CONTROLLING AND ASSESSING PRESSURE CONDITIONS DURING TREATMENT OF TAR SANDS FORMATIONS
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Abstract
A method for treating a tar sands formation includes providing heat to at least part of a hydrocarbon layer in the tar sands formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation. Heat is allowed to transfer from the heaters to at least a portion of the formation. A pressure in the portion of the formation is controlled such that the pressure remains below a fracture pressure of the formation overburden while allowing the portion of the formation to heat to a selected average temperature of at least about 280° C. and at most about 300° C. The pressure in the portion of the formation is reduced to a selected pressure after the portion of the formation reaches the selected average temperature.
109 Citations
1020 Claims
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1-973. -973. (canceled)
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974. A method for treating a tar sands formation, comprising:
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providing heat to at least part of a hydrocarbon layer in the tar sands formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation; allowing the heat to transfer from the heaters to at least a portion of the formation; controlling a pressure in the portion of the formation such that the pressure remains below a fracture pressure of the formation overburden while allowing the portion of the formation to heat to a selected average temperature of at least about 280°
C. and at most about 300°
C.; and
reducing the pressure in the portion of the formation to a selected pressure after the portion of the formation reaches the selected average temperature. - View Dependent Claims (975, 976, 977, 978, 979, 980, 981, 982, 983, 984)
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985. A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
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providing heat to at least part of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation; allowing the heat to transfer from the heaters to at least a portion of the formation; controlling a pressure in the portion of the formation such that the pressure remains below a fracture pressure of the formation overburden while allowing the portion of the formation to heat to a selected average temperature range; producing at least some fluids from the formation to control the pressure to remain below the fracture pressure; and
assessing the average temperature in the portion by analyzing at least some of the produced fluids. - View Dependent Claims (986, 987, 988, 989, 990, 991, 992, 993, 994)
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995. A method for treating a tar sands formation, comprising:
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providing heat to at least part of a hydrocarbon layer in the hydrocarbon containing formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation; allowing the heat to transfer from the heaters to at least a portion of the formation; controlling a pressure in the portion of the formation such that the pressure remains below a fracture pressure of the formation overburden by producing at least some fluid from the formation; assessing a hydrocarbon isomer shift of at least a portion of the fluid produced from the formation; and reducing the pressure in the formation to a selected pressure when the assessed hydrocarbon isomer shift reaches a selected value.
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996-1007. -1007. (canceled)
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1008. A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
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providing heat to at least part of a hydrocarbon layer in the hydrocarbon containing formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation; allowing the heat to transfer from the heaters to at least a portion of the formation; controlling a pressure in the portion of the formation such the pressure remains below a fracture pressure of the formation overburden by producing at least some fluid from the formation; assessing a weight percentage of saturates in at least a portion of the fluid produced from the formation; and reducing the pressure in the formation to a selected pressure when the assessed weight percentage of saturates reaches a selected value.
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1009-1018. -1018. (canceled)
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1019. A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
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providing heat to at least part of a hydrocarbon layer in the hydrocarbon containing formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation; allowing the heat to transfer from the heaters to at least a portion of the formation; controlling a pressure in the portion of the formation such that the pressure remains below a fracture pressure of the formation overburden by producing at least some fluid from the formation; assessing a weight percentage of n-C7 in at least a portion of the fluid produced from the formation; and reducing the pressure in the formation to a selected pressure when the assessed n-C7 reaches a selected value.
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1020-1936. -1936. (canceled)
Specification