Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company

University of Alberta

Imperial Oil Resource Limited

Imperial Oil Resources

James A Dunn

Payman Esmaeili

Alireza Zehtab Yazdi

Mohsen N Harandi

Steven Mitchell Kuznicki

Mainak Ghosh

Rahman Khaledi

Mori Y Kwan

Brian C Speirs

William McCaffrey

Jianlin Wang

Murray R Gray

Amitava Sarkar

Hamed R Motahhari

Christopher Lin

Mathew D Suitor

Nima Saber

Olusola B Adeyinka

Steven C Bartel

Devon C Koroluk

Brian P Head

Steven M Kuznicki

Diana Y Castellanos Duarte

William C Mccaffrey

Ivan J Kosik

Michael A Marr

Givemore Sakuhuni

Jody L Calvert

David C Rennard

Brian Head

Leylisadat Mirmontazeri

David A Moon

Steve Wiatr

Mohammad Kabir

Enhanced methods for recovering viscous hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation as a follow-up to thermal recovery processes. The methods include injecting a solvent flood vapor stream into a first thermal chamber, which extends within the subterranean formation, via a solvent flood injection well that extends within the first thermal chamber. The injecting includes injecting to generate solvent flood-mobilized viscous hydrocarbons within the subterranean formation. The methods also include, at least partially concurrently with the injecting, producing the solvent flood-mobilized viscous hydrocarbons from a second thermal chamber, which extends within the subterranean formation, via a solvent flood production well that extends within the second thermal chamber. The first thermal chamber was formed via a first thermal recovery process, and the second thermal chamber was formed via a second thermal recovery process, and the first thermal chamber and the second thermal chamber are in fluid communication with one another.

Enhanced methods for recovering viscous hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation as a follow-up to thermal recovery processes

A bitumen stream is upgraded by heating to near-critical or super-critical conditions in the stream. The bitumen stream may be from a water-based extraction process, an in situ bitumen recovery process, or a solvent-based bitumen extraction process. To achieve an appropriate feed stream composition, water and/or clay may be added. The clay offers a catalytic effect. To achieve an appropriate feed stream composition, water may alternatively be removed.

Processing a hydrocarbon stream using supercritical water

Bitumen within raw oilsands may be cracked and fully recovered by light hydrocarbon extraction following exposure to modified natural zeolite catalysts under cracking conditions. The recovered bitumen is reduced in viscosity, with lower boiling point distributions. Effective cracking of oilsands bitumen using economical, abundant and readily disposable natural zeolites represents a significant step towards a waterless and environment friendly extraction process.

Process for extraction of bitumen from oilsands

Thermal oil recovery operations, such as SAGD, result in waste heat that is typically released to the environment. Bitumen mining operations require heat input for heating fluids used in the mining process. A method and system of recovering heat from a thermal recovery operation for use in bitumen mining operation may include a heated donor fluid from a thermal recovery operation which heats an acceptor fluid for use in bitumen mining via proximal heat exchange using a power cycle or heat exchange module, such as an ammonia and water based Kalina&#xae; Cycle.

Method and system integrating thermal oil recovery and bitumen mining for thermal efficiency

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Calgary, Canada

James A Dunn