A vessel for transporting a material that is solid or semi-solid at ambient temperature, includes a body having an interior surface comprising textured metal, and a superoleophobic coating on the interior surface for inhibiting the material from adhering to the interior surface, the superoleophobic coating including a nanotextured coating disposed on the textured metal and functionalized with a fluorinated compound. The superoleophobic coating facilitates flow of the material along the interior surface.
B05D 5/02 - Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces to obtain special surface effects, finishes or structures to obtain a matt or rough surface
B32B 7/02 - Physical, chemical or physicochemical properties
B32B 15/00 - Layered products essentially comprising metal
B61D 3/16 - Wagons or vans adapted for carrying special loads
B61D 5/00 - Tank wagons for carrying fluent materials
B61D 17/00 - Construction details of vehicle bodies
B61D 47/00 - Loading or unloading devices combined with vehicles, e.g. loading platforms
C09D 1/00 - Coating compositions, e.g. paints, varnishes or lacquers, based on inorganic substances
C23C 18/12 - Chemical coating by decomposition of either liquid compounds or solutions of the coating forming compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coatingContact plating by thermal decomposition characterised by the deposition of inorganic material other than metallic material
C23C 18/32 - Coating with one of iron, cobalt or nickelCoating with mixtures of phosphorus or boron with one of these metals
C23C 28/00 - Coating for obtaining at least two superposed coatings either by methods not provided for in a single one of main groups , or by combinations of methods provided for in subclasses and
C23F 17/00 - Multi-step processes for surface treatment of metallic material involving at least one process provided for in class and at least one process covered by subclass or or class
B82Y 30/00 - Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
A vessel for transporting a material that is solid or semi-solid at ambient temperature, includes a body having an interior surface comprising textured metal, and a superoleophobic coating on the interior surface for inhibiting the material from adhering to the interior surface, the superoleophobic coating including a nanotextured coating disposed on the textured metal and functionalized with a fluorinated compound. The superoleophobic coating facilitates flow of the material along the interior surface.
C09D 1/00 - Coating compositions, e.g. paints, varnishes or lacquers, based on inorganic substances
B05D 5/02 - Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces to obtain special surface effects, finishes or structures to obtain a matt or rough surface
C23C 28/00 - Coating for obtaining at least two superposed coatings either by methods not provided for in a single one of main groups , or by combinations of methods provided for in subclasses and
C23F 17/00 - Multi-step processes for surface treatment of metallic material involving at least one process provided for in class and at least one process covered by subclass or or class
B61D 5/00 - Tank wagons for carrying fluent materials
B61D 47/00 - Loading or unloading devices combined with vehicles, e.g. loading platforms
B61D 3/16 - Wagons or vans adapted for carrying special loads
B61D 17/00 - Construction details of vehicle bodies
B82Y 30/00 - Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
The present disclosure provides a process and system for treating a feed diluent to produce a retentate product that is enriched in a heavy diluent component. The process includes: applying the feed diluent to a feed side of an organic solvent nanofiltration membrane; causing the light diluent component in the diluent to preferentially pass through the membrane in comparison to the light diluent component in the feed diluent; and producing the retentate product that is enriched in the heavy diluent component in comparison to the heavy diluent component in the feed diluent.
A system and method for adjusting a position of an oil-water interface layer. A vessel, such as a free water knockout or a treater used in the processing of heavy oil, contains a fluid comprising the interface layer. A nuclear densitometer is positioned to obtain density measurements of the fluid at various heights along the vessel. Based at least in part on these density readings, a valve controlling flow out of a water discharge port on the vessel may be actuated, with the flow of water through the water discharge port being inversely proportional to the height of the interface layer.
