SINGLE HORIZONTAL WELL THERMAL RECOVERY PROCESS

摘要

The present disclosure describes a method for the recovery of hydrocarbons using a single horizontal well having both injection and production means. The well has a means for increasing fluid flow resistance in the wellbore. The injection and production means are operated so as to increase the fluid flow into the reservoir and reduce the fluid flow in the well. The means to increase fluid flow includes a constriction in the wellbore between the injection and production means, flow conditioners placed along a portion of the well between the injection and production means, and sealing elements placed in the well between the injection and production means. The production and injection openings are also positioned relative to the flow conditioners and sealing elements.

主权项

1. A method of producing viscous hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation, comprising:
providing a single horizontal well within the subterranean formation wherein the horizontal well comprises an outer wall, at least one injector for injecting a mobilizing fluid into the reservoir, the at least one injector comprising a conduit within the well to inject the mobilizing fluid to the distal end of the conduit, an annulus extending along the longitudinal axis of the well, and at least one producing component, positioned apart from the at least one injector, for producing hydrocarbons from the reservoir; providing, within the annulus, a flow conditioner for substantially increasing axial fluid flow resistance within the annulus along a length of the horizontal well between the at least one injector and the at least one producing component; injecting the mobilizing fluid through the at least one injector; operating the at least one injector and the at least one producing component to control the ratio of the flow resistance in the well to the flow resistance in the formation, thereby reducing the amount of the injected mobilizing fluid moving through the annulus from the at least one injector to the at least one producing component and increasing the amount of the injected mobilizing fluid entering and moving through the formation before being displaced into the well to the at least one producing component; and producing viscous hydrocarbons through the at least one producing component.