APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION GAS OUTPUT IN DIRECT STEAM GENERATION FOR OIL RECOVERY

摘要

An apparatus, system, and method for controlling combustion gas output in direct steam generation for oil recovery. A direct combustion steam generator burns a fuel and an oxygen-containing gas mixture to produce combustion products including steam, CO2 and N2. Supplemental oxygen is separately supplied to the combustion steam generator to adjust the oxygen content of the oxygen-containing gas mixture during the combustion process in order to adjust the ratio of CO2 to N2 produced in the combustion products.

主权项

1. A method of recovery of oil from a hydrocarbon-containing reservoir using steam, comprising:
(a) delivering a fuel and an oxygen-containing gas mixture to a direct combustion steam generator at a pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure, wherein a portion of the oxygen-containing gas mixture is provided by a supply of air delivered to the combustion steam generator; (b) delivering a supply of supplemental oxygen to the combustion steam generator at a delivery pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure, wherein a portion of the oxygen-containing gas mixture is provided by said supplemental oxygen; (c) burning the fuel and the oxygen-containing gas mixture in the direct combustion steam generator to generate an effluent stream comprising steam, CO2, and N2 and water in the form of steam; (d) sensing composition of one or more combustion products in said effluent stream; (e) regulating, via one or more flow regulators, a rate of supplemental oxygen supplied to the combustion steam generator relative to a rate of said air supplied to said direct combustion steam generator to thereby adjust oxygen content of the oxygen-containing gas mixture so as to produce said effluent stream having a desired composition of said one or more combustion products in said effluent stream; and (f) injecting the effluent stream into an injection well in said reservoir.