Thermal processes for subsurface formations
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Abstract
A process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of a subsurface formation. Heat may transfer from one or more heaters to a part of a formation. In some embodiments, heat from the one or more heat sources may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in a part of a subsurface formation. Hydrocarbons and/or other products may be produced from a subsurface formation. Certain embodiments describe apparatus, methods, and/or processes used in treating a subsurface or hydrocarbon containing formation.
230 Citations
793 Claims
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1-729. -729. (cancelled)
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730. A system for treating a formation in situ, comprising:
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five or more oxidizers configured to be placed in an opening in the formation;
two or more conduits, wherein at least one of the conduits is configured to provide oxidizing fluid to the oxidizers, and wherein at least one of the conduits is configured to provide fuel to the oxidizers;
wherein the oxidizers are configured to allow combustion of a mixture of the fuel and the oxidizing fluid to produce heat and exhaust gas; and
wherein the oxidizers and the conduit are configured to provide the oxidizing fluid to the oxidizers are configured such that at least a portion of exhaust gas from at least one of the oxidizers is mixed with at least a portion of the oxidizing fluid provided to at least another one of the oxidizers. - View Dependent Claims (731, 732, 733, 734, 735, 736, 737, 738, 739, 740, 741, 742, 743, 744, 745, 746, 747, 748, 749, 750, 751, 752, 753, 754, 755, 756, 757, 758, 759, 760, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784)
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785. A method of treating a formation in situ, comprising:
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providing fuel to a series of oxidizers positioned in an opening in the formation;
providing oxidizing fluid to the series of oxidizers positioned in the opening in the formation;
mixing at least a portion of the fuel with at least a portion of the oxidizing fluid to form a fuel/oxidizing fluid mixture;
igniting the fuel/oxidizing fluid mixture at or near the oxidizers;
allowing the fuel/oxidizing fluid mixture to react in the oxidizers to produce heat and exhaust gas;
mixing at least a portion of the exhaust gas from one or more of the oxidizers with the oxidizing fluid provided to another one or more of the oxidizers; and
allowing heat to transfer from the exhaust gas to a portion of the formation. - View Dependent Claims (786, 787, 788, 789, 790, 791, 792)
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793-2058. -2058. (cancelled)
Specification