Seismic monitoring of in situ conversion in a hydrocarbon containing formation

• US 7,051,808 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2002
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Vinegar, Harold J., Berchenko, Ilya Emil, DeMartini, David Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): SUCHFIELD, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US10/279,228
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 166/53, 166/57, 166/59, 166/60, 166/66, 166/250.01, 166/251.1, 166/250.1, 166/250.15, 166/257, 166/272.1, 166/302, 299/2
• US Class Current: 166/250.1
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/02 Extraction using liquids, e.g. washing, leaching , flotation
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/06 thermally
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 2101/00 In situ
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 45/00 Refining of hydrocarbon oils using hydrogen or hydrogen-generating compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 9/24 by heating with electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/0285 characterised by electrically insulating elements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/168 Injecting a gaseous medium
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/24 using heat, e.g. steam injection
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2401 by means of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/243 Combustion in situ
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/305 comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0224 using seismic or acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/26 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified either by the surrounding earth formation or by the detecting device with electromagnetic waves G01V3/30
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/00 Technologies relating to oil refining and petrochemical industry
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/40 Ethylene production
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/901 Specified land fill feature, e.g. prevention of ground water fouling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0391 Affecting flow by the addition of material or energy

Abstract

In an embodiment, a system may be used to heat a hydrocarbon containing formation