E21B 43/34 - Arrangements for separating materials produced by the well
G01N 9/24 - Investigating density or specific gravity of materialsAnalysing materials by determining density or specific gravity by observing the transmission of wave or particle radiation through the material
G01N 9/36 - Analysing materials by measuring the density or specific gravity, e.g. determining quantity of moisture
G01N 23/12 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups , or by transmitting the radiation through the material and measuring the absorption the material being a flowing fluid or a flowing granular solid
G05D 9/12 - Level control, e.g. controlling quantity of material stored in vessel characterised by the use of electric means
G05D 11/13 - Controlling ratio of two or more flows of fluid or fluent material characterised by the use of electric means
A steam generator apparatus for generating steam from a feedwater inlet stream including impurities is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tubing circuit in communication with an inlet for receiving the feedwater stream, the tubing circuit having a substantially unrifled bore defined by a metal wall, and a heat source operable to deliver a heat flux to the feedwater stream through the metal wall of the tubing circuit, the heat flux being operable to cause evaporation of feedwater within the tubing circuit and to produce an outlet stream at an outlet of the tubing circuit, the outlet stream includes a steam portion and liquid phase portion, the steam portion being greater than about 80% of the outlet stream by mass, the steam portion providing sufficient cooling of the metal wall to maintain a wall temperature at less than a threshold temperature associated with safe operation of the steam generator apparatus.
F22B 35/10 - Control systems for steam boilers for steam boilers of forced-flow type of once-through type
E21B 43/24 - Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection
F22B 29/06 - Steam boilers of forced-flow type of once-through type, i.e. built-up from tubes receiving water at one end and delivering superheated steam at the other end of the tubes
A method for generating steam from a feedwater inlet stream including impurities is disclosed. The method involves receiving the feedwater inlet stream at an inlet of a steam generator and causing the feedwater stream to flow through a tubing circuit to an outlet of the tubing circuit, the tubing circuit having a substantially un-rifled bore defined by a metal wall. The method also involves delivering a heat flux to the feedwater stream through the metal wall of the tubing circuit to generate steam by causing evaporation of feedwater within the tubing circuit, and controlling at least one of a flow rate of the feedwater stream and the heat flux to cause generation of an outlet stream at the outlet includes a steam portion and liquid phase portion, the steam portion being greater than about 80% of the outlet stream by mass. The steam portion provides sufficient cooling of the metal wall to maintain a wall temperature at less than a threshold temperature.
F22D 11/00 - Feed-water supply not provided for in other main groups
F22B 35/10 - Control systems for steam boilers for steam boilers of forced-flow type of once-through type
E21B 43/24 - Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection
F22B 29/06 - Steam boilers of forced-flow type of once-through type, i.e. built-up from tubes receiving water at one end and delivering superheated steam at the other end of the tubes
Apparatus and methods for conveying a flow of oil-containing liquid into an oil separation skim tank, and a skim tank incorporating such apparatus and methods, are disclosed. One such apparatus includes at least one diffuser, the diffuser defining an intake opening configured to receive the flow of oil-containing liquid and an exhaust opening configured to convey the flow of oil-containing liquid into the skim tank. The diffuser is configured to cause the flow of oil-containing liquid to have a greater horizontal width at the exhaust opening than at the intake opening, while minimizing vertical divergence of the flow at the exhaust opening.
Hydrocarbons may be produced from a well which comprises a contour section that follows a contour of a depression on a contoured base above which the reservoir is formed. Hydrocarbons may also be produced from a first well in a gravity-controlled recovery process and a second well which extends under and across the first well. For recovery of hydrocarbons from a reservoir, a pair of injection and production wells may be positioned and configured to optimize an initial rate of production from a pay region in the reservoir, and another well for producing hydrocarbons may be located below the production well and be positioned and configured to optimize an amount of hydrocarbon recovery from the pay region.
A method of establishing fluid communication between a well pair in an oil-sand reservoir, where dilatable oil sands in the reservoir form a barrier to fluid communication between the well pair. Steam or water is circulated within at least one well to a region of the oil sands adjacent to the well. The steam or water pressure is increased to a dilation pressure sufficient to dilate the oil sands in the region. While circulating steam or water within the well at a substantially steady state, the steam or water pressure is maintained at a level sufficient to enlarge the dilated region, until detection of a signal indicative of fluid communication between the well pair. The rates and pressures of steam or water injection and production may be monitored and adjusted to vary a bottom-hole pressure in the well.
An integrated thermal recovery process using a solvent of a pentane or hexane or both as an additive to, or sole component of, a gravity-dominated process for recovering bitumen or heavy oil from a reservoir. A pentane-hexane specific solvent fraction is extracted at surface from a diluent stream. That pentane-hexane solvent fraction is then injected into the reservoir as part of a gravity-dominated recovery process within the reservoir, and when that solvent fraction is subsequently produced as part of the oil or bitumen blend, it is allowed to remain within the blend to enhance the subsequent blend treating and transportation steps. Meanwhile, the remainder of the diluent from which the solvent stream had been extracted is utilized at surface as a blending stream to serve as an aid in treating of produced fluids and also to serve as a means of rendering the bitumen or heavy oil stream pipelineable.
