skilled in the art which changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.
' ::
I
::: :
:: ::
.
Thus it is seen that the apparatus and me-thods for producinc3 s-team from low quality feedwater of the present invention are readily adap-ted to achieve the ends and ad-vantayes mentioned as well as those inherent therein.
While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been illus-tra-ted and described for the purpose of this disclosure, numerous chancJes in the arrangement and construction of parts may be made by -those skilled in the art which changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.
' ::
I
::: :
:: ::
.
Claims (36)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A method of producing steam, comprising:
(a) introducing a feedwater stream into a con-tactor vessel;
(b) introducing superheated steam into said contactor vessel; thereby (c) contacting said superheated steam with said feedwater; thereby (d) producing saturated produced steam in said contactor vessel and precipitating minerals from said feed-water in said contactor vessel;
(e) superheating at least a portion of said pro-duced steam in a superheater thereby generating additional superheated steam;
(f) recycling at least a portion of said addi-tional superheated steam to said contactor vessel; and (g) flowing another portion of said produced steam to a use terminal.
(a) introducing a feedwater stream into a con-tactor vessel;
(b) introducing superheated steam into said contactor vessel; thereby (c) contacting said superheated steam with said feedwater; thereby (d) producing saturated produced steam in said contactor vessel and precipitating minerals from said feed-water in said contactor vessel;
(e) superheating at least a portion of said pro-duced steam in a superheater thereby generating additional superheated steam;
(f) recycling at least a portion of said addi-tional superheated steam to said contactor vessel; and (g) flowing another portion of said produced steam to a use terminal.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein:
said step (g) is further characterized as divi-ding said saturated produced steam into a primary stream and a secondary stream upstream of said superheater, and flowing said primary stream of saturated produced steam to said use terminal;
said step (e) is further characterized as super-heating said secondary stream of produced steam in said superheater; and said step (f) is further characterized as recy-cling said superheated secondary stream of produced steam to said contactor vessel.
said step (g) is further characterized as divi-ding said saturated produced steam into a primary stream and a secondary stream upstream of said superheater, and flowing said primary stream of saturated produced steam to said use terminal;
said step (e) is further characterized as super-heating said secondary stream of produced steam in said superheater; and said step (f) is further characterized as recy-cling said superheated secondary stream of produced steam to said contactor vessel.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
compressing said secondary stream of steam.
compressing said secondary stream of steam.
The method of claim 3, wherein:
said compressing of said secondary stream of steam occurs upstream of said superheater.
said compressing of said secondary stream of steam occurs upstream of said superheater.
5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
removing said precipitated minerals from said contactor vessel by withdrawing a waste water stream con-taining said minerals from said contactor vessel.
removing said precipitated minerals from said contactor vessel by withdrawing a waste water stream con-taining said minerals from said contactor vessel.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
flashing said waste water stream to produce low pressure steam; and preheating said feedwater stream with said low pressure steam.
flashing said waste water stream to produce low pressure steam; and preheating said feedwater stream with said low pressure steam.
7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
separating said precipitated minerals from said waster water stream; and recycling said waste water stream to said feed-water stream.
separating said precipitated minerals from said waster water stream; and recycling said waste water stream to said feed-water stream.
8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
initially starting said method by heating a gas and introducing said heated gas into said contactor vessel thereby contacting said heated gas with said feedwater to produce steam in said contactor vessel; and subsquently replacing said step of heating gas with said step of superheating said secondary stream of steam.
initially starting said method by heating a gas and introducing said heated gas into said contactor vessel thereby contacting said heated gas with said feedwater to produce steam in said contactor vessel; and subsquently replacing said step of heating gas with said step of superheating said secondary stream of steam.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein:
said initial starting step is further character-ized in that said gas is air.
said initial starting step is further character-ized in that said gas is air.
10. The method of elaim 8, wherein:
said initial starting step is further character-ized in that said gas is nitrogen.
said initial starting step is further character-ized in that said gas is nitrogen.
11. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
initially starting said method by generating low pressure steam in a low pressure auxiliary boiler and superheating said low pressure steam; and introducing said low pressure steam into said contactor vessel.
initially starting said method by generating low pressure steam in a low pressure auxiliary boiler and superheating said low pressure steam; and introducing said low pressure steam into said contactor vessel.
12. The method of claim 2 being further character-ized as a method for steam flooding an underground for-mation, wherein:
said step (g) is further characterized as flowing said primary stream of saturated steam to a well, and in-troducing said primary stream of saturated steam into said well to steam flood said underground formation.
said step (g) is further characterized as flowing said primary stream of saturated steam to a well, and in-troducing said primary stream of saturated steam into said well to steam flood said underground formation.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
separating produced water from a production stream from said underground formation; and recycling said produced water into said feed-water stream.
separating produced water from a production stream from said underground formation; and recycling said produced water into said feed-water stream.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein:
said step (g) is further characterized as divi-ding said additional superheated steam generated in step (e) into a primary stream and a secondary stream down-stream of said superheater, and flowing said primary stream of superheated produced steam to said use terminal.
said step (g) is further characterized as divi-ding said additional superheated steam generated in step (e) into a primary stream and a secondary stream down-stream of said superheater, and flowing said primary stream of superheated produced steam to said use terminal.
15. The method of claim 14, being further character-ized as a method for generating power, wherein:
said step (g) is further characterized as flowing said primary stream of superheated steam to a steam driven power generator and thereby driving said power generator with said primary stream of superheated steam.
said step (g) is further characterized as flowing said primary stream of superheated steam to a steam driven power generator and thereby driving said power generator with said primary stream of superheated steam.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
recycling nigh quality discharge water from said steam driven power generator to said feedwater stream.
recycling nigh quality discharge water from said steam driven power generator to said feedwater stream.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
flowing high quality discharge water from said steam driven power generator to a process requiring high quality feedwater.
flowing high quality discharge water from said steam driven power generator to a process requiring high quality feedwater.
18. A steam production system, comprising:
contactor vessel means for contacting feedwater and superheated steam to produce saturated produced steam and waste water containing precipitated minerals;
superheater means for superheating produced steam received from said contactor vessel means and thereby generating additional superheated steam;
inlet conduit Means for introducing said feed-water into said contactor vessel means;
recycle conduit means for recycling at least a portion of said additional superheated steam to said con-tactor vessel means;
outlet conduit means for withdrawing said satur-ated produced steam from said contactor vessel means and conducting at least a portion of said saturated produced steam to said superheater means; and flow conduit means for flowing another portion of said produced steam to a use terminal.
contactor vessel means for contacting feedwater and superheated steam to produce saturated produced steam and waste water containing precipitated minerals;
superheater means for superheating produced steam received from said contactor vessel means and thereby generating additional superheated steam;
inlet conduit Means for introducing said feed-water into said contactor vessel means;
recycle conduit means for recycling at least a portion of said additional superheated steam to said con-tactor vessel means;
outlet conduit means for withdrawing said satur-ated produced steam from said contactor vessel means and conducting at least a portion of said saturated produced steam to said superheater means; and flow conduit means for flowing another portion of said produced steam to a use terminal.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein:
said outlet conduit means includes a divider means for dividing said saturated produced steam into a primary stream and a secondary stream, and said outlet conduit means is further characterized as a means for con-ducting said secondary stream of saturated produced steam to said superheater means; and said flow conduit means is connected to said outlet means at said divider means and is further charac-terized as a means for flowing said primary stream of sa-turated produced steam to said ? use terminal.
said outlet conduit means includes a divider means for dividing said saturated produced steam into a primary stream and a secondary stream, and said outlet conduit means is further characterized as a means for con-ducting said secondary stream of saturated produced steam to said superheater means; and said flow conduit means is connected to said outlet means at said divider means and is further charac-terized as a means for flowing said primary stream of sa-turated produced steam to said ? use terminal.
