LIQUID BASED BOILER

摘要

Methods and systems generate steam for oil recovery operations. The systems may limit feedwater pretreatment expenses and fouling issues. In the method, dirty feedwater introduced into a vessel containing a hot liquid hydrocarbon, e.g., an already hot produced hydrocarbon, contacts the hydrocarbon and is vaporized into steam. The steam collects in a top of the vessel and may be conveyed to the wellhead for downhole injection. The hydrocarbon remains heated by a closed circulation loop passing back and forth through a lower half of the vessel containing the hydrocarbon. The fluid in this loop remains isolated from contaminates in the water to limit fouling in tubes, which form the loop and can employ normal metallurgy to save on capital costs. The hydrocarbon can be treated as needed to remove accumulating salts and/or entrained water and recycled.

主权项

1. A steam generator system for heavy oil production, comprising:
a vessel comprising a hydrocarbon; a closed heat transfer fluid circulation loop that passes in part through the vessel to heat the hydrocarbon; a pump for pressurizing a feedwater stream and fluidly connected to nozzles in the vessel, wherein the nozzles spray the feedwater onto the hydrocarbon to produce steam; and a wellhead injection system for conveying the steam into an oil reservoir and coupled to an exit port near a top of the vessel for collecting the steam.