METHOD OF BITUMEN DEPOSIT DEVELOPMENT Russian patent published in 2013 - IPC E21B43/24 

FIELD: oil and gas industry.

SUBSTANCE: method of bitumen deposit development includes construction of double-mouth top and bottom well with horizontal areas which are equipped with stacked filters with holes; run-in operation of pipe strings with pumps in order to extract heated bitumen; heating of productive stratum by steam injection to both wells; heating of cross-hole area of stratum; reduction of bitumen viscosity, reading of thermograms from heat-sensing devices located at horizontal areas of wells, analysis of stratum condition regarding its heating and equal heating of stratum considering the obtained thermograms. Filters of horizontal areas of top and bottom double-mouth wells are divided into extraction areas. Inside filters, opposite each extraction area liners with holes are installed; the liners are at ends of pipe stings from mouths of double-mouth wells. Liners are connected rigidly with respective pipe strings and holes of filters can be either open or closed hermetically at horizontal areas of double-mouth wells. Tubing-casing annulus of the top and bottom double-mouth wells is interconnected from one mouth. Tubing-casing annulus of the top and bottom double-mouth wells is connected from the other mouth with steam generator. With closed holes of filters at horizontal areas of double-mouth wells, heating of crosshole area of stratum and areas located higher and lower than horizontal areas of double-mouth wells is made; bitumen viscosity is reduced by closed steam circulation simultaneously through tubing-casing annulus of the top and bottom double-mouth by means of steam generator without steam injection into stratum. When temperature of 85-95°C is reached against data of thermograms taken heat-sensing devices in sampling areas of double-mouth wells steam generator is switched off, steam circulation is stopped, holes of filters are open by their alignment with holes of liners and extraction of bitumen is started simultaneously from the top and bottom double-mouth wells through pipe strings by means of pumps. When temperature of 35-45°C is reached against data of thermograms taken by heat-sensitive devices pumps are switched off, holes of filters are closed hermetically by means of their misalignment with holes of liners; steam generator is switched on and the whole process of crosshole area heating and reduction of bitumen viscosity by closed steam circulation is resumed through tubing-casing annulus of the top and bottom double-mouth wells.

EFFECT: excluding water cut of extracted bitumen and reduction of costs for heating medium due to heating without injection of heating medium into a stratum, potential development of bitumen deposits with thickness of 5-7 m, even working of bitumen deposit.

5 dwg