A method for producing bitumen or heavy oil from a subsurface oil sands reservoir, the subsurface oil sands reservoir and an overlying gas zone in fluid communication, the method includes providing an in situ combustion process in the overlying gas zone, to create or expand a combustion front within the overlying gas zone, providing a thermal recovery process in the oil sands reservoir, to create or expand a rising hot zone within the oil sands reservoir, and selectively operating the thermal recovery process or the in situ combustion process or both such that the rising hot zone does not intersect the overlying gas zone until the combustion front has moved beyond that portion of the overlying gas zone at the intersection.
A method, apparatus, and system and operation of surface equipment to generate steam while reducing the quantity of boiler blowdown and thereby increasing the amount of feedwater that is re-used or re-cycled in generating said steam. The present invention teaches that, on a sustained basis, the blowdown stream at the outlet of a once-through steam generator can be routed to the inlet of a second once-through steam generator that is in series with the first, that blowdown stream can be used to generate additional steam in the second once-through steam generator and further reduce the amount of blowdown, and that this can be accomplished without need of any treatment that reduces hardness or silica levels of the blowdown stream prior to its entering or during its entry into the inlet of the second once-through steam generator. The output of this second steam generator is a substantially dry saturated steam vapor stream and, complementarily, a blowdown stream whose mass rate has been reduced substantially from that of the blowdown stream exiting the first steam generator.
A modular steam injection line, for use in steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) operations for delivery of an equal steam mass flow along a length of the apparatus, incorporates steam splitter modules fluidly connected for forming the steam injection line. Each of the modular steam splitters is fit with interchangeable nozzles for delivering steam to the formation. The interchangeable nozzles have orifices of different sizes and the nozzle orifice size required for each individual module to deliver an equal mass flow of steam from each module, at sub-sonic rates, along the entire length of the steam injection line.
An insulated tubing member for coupling to an adjacent insulated tubing member. A connector couples the insulated tubing members and includes an inner surface defining a passage in fluid communication with fluid-receiving channels of the adjacent insulated tubing members. The connector includes a first end including an outer threaded surface coupled to the inner threaded surface of the outer tubing, and an inner threaded surface coupled to the outer threaded surface of the inner tubing, a second end for coupling to the adjacent insulated tubing member, and including an outer threaded surface and a circumferentially extending groove in the inner surface, the outer threaded surface for coupling to a second inner threaded surface of an outer tubing of the adjacent insulated tubing member; a sealing element received in the groove. The second end of the connector sized for axial expansion of an inner tubing of the adjacent insulated tubing member.
A system and method for adjusting a position of an oil-water interface layer. A vessel, such as a free water knockout or a treater used in the processing of heavy oil, contains a fluid comprising the interface layer. A nuclear densitometer is positioned to obtain density measurements of the fluid at various heights along the vessel. Based at least in part on these density readings, a valve controlling flow out of a water discharge port on the vessel may be actuated, with the flow of water through the water discharge port being inversely proportional to the height of the interface layer.
G01N 9/24 - Investigating density or specific gravity of materialsAnalysing materials by determining density or specific gravity by observing the transmission of wave or particle radiation through the material
G05D 9/12 - Level control, e.g. controlling quantity of material stored in vessel characterised by the use of electric means
16.
METHODS FOR ACCELERATING RECOVERY OF HEAVY HYDROCARBONS WITH CO-INJECTION OF STEAM AND VOLATILE AGENT
In a process for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir comprising viscous hydrocarbons and an organic acid, steam is injected into the reservoir to heat and mobilize the viscous hydrocarbons and mobilized hydrocarbons are produced from the reservoir. In one embodiment, a vapor of n-butylamine or n-propylamine is also injected into the reservoir to react with the organic acid to form a surfactant. The surfactant reduces the interfacial tension between hydrocarbons and water, thus accelerating the rate of hydrocarbon production. In a different embodiment, a volatile amine for injection may be selected from amines that are more volatile than steam in the reservoir and have boiling points of about 45.degree.C to about 80 .degree.C. A mixture comprising steam and about 0.1 wt% to about 0.2 wt% of the volatile amine may be injected.
