Patent ID: 8602098

Claim:
A method for limiting hydrate formation during hydrocarbon production from an underground hydrocarbon reservoir using a production method involving solvent injection and cycling of in situ pressure, the method comprising: (a) estimating a minimum quantity of thermal energy required to heat a near-wellbore region to a temperature above a hydrate formation temperature of a composition to be produced in subsequent production of hydrocarbons, wherein the temperature remains above the hydrate formation temperature during at least a portion of the subsequent production of hydrocarbons; (b) injecting a viscosity-reducing solvent into the underground hydrocarbon reservoir through a wellbore; (c) injecting a thermal energy carrying fluid into the underground hydrocarbon reservoir through the wellbore at least until the estimated minimum quantity of thermal energy required to heat the near-wellbore region to the temperature above the hydrate formation temperature has been introduced; and (d) subsequently producing hydrocarbons from the underground hydrocarbon reservoir though the wellbore.