In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with quality control
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for treating a relatively permeable formation in situ, comprising:
- providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the relatively permeable formation;
allowing the heat to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that the heat pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons within the part of the formation;
producing a mixture from the part of the formation when a partial pressure of hydrogen in the formation is at least about 0.5 bars absolute; and
controlling a quality of the produced mixture by varying a location for producing the mixture.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for treating a relatively permeable formation containing heavy hydrocarbons in situ may include providing heat from one or more heat sources to a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat sources to a selected section of the formation. The transferred heat may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons within the selected section. A mixture may be produced from the selected section. A quality of the produced mixture may be controlled by varying a location for producing the mixture.
902 Citations
37 Claims
-
1. A method for treating a relatively permeable formation in situ, comprising:
-
providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the relatively permeable formation; allowing the heat to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that the heat pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons within the part of the formation; producing a mixture from the part of the formation when a partial pressure of hydrogen in the formation is at least about 0.5 bars absolute; and controlling a quality of the produced mixture by varying a location for producing the mixture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method for treating a relatively permeable formation in situ, comprising:
-
providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the relatively permeable formation; allowing the heat to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that the heat pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons within the part of the formation; producing a mixture from the part of the formation; and controlling a quality of the produced mixture by varying a location for producing the mixture, wherein varying the location for producing the mixture comprises varying a production location within a production well in or proximate the part of the formation. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A method for treating a relatively permeable formation in situ, comprising:
-
providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the relatively permeable formation; allowing the heat to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that the heat pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons within the part of the formation; producing a mixture from the part of the formation; and controlling a quality of the produced mixture by varying a location for producing the mixture, wherein varying the location for producing the mixture comprises varying the location along a length of a production wellbore placed in the formation. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
Specification