C09K 8/592 - Compositions used in combination with generated heat, e.g. by steam injection
E21B 43/24 - Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection
E21B 43/241 - Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection combined with solution mining of non-hydrocarbon minerals, e.g. solvent pyrolysis of oil shale
17.
MEMBRANE SEPARATION OF EMULSIONS PRODUCED FROM HYDROCARBON RECOVERY PROCESS
A membrane for separating water and oil emulsion produced from a hydrocarbon recovery operation, the membrane including a permeable metal substrate and a nanotetrapodal oxide coating on the permeable metal substrate.
A method, apparatus, and system and operation of surface equipment to generate steam while reducing the quantity of boiler blowdown and thereby increasing the amount of feedwater that is re-used or re-cycled in generating said steam. The present invention teaches that, on a sustained basis, the blowdown stream at the outlet of a once-through steam generator can be routed to the inlet of a second once-through steam generator that is in series with the first, that blowdown stream can be used to generate additional steam in the second once-through steam generator and further reduce the amount of blowdown, and that this can be accomplished without need of any treatment that reduces hardness or silica levels of the blowdown stream prior to its entering or during its entry into the inlet of the second once-through steam generator. The output of this second steam generator is a substantially dry saturated steam vapor stream and, complementarily, a blowdown stream whose mass rate has been reduced substantially from that of the blowdown stream exiting the first steam generator.
F22B 29/06 - Steam boilers of forced-flow type of once-through type, i.e. built-up from tubes receiving water at one end and delivering superheated steam at the other end of the tubes
A method for producing bitumen or heavy oil from a subsurface oil sands reservoir, the subsurface oil sands reservoir and an overlying gas zone in fluid communication, the method includes providing an in situ combustion process in the overlying gas zone, to create or expand a combustion front within the overlying gas zone, providing a thermal recovery process in the oil sands reservoir, to create or expand a rising hot zone within the oil sands reservoir, and selectively operating the thermal recovery process or the in situ combustion process or both such that the rising hot zone does not intersect the overlying gas zone until the combustion front has moved beyond that portion of the overlying gas zone at the intersection.
An integrated thermal recovery process using a solvent of a pentane or hexane or both as an additive to, or sole component of, a gravity-dominated process for recovering bitumen or heavy oil from a reservoir. A pentane-hexane specific solvent fraction is extracted at surface from a diluent stream. That pentane-hexane solvent fraction is then injected into the reservoir as part of a gravity-dominated recovery process within the reservoir, and when that solvent fraction is subsequently produced as part of the oil or bitumen blend, it is allowed to remain within the blend to enhance the subsequent blend treating and transportation steps. Meanwhile, the remainder of the diluent from which the solvent stream had been extracted is utilized at surface as a blending stream to serve as an aid in treating of produced fluids and also to serve as a means of rendering the bitumen or heavy oil stream pipelineable.
Hydrocarbons may be produced from a well which comprises a contour section that follows a contour of a depression on a contoured base above which the reservoir is formed. Hydrocarbons may also be produced from a first well in a gravity-controlled recovery process and a second well which extends under and across the first well. For recovery of hydrocarbons from a reservoir, a pair of injection and production wells may be positioned and configured to optimize an initial rate of production from a pay region in the reservoir, and another well for producing hydrocarbons may be located below the production well and be positioned and configured to optimize an amount of hydrocarbon recovery from the pay region.
An insulated tubing member of an insulated tubing string includes inner and outer tubing. Solid insulating material is provided in an annular cavity between the inner and outer tubing and a slip joint is provided between adjacent insulated tubing members to accommodate differential expansion of the inner and outer tubing.
E21B 43/24 - Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection
F16L 27/12 - Adjustable jointsJoints allowing movement allowing substantial longitudinal adjustment or movement
F16L 51/00 - Expansion-compensation arrangements for pipe-lines
F16L 59/14 - Arrangements for the insulation of pipes or pipe systems
F16L 59/21 - Arrangements specially adapted to local requirements at flanges, junctions, valves, or the like adapted for expansion-compensation devices
23.
