回复: 我来说说加拿大的"热动工程师” power engineer
分析一下这个技术:
The THAI™ process combines controlled combustion with vertical and horizontal wells. The simple equation is: air in, upgraded heavy oil out.
To begin the process, bitumen around the “toe” of the horizontal well is heated with steam.Once this approximately three-month heating cycle in a bitumen reservoir is complete, the steam is shut off and air is injected into the vertical well to create a combustion reaction in the reservoir.
Through the controlled injection of air, an estimated two metre thick combustion front begins to move along the horizontal well at about 10 inches (25 centimetres) a day toward the “heel” of the horizontal well. As it heats up, the bitumen drains into the horizontal production well and brought to the surface through natural pressure.
Because the combustion front heats the bitumen to 400 degrees, the oil is also partially upgraded underground. The heat causes a portion of the asphaltine content of the oil to be left behind as coke that is the fuel for the continued combustion.
“It’s an ideal technical solution,” says Chris Bloomer Petrobank’s Chief Operating Officer for Heavy Oil. “Not only does THAI™ allow for a higher recovery of the resource – from 70 to 80 per cent – greenhouse gas emissions are cut by half and there is negligible fresh water use.” Another environmental benefit is a smaller surface footprint and easier reclamation.
从这个过程来看,这个技术属于in-situ 范围。 首先要用到蒸汽 (锅炉), 然后要用到压缩空气(空压机),期间还要燃烧控制,最后原油被高压气打出。 典型的power engineer 工作的范围。所谓的 smaller surface footprint 部分原因是污染物仍留在地下。所以这个新技术不会影响到POWER ENGUINEER 的就业。所以,power engineer,不光是烧锅炉(水的能量转换过程),还包括其他工质(空气,AMMMONIA等)的能量转换过程,也包括燃烧控制,污染控制,水处理,工质分离等范畴。欢迎讨论。
个人有些问题,希望老赶前辈能给些建议:
目前提取油砂使用的技术是SAGD(Steeam Assisted Gravity Drainage)和小部分的CSS(cyclic steam stimulation). 目前这两个技术都需要用到水/水蒸气,所以目前油田工厂很需要power engineers.
但是,正在开发中的Thai(toe to heel air injection)不需要用到水,需要的是空气。Thai开发石油的效率高,而且大大减少水污染和大气污染。这个新技术的产生是否会对之后的PE行业产生影响?