Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD OF GAS, OIL AND MINERAL PRODUCTION USING A CLEAN
PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a method and system for producing
fracturing of shale and oil sands, and mineral containing
material to release natural gases and oil utilizing 002 and a
steam process without using other chemical contaminants.
BACKGROUND
Most fracturing processes use various chemicals in their
process to recover gas and oil. For example, U.S. Patent
8,733,439 uses CO2, but also used H202 (hydrogen peroxide) which,
when used medically in small amounts, is considered a mild
antiseptic, and can be used as a bleaching agent. Hydrogen
peroxide can be used for certain industrial or environmental
purposes as well, because it can provide the effects of
bleaching without the potential damage of chlorine-based agents.
Because this substance can be unstable in high concentrations,
it must be used with care. In higher concentrations, it can
create strong chemical reactions when it interacts with other
agents, and it can damage the skin or eyes of persons working
with it. The use in wells may contaminate underground water if
there is seepage into ground water. This patent also uses other
chemicals such as Fe, Co, Ni and similar chemicals.
Other processes also use various chemicals, particulate
material, and other catalysts which can contaminate water
sources such as wells and aquifers. These processes utilize a
large amount of water which often is not or cannot be recycled
because of the toxic chemicals contained therein.
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= SUMMARY
An object of the invention is to provide a clean, non-
contaminating process for producing fracturing of shale,
limestone, sands, and other geological and mining formations to
release natural gas and oil within a well, and to break up any
mineral containing material.
Another object of the invention is to provide a system to
produce on site the energy required to induce fracturing,
removing natural gas and oil, and to recycle fluids used in
fracturing for additional use.
Another object of the invention is to provide for movable
storage of fracturing liquids for additional use at one or more
sites.
The technical advance represented by the invention as well
as the objects thereof will become apparent from the following
description of a preferred embodiment of the invention when
considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and
the novel features set forth herein.
Certain exemplary embodiments provide a method of providing
fracturing in a well bore, to produce at least one of natural
gas and oil, having vertical and horizontal well bore regions,
injecting carbonated water into the well bore; and injecting
high pressure steam into the carbonated water to cause
fracturing of the walls of the well.
Other exemplary embodiments provide a method of providing
fracturing in a well bore, to produce at least one of natural
gas and oil; injecting at least one of refrigerated carbonized
water and frozen CO2 into the well bore; injecting pressurized
steam into a region of the well bore through peripheral openings
in a pipe extending downward into the well bore and into the
horizontal region of the well bore.
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Yet other exemplary embodiments provide a system for
producing fracturing in a well bore utilizing only carbonated
water, sand, and pressurized steam, comprising: a well bore
having a vertical and horizontal region; a pipe extending
downward in the vertical region and horizontally in the
horizontal region; a storage unit for holding carbonated water
for injection into the well; a steam generator for injecting
pressurized steam into the carbonated water for producing
fracturing in the well; and means for removing at least one of
gas and oil released during the fracturing process.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 illustrates a diagram of the basis system of the
invention and the process associated therewith.
FIGURE 2 illustrates additional features which may be
utilized with the present invention.
Figure 3 illustrates a well configuration in which frozen
CO2 is inserted into a well and then expanded by pressurized
steam to cause fracturing of the walls of the well.
Figures 4a and 4b illustrate two types of insertion tubes.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Figure 1 illustrates the system and method for producing
clean fracturing in a natural gas and oil well. The well has a
vertical drill bore and or pipe casing la and a horizontal drill
bore or pipe casing lb extending horizontally from the lower end
of vertical drill bore and or pipe casing la. This is the
standard method of drilling wells. Inserted in the well is
vertical pipe or tube 2a which extends the length of vertical
well bore la and then extends horizontally, 2b, into the
horizontal well bore lb. Well bore la is then caped at the top
with seal 15. This is to prevent any gasses or other material
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from escaping out into the atmosphere and surrounding area. This
system is an example that can be used with the claimed
fracturing process. Modification of the system and other
configurations may be used with the fracturing process.
The rest of the system is described as follows. Clean water
is supplied through input 14 through a processing system 8,
which includes a three way valve. The water is directed through
23 into pipe 9 and then in to storage container 5, which
carbonates the water, using the CO2 from portable storage
container 6.