THERMALLY INDUCED EXPANSION DRIVE IN HEAVY OIL RESERVOIRS
Aspects of the invention involve the production of hydrocarbons from segregated reservoir compartments. Thermal recovery processes within one compartment are used so as to provide thermal energy to a second, adjoining but distinct compartment, increasing fluid pressures within the second compartment to drive hydrocarbons from the second compartment to the first compartment, so that hydrocarbons originating from the second compartment may be produced from the first compartment.
A vessel for transporting a material that is solid or semi-solid at ambient temperature, includes a body having an interior surface comprising textured metal, and a superoleophobic coating on the interior surface for inhibiting the material from adhering to the interior surface, the superoleophobic coating including a nanotextured coating disposed on the textured metal and functionalized with a fluorinated compound. The superoleophobic coating facilitates flow of the material along the interior surface.
B05B 5/00 - Electrostatic spraying apparatusSpraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electricallyApparatus for spraying liquids or other fluent materials by other electric means
B61D 5/00 - Tank wagons for carrying fluent materials
B65D 88/12 - Large containers rigid specially adapted for transport
The invention provides processes for initiating hydrocarbon production in a well, involving circulating a mobilizing fluid in the wellbore to apply a reservoir stimulation pressure to a region of the formation adjacent to the well, and concomitantly cycling the reservoir stimulation pressure between a high wellbore circulation pressure and a low wellbore circulation pressure, so as to oscillate a pressure gradient in the region of the formation adjacent to the wellbore. Aspects of the invention involve the use of heated mobilizing fluids, such as steam, as well as alternative mobilizing agents such as organic solvents.
A method of feeding measurement strings into a well completion for a well comprising at least two lateral bores, includes feeding a first tubing into a first pipe extending along a main bore of the well, toward a first lateral bore extending from the main bore of the well, such that the first tubing extends into the first lateral bore, toward a toe of the first lateral bore, feeding a second tubing into a second pipe extending along the main bore of the well, toward a second lateral bore extending from the main bore of the well, such that the second tubing extends into the second lateral bore, toward a toe of the second lateral bore, feeding a first measurement system along the first tubing, toward the toe of the first lateral bore, and feeding a second measurement system along the second tubing, toward the toe of the second lateral bore.
The present disclosure provides a process and system for treating a feed diluent to produce a retentate product that is enriched in a heavy diluent component. The process includes: applying the feed diluent to a feed side of an organic solvent nanofiltration membrane; causing the light diluent component in the diluent to preferentially pass through the membrane in comparison to the light diluent component in the feed diluent; and producing the retentate product that is enriched in the heavy diluent component in comparison to the heavy diluent component in the feed diluent.
A modular steam injection line, for use in steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) operations for delivery of an equal steam mass flow along a length of the apparatus, incorporates steam splitter modules fluidly connected for forming the steam injection line. Each of the modular steam splitters is fit with interchangeable nozzles for delivering steam to the formation. The interchangeable nozzles have orifices of different sizes and the nozzle orifice size required for each individual module to deliver an equal mass flow of steam from each module, at sub-sonic rates, along the entire length of the steam injection line.
In the recovery of heavy oil or bitumen from, for example an oil sand or tar sand deposit using steam assisted gravity drainage, a method of initiating or accelerating the establishment of fluid communication between horizontal wells located in a formation of very limited fluid mobility at start-up. A selected amount of solvent, such as xylene, is injected at sub-fracturing conditions and ambient temperature into a first horizontal well located in an immobile formation or reservoir, so as to accelerate fluid communication in the formation or reservoir between the first horizontal well and a second horizontal well with which the first horizontal well is not in fluid communication.
A method of establishing fluid communication between a well pair in an oil-sand reservoir is provided, where dilatable oil sands in the reservoir form a barrier to fluid communication between the well pair. Steam or water is circulated within at least one well to apply a steam or water pressure to a region of the oil sands adjacent to the well. The steam or water pressure is increased to a dilation pressure sufficient to dilate the oil sands in the region. While circulating steam or water within the well at a substantially steady state, the steam or water pressure is maintained at a level sufficient to enlarge the dilated region, until detection of a signal indicative of fluid communication between the well pair. The rates of steam or water injection and production may be monitored and adjusted, and the steam or water pressure may be controlled by adjusting the rate of steam or water injection or production to vary a bottom-hole pressure in the well.
