Patent ID: 8561702
Filing Date: 2013-10-22
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method of extracting hydrocarbon from a hydrocarbon material comprising hydrocarbon including heavy hydrocarbon, petroleum, or other carbonaceous materials, the method comprising: a) delivering a first fuel fluid comprising carbon or sulfur, an oxidant fluid comprising molecular oxygen, and a first aqueous diluent fluid comprising fluid water to a combustion system comprising a first combustor; b) combusting a fuel mixture comprising a portion of the first fuel fluid, a portion of the oxidant fluid, and a first portion of the first aqueous diluent fluid in the first combustor, wherein producing a first combustion VASTgas, prior to contacting the hydrocarbon material, comprising products of combustion, fluid water, and carbon dioxide, having a temperature greater than 400 degrees Celsius; c) diluting a first portion of the first combustion VASTgas with a first portion of a second aqueous diluent fluid, thereby increasing the volume percent of diluent fluid in the VASTgas, to form a first process VASTgas comprising fluid water and carbon dioxide, having a temperature between 50° C. and the temperature of the combustion VASTgas; wherein one of the first portion of the first aqueous fluid and the first portion of the second aqueous diluent fluid, comprises one of a particulate material and a dissolved material; d) separating a portion of evaporated solids from one of the combustion VASTgas or the process VASTgas formed by evaporating one of a particulate material and a dissolved material of the first or second aqueous fluid; e) delivering the first process VASTgas to a first portion of the hydrocarbon material, wherein the hydrocarbon has a first viscosity, and the first process VASTgas is delivered in sufficient amount to reduce the viscosity of the hydrocarbon to obtain a second viscosity; and f) extracting a portion of the hydrocarbon from the first portion of the hydrocarbon material.