Enhancing production of clathrates by use of thermosyphons

摘要

A method and system for initiating hydrocarbon production from a reservoir are provided. This method and system utilize thermosyphons. The system and method utilize one or more sealed, elongated, hollow tubular containers supported in earth in a geothermal heat zone below the reservoir and extending upwardly therefrom into the reservoir. The containers comprise (a) a bottom portion in the geothermal heat zone below the reservoir; (b) a top portion within the reservoir; and (c) being partially filled with a liquid that evaporates in the bottom portion forming a vapor and transferring heat via convective flow of the vapor to the top portion, the heat being dissipated at the top portion into the surrounding reservoir as the vapor condenses back into liquid and flows downward to the bottom portion. The reservoir can be a natural gas hydrate reservoir.

主权项

1. A system for enhancing production of one or more reservoirs comprising (i) one or more sealed, elongated, hollow tubular containers placed in cased holes and supported in earth in a geothermal heat zone below the reservoir and extending upwardly at any angle including and between vertical to horizontal or any combination of such angles along the length of the container therefrom into the reservoir and (ii) production wells installed in the cased holes above the containers,
wherein the containers comprise (a) a bottom portion in the geothermal heat zone below the reservoir; (b) a top portion within the reservoir; and (c) being partially filled with a liquid that evaporates in the bottom portion forming a vapor and transferring heat via convective flow of the vapor to the top portion, the heat being dissipated at the top portion into the surrounding reservoir as the vapor condenses back into liquid and flows downward to the bottom portion.