Apparatus and methods for conveying a flow of oil-containing liquid into an oil separation skim tank, and a skim tank incorporating such apparatus and methods, are disclosed. One such apparatus includes at least one diffuser, the diffuser defining an intake opening configured to receive the flow of oil-containing liquid and an exhaust opening configured to convey the flow of oil-containing liquid into the skim tank. The diffuser is configured to cause the flow of oil-containing liquid to have a greater horizontal width at the exhaust opening than at the intake opening, while minimizing vertical divergence of the flow at the exhaust opening.
A method for generating steam from a feedwater inlet stream including impurities is disclosed. The method involves receiving the feedwater inlet stream at an inlet of a steam generator and causing the feedwater stream to flow through a tubing circuit to an outlet of the tubing circuit, the tubing circuit having a substantially un- rifled bore defined by a metal wall. The method also involves delivering a heat flux to the feedwater stream through the metal wall of the tubing circuit to generate steam by causing evaporation of feedwater within the tubing circuit, and controlling at least one of a flow rate of the feedwater stream and the heat flux to cause generation of an outlet stream at the outlet includes a steam portion and liquid phase portion, the steam portion being greater than about 80% of the outlet stream by mass. The steam portion provides sufficient cooling of the metal wall to maintain a wall temperature at less than a threshold temperature.
A tool for releasably coupling a coiled tubing string to a primary tubing string includes: a tool body for coupling to a downstream end of the primary tubing string, the tool body comprising a locking mechanism for selectively coupling a coiled
tubing end joint to the tool body, the locking mechanism being unlockable in response to fluid pressure inside the tool body exceeding a first threshold; a wellbore access mechanism openable in response to fluid pressure inside the tool exceeding a second threshold.
A system for descaling a heat exchanger utilized in a produced water system of a steam-based thermal hydrocarbon recovery operation is provided. The system comprises a heat exchanger for acting on a produced water; a steam separator in fluid communication with a steam generator for separating steam of a steam quality suitable for injection into a hydrocarbon reservoir and blowdown of a lower steam quality, the blowdown being caustic; and a blowdown loop in fluid communication with the steam separator for collecting the caustic blowdown, the blowdown loop also in fluid communication with the heat exchanger for directing the caustic blowdown through the heat exchanger for descaling the heat exchanger.
In a method of removing non-condensing gases (NCGs) from a steam chamber in steam-assisted processes for hydrocarbon recovery from an oil sands reservoir, the reservoir is serviced by well(s) each configurable as an injection or production well, mediating fluid communication between a surface completion and the reservoir. Steam is injected into the reservoir through a well configured for injection, resulting in formation/expansion of the steam chamber and accumulation of NCGs in the steam chamber. A convection-enhancing agent (CEA) is injected, with steam, into a well for injection to promote convection of gases in the steam chamber so as to assist removal of the NCGs from the steam chamber. Gases are removed from the reservoir through a well configured for production of hydrocarbons drained downward from the steam chamber by gravity. The removed gases include NCGs descended from the steam chamber due to the convection of gases along with CEA.
A method and system for generating steam from a feedwater stream including impurities is disclosed. The system includes a steam generator having an inlet for receiving the feedwater stream and an outlet for producing an outlet stream. The steam generator is operable to cause vaporization of feedwater to generate the outlet stream including a steam portion having a lesser mass proportion than a remaining liquid phase portion. The system also includes a feed apparatus operable to deliver the feedwater stream to the inlet of a steam generator at a sufficiently high flow rate to reduce scaling within the steam generator. The system further includes a separator operable to separate at least a portion of the remaining liquid phase portion from the outlet stream to produce a recirculation stream thereby increasing a mass proportion of the steam portion in the outlet stream. The system also includes a recirculation line operable to recirculate the recirculation stream back to the inlet of the steam generator.
F22B 29/06 - Steam boilers of forced-flow type of once-through type, i.e. built-up from tubes receiving water at one end and delivering superheated steam at the other end of the tubes
A process for removing scale in a steam generator for use in a hydrocarbon recovery process, includes introducing feed water into the steam generator and introducing particles and pressurized gas into the steam generator, at a pressure sufficient to cause turbulent flow of fluid including the feed water, the gas, and the particles, for removing scale from interior walls of tubes of the steam generator, wherein the particles have a sufficient hardness to remove the scale without damaging the tubes beyond a threshold associated with safe operation of the steam generator.
patents