20. The system of claim 19?, wherein:
said recycle conduit means is further character-ized as a means for recycling said superheated secondary stream of produced steam to said contactor vessel means.
said recycle conduit means is further character-ized as a means for recycling said superheated secondary stream of produced steam to said contactor vessel means.
21. The system of claim 19, further comprising:
a steam compressor means for compressing said secondary stream of produced steam.
a steam compressor means for compressing said secondary stream of produced steam.
22. The system of claim 21, wherein:
said s-team compressor means is connected to said outlet conduit means upstream of said superheater means.
said s-team compressor means is connected to said outlet conduit means upstream of said superheater means.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein:
said steam compressor means is downstream of said divider means.
said steam compressor means is downstream of said divider means.
24. The system of claim 19, being further charac-terized as a system for steam flooding an underground for-mation, wherein:
said flow conduit means is connected to a well intersecting said underground formation, and said flow conduit means is further characterized as a means for flowing said primary stream of saturated produced steam to said well and thus to said underground formation.
said flow conduit means is connected to a well intersecting said underground formation, and said flow conduit means is further characterized as a means for flowing said primary stream of saturated produced steam to said well and thus to said underground formation.
25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:
production conduit means for flowing a pro-duction stream from said underground formation;
separator means, connected to said production conduit means, for separating water from said production stream; and production recycle conduit means for recycling said water from said separator means to said feedwater.
production conduit means for flowing a pro-duction stream from said underground formation;
separator means, connected to said production conduit means, for separating water from said production stream; and production recycle conduit means for recycling said water from said separator means to said feedwater.
26. The system of claim 18, further comprising:
waste conduit means for removing said precipi-tated minerals from said contactor vessel means by with-drawing a waste water stream containing said minerals from said contactor vessel means.
waste conduit means for removing said precipi-tated minerals from said contactor vessel means by with-drawing a waste water stream containing said minerals from said contactor vessel means.
27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:
flash means, connected to said waste conduit means, for flashing said waste water stream to produce low pres-sure steam; and preheat means for preheating said feedwater with said low pressure steam from said flash means.
flash means, connected to said waste conduit means, for flashing said waste water stream to produce low pres-sure steam; and preheat means for preheating said feedwater with said low pressure steam from said flash means.
28. The system of claim 26, further comprising:
separator means, connected to said waste conduit means, for separating said precipitated minerals from said waste water stream; and waste recycle means for recycling said waste water stream to said feedwater.
separator means, connected to said waste conduit means, for separating said precipitated minerals from said waste water stream; and waste recycle means for recycling said waste water stream to said feedwater.
29. The system of claim 18, further comprising:
start-up means for introducing heated gas into said contactor vessel means to initially generate steam in said contactor vessel means.
start-up means for introducing heated gas into said contactor vessel means to initially generate steam in said contactor vessel means.
30. The system of claim 29, wherein:
said heated gas is heated air.
said heated gas is heated air.
31. The system of claim 29, wherein:
said heated gas is heated nitrogen.
said heated gas is heated nitrogen.
32. The system of claim 18, further comprising:
an auxiliary boiler means for generating low pressure steam and introducing said low pressure steam into said superheater means to start-up said system.
an auxiliary boiler means for generating low pressure steam and introducing said low pressure steam into said superheater means to start-up said system.
33. The system of claim 18, wherein:
said recycle conduit means includes a divider means for dividing said superheated steam from said super-heater means into a primary stream and a secondary stream, and said recycle conduit means is further characterized as means for recycling said secondary stream of superheated produced steam to said contactor vessel means; and said flow conduit means is connected to said re-cycle conduit means at said divider means and is further characterized as a means for flowing said primary stream of superheated produced steam to said use terminal.
said recycle conduit means includes a divider means for dividing said superheated steam from said super-heater means into a primary stream and a secondary stream, and said recycle conduit means is further characterized as means for recycling said secondary stream of superheated produced steam to said contactor vessel means; and said flow conduit means is connected to said re-cycle conduit means at said divider means and is further characterized as a means for flowing said primary stream of superheated produced steam to said use terminal.
