Thermal processing of an oil shale formation to increase permeability of the formation
First Claim
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1. A method of treating an oil shale formation in situ, comprising:
- providing heat from one or more heaters disposed in the formation to at least a section of the formation such that an average heating rate of the section of the formation is less than about 1°
C. per day in a pyrolysis temperature range; and
allowing the heat to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that a permeability of at least a portion of the part of the formation increases to greater than about 100 millidarcy.
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Abstract
An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat may also be applied to the formation to increase a permeability of the formation. In some embodiments, the permeability of a portion of the formation may increase to a relatively high permeability as compared to the initial permeability.
445 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of treating an oil shale formation in situ, comprising:
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providing heat from one or more heaters disposed in the formation to at least a section of the formation such that an average heating rate of the section of the formation is less than about 1°
C. per day in a pyrolysis temperature range; andallowing the heat to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that a permeability of at least a portion of the part of the formation increases to greater than about 100 millidarcy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of treating an oil shale formation in situ, comprising:
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providing heat from one or more heaters disposed in the formation to at least a section of the formation; and allowing the heat to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that an average heating rate of the part of the formation is less than about 1°
C. per day in a pyrolysis temperature range and such that a permeability of a majority of at least a portion of the part of the formation increases substantially uniformly. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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Specification