The carbonated water from container 5 is then directed,
through pipe 10 and valve 10b, into the well at opening 10a.
This carbonated water flows downward into the well and fills the
horizontal portion lb with carbonated water. The carbonated
water in container 5 may be refrigerated to keep the carbonated
water cool, or partially frozen so as to prevent vaporization of
the CO2 from the water while it is being injected into the well.
The carbonated water may be lightly frozen to provide an icy
slush. Sand can be injected into the wellbore alone, or with the
carbonated water to aid in the fracturing process.
Once the well, particularly the horizontal portion lb is
filled with the carbonated water, then high pressure steam,
generated in steam generator 4, is injected into the well though
valve 3 into pipes or tubes 2a and 2b. Pipe/tube 2b has
openings 16 around it periphery and along its length to
distribute the steam throughout horizontal well bore lb. The
high pressure steam causes the carbonated water to literally
explode creating a great pressure in the well causing fracturing
of the walls of the well bore, thus releasing natural gas/oil
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from the underground sources. To keep all of the pressurized
steam from exiting though the first holes at the beginning 2c of
horizontal pipe 2b, there are fewer holes at the start of
horizontal pipe 2c to prevent exiting of a large quantity of
pressurized gas.
The number of holes increases towards the 2d
end of the horizontal pipe. This progressive increasing of holes
helps to evenly distribute the pressurized gas throughout the
horizontal portion lb of the well.
After the fracturing process, the remaining carbonated
water, any loose sand, and the gas/oil is then pumped upward
though well bore la and pipe 2a through pipes lla and lib to
valve 11c and though pipe 11 into processing unit 7, which may
have storage capacity. Processing unit 7 filters out any
particulate material and separates the gas/oil and CO2 from the
remaining water. The CO2 can be returned through pipe 28 to the
CO2 storage tank 6 for reuse. The gas/oil is then stored or
directed out pipe 13 for storage and/or transportation to
another storage facility.
To prevent the particulate filter 7 from becoming clogged
with particulate material, there could be at least two parallel
particulate filters. One would be used at a time. When the flow
of gas/petroleum/CO2 decreases to a lower determined level
through the particulate filter, a sensor would detect this lower
level and would switch the flow through a parallel filter. There
would be a notification of this change, and the clogged filter
could be cleaned to remove the particulate for use again.
The separated water is then passed through pipe 12 into
processing system 8. The water can be directed back into the
system though valve 21 for reuse, as needed, for additional
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fracturing of the well. The water can also be processed to clean
it, removing any and all chemical and/or foreign matter from the
well and then sent thought pipe 14 for storage and/or another
use.
All of the units, Steam generator 4, carbonated water
unit 5, CO2 unit 6, separator 7 and processing system may all be
portable units for use at other locations. The units may be
incorporated in one movable unit for movement to other drilling
sites.
To prevent excess pressure that would cause over fracturing
in the well, a pressure sensor 30 measures the pressure. If the
pressure exceeds a predetermined amount, then release valve 31
would open, and stay open, as long as the pressure exceeds the
predetermined amount.
When the pressure is reduced, then
value 31 would close.
As an alternative to using carbonated water, refrigerated
002 can be injected into the well bore and then expanded with the
pressurized steam. This would limit the amount of carbonated
water needed in the well bore. Since steam is vaporized water,
after the steam is injected into the refrigerated 002, it would
cool and become carbonated water. Additional steam injected into
the refrigerated 002 would cause it to expand and cause
fracturing. This would limit the amount of carbonated water to
be removed from the well for cleaning and future use.
Figure 2 illustrates the system and method for producing
clean fracturing in a natural gas and oil well as in Figure 1
with the following differences in the system and method. In the
vertical part of the wellbore la, a isolation plug 19 is placed
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near the bottom of the vertical portion la of the well bore, or
in any part of horizontal well bore lb. The location of the
isolation plug is determined where the fracturing of the well is
to begin. Since carbonated water cannot be inserted into the
well after the isolation plug seal 19 is in place, the valve 3
of Figure 1 is replaced with valve 20. The carbonated water is
then passed through pipe 17 into valve 20 into pipe 2a to insert
the carbonated water into the well bore. The carbonated water
will flow downward through pipe 2a and horizontal pipe 2b and
into the well out openings 16 and out the end 2d of horizontal
pipe 2b into the well bore. The pressurized steam from steam
generator 4 is directed through valve 20 into pipe 2a and 2b.
The steam is then evenly distributed into horizontal well
bore lb through openings 16, as in Figure 1, providing pressure
to producing the fracturing required to release the natural gas
or oil from the surrounding areas. The advantage of using
isolation plug 19 is that the pressure cannot pass upward into
vertical well bore la, or unwanted areas of lb, providing a
greater pressure in the localized horizontal portion of lb of
the well bore, increasing the fracturing pressure and increasing
the result of the fracturing, releasing more natural gas and/or
oil.
Isolation plug 19 could include a pressure sensor 38 and
release valve 39 to prevent the pressure from exceeding a
predetermined amount, to prevent over fracturing. The isolation
plug can be later removed or drilled out to allow flow in well
bore la.
After the fracturing process, the remaining carbonated
water, any loose sand or other particulate material, and the
gas/oil may be pumped upward though pipe 2a and well bore la
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through pipes ha and lib to valve llc, and then through pipe 11
into processing unit 7.
Figure 3 illustrates a well configuration in which frozen
CO2 is inserted into a pipe 45 and then expanded by pressurized
steam to cause fracturing of the walls of the well bore lb. This
configuration involves cooling CO2 in unit 50 to below its
freezing temperature of 109.3 degrees F and injecting a snow
like compound into well bore lb. This is achieved through a
flexible composite material or metal alloy insertion hose or
tube 51 and 45, which can be the same as tube 2a, Figure 2,
attached via a delivery hose or tubing from the surface. The
cooled CO2 is released into the well bore through the
perforations 43 in the insertion tube 42, or by use of, or with
a perforating gun. When sufficient amounts of cooled CO2 are
achieved, a CO2 sensor and release valve 41 immediately closes
off the CO2 induction and triggers a steam pressure sensor and
release valve 40 for high pressure steam to immediately be
injected through the same flexible perforated composite or metal
alloy insertion tube 45. A pressure containment plate 46 seals
the lower portion of the well to prevent pressure from rising
upward to the top of the well. This process creates a catalytic
reaction that rapidly heats and expands the cooled CO2 causing
the fracturing of the shale or other geological formation being
addressed. This process can be carried out in one large stage or
in multiple stages, depending upon the specific characteristics
of the geological formation being fractured, and can be repeated
until the required desire of fracturing is achieved. This
configuration can be used in combination with the basic system
shown in Figure 2 where the assembly in Figure 3 replaces the
structure at the lower end of tube 2a, or any part of horizontal
lb of Figure 2.
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Pipe 45, in Figure 3 may have several configurations and
partitions for inserting the fracturing materials into the well.
Figures 4a and 4b below, shows two possible configurations.
Other configurations are possible to individually insert the
fracturing materials in the order necessary to provide the
fracturing.
The carbonated water, frozen CO2, and steam are alternately
inserted though valve 20a.
The system of Figure 1 could be used to extract minerals
other than gas and oil. In this configuration, there would be
extreme fracturing to break up the mineral containing soil/rock
in the structure. The mineral containing soil/rock would be
vacuumed up out of the structure where the minerals could be
separated from the soil/rock. This process would use a vacuum
system similar to that used to mine minerals from the sea
bottom. In this instance, the pressure system and release valves
would not be used.
Figures 4a and 4b illustrate two types of insertion tubes.
Figures 4a and 4b are cross sectional views taken at A-A in
Figure 3.
Figure 4a shows concentric used to insert particulate
frozen CO2 60, pressurized steam 6 and carbonated water 62 and
fracking sand as needed. The outer structure is the well bore
structure into which the concentric tubes are inserted.
Figure 4b shows parallel tubes into which pressurized
steam 61, carbonated water 62 and particulate frozen CO2 60 are
injected into the well bore structure.
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These two configurations are examples for inducing the
fracturing material. Other configurations may be used, for
example some of the tubes may be used for more than one
insertion path, different injection materials may be switched
between the injection paths.
The valves 3, 20, 20a, 10b and lb c and tubes 2a and 2b in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 may remain onsite for future use.