34. The system of claim 33, being further character-ized as a system for generating power, wherein:
said flow conduit means is further characterized as a means for flowing said primary stream of superheated produced steam to a steam driven power generator.
said flow conduit means is further characterized as a means for flowing said primary stream of superheated produced steam to a steam driven power generator.
35. The system of claim 34, further comprising:
recycle conduit means for recycling high quality discharge water from said steam driven power generator to said feedwater.
recycle conduit means for recycling high quality discharge water from said steam driven power generator to said feedwater.
36. The system of claim 34, further comprising:
conduit means for flowing high quality discharge water from said steam driven power generator to a process requiring high quality feedwater.
conduit means for flowing high quality discharge water from said steam driven power generator to a process requiring high quality feedwater.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US22317280A | 1980-12-10 | 1980-12-10 | |
| US223,172 | 1980-12-10 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1166531A true CA1166531A (en) | 1984-05-01 |
Family
ID=22835361
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000386211A Expired CA1166531A (en) | 1980-12-10 | 1981-09-18 | Steam generation from low quality feedwater |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1166531A (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7428926B2 (en) | 1999-05-07 | 2008-09-30 | Ge Ionics, Inc. | Water treatment method for heavy oil production |
| US7438129B2 (en) | 1999-05-07 | 2008-10-21 | Ge Ionics, Inc. | Water treatment method for heavy oil production using calcium sulfate seed slurry evaporation |
| US7681643B2 (en) | 1999-05-07 | 2010-03-23 | Ge Ionics, Inc. | Treatment of brines for deep well injection |
| US10246979B2 (en) | 2014-03-28 | 2019-04-02 | Suncor Energy Inc. | Remote steam generation and water-hydrocarbon separation in steam-assisted gravity drainage operations |
| US10851630B2 (en) | 2016-09-28 | 2020-12-01 | Suncor Energy Inc. | Production of hydrocarbon using direct-contact steam generation |
-
1981
- 1981-09-18 CA CA000386211A patent/CA1166531A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7428926B2 (en) | 1999-05-07 | 2008-09-30 | Ge Ionics, Inc. | Water treatment method for heavy oil production |
| US7438129B2 (en) | 1999-05-07 | 2008-10-21 | Ge Ionics, Inc. | Water treatment method for heavy oil production using calcium sulfate seed slurry evaporation |
| US7681643B2 (en) | 1999-05-07 | 2010-03-23 | Ge Ionics, Inc. | Treatment of brines for deep well injection |
| US7717174B2 (en) | 1999-05-07 | 2010-05-18 | Ge Ionics, Inc. | Water treatment method for heavy oil production using calcium sulfate seed slurry evaporation |
| US7849921B2 (en) | 1999-05-07 | 2010-12-14 | Ge Ionics, Inc. | Water treatment method for heavy oil production |
| US7967955B2 (en) | 1999-05-07 | 2011-06-28 | Ge Ionics, Inc. | Water treatment method for heavy oil production |
| US10246979B2 (en) | 2014-03-28 | 2019-04-02 | Suncor Energy Inc. | Remote steam generation and water-hydrocarbon separation in steam-assisted gravity drainage operations |
| US10815763B2 (en) | 2014-03-28 | 2020-10-27 | Suncor Energy Inc. | Remote steam generation and water-hydrocarbon separation in steam-assisted gravity drainage operations |
| US10851630B2 (en) | 2016-09-28 | 2020-12-01 | Suncor Energy Inc. | Production of hydrocarbon using direct-contact steam generation |
| US11236594B2 (en) | 2016-09-28 | 2022-02-01 | Suncor Energy Inc. | Production of hydrocarbon using direct-contact steam generation |
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