Steam supply for enhanced oil recovery

摘要

A steam supply apparatus (1) for enhanced oil recovery from an oil field (10). The steam supply apparatus includes a water circulating portion (50) providing a continuous flow of water to a water heater (4) for the production of a mixture of steam and water, and a separator (5) for directing the steam to the oil field. Water returned from the oil field is purified in a water treatment apparatus (3) to provide make-up water to the water circulating portion. A buffer volume (3b) is provided in fluid communication between the water treatment apparatus and the water circulating portion. The buffer is sized to provide a time lag between a degradation of the quality of the purified water and an occurrence of an unacceptable scale production in the water heater, thereby allowing continued safe system operation until the water quality problem is corrected.

主权项

1. A steam supply apparatus for enhanced oil recovery comprising:
a water treatment apparatus comprising an inlet for receiving contaminated water from an oil field and an outlet for providing purified water; a water circulating apparatus for receiving the purified water and for providing steam for injection into the oil field; the water circulating apparatus further comprising:
a water heater comprising a water inlet and a water/steam outlet; anda separator comprising a water/steam inlet in fluid communication with the water heater water/steam outlet, a steam outlet for providing the steam for injection into the oil field, and a water outlet in fluid communication with the water heater water inlet; a buffer having an inlet and outlet and defining a volume in fluid communication between the water treatment apparatus and the water heater, the buffer volume sized to be effective to maintain purified water flow to the water heater for a predetermined time period in the event a valve is closed between the water treatment apparatus and the buffer volume, terminating flow of purified water from the water treatment apparatus, the buffer volume being a predetermined time lag multiplied by a water production by the water treatment apparatus at its rated capacity; a blowdown outlet from the separator for communicating a blowdown flow; and a pre-heater in fluid communication with the blowdown flow and the water outlet from the water treatment apparatus for heat exchange there between, wherein the pre-heater is downstream of the blowdown flow, the buffer volume , and the water outlet from the water treatment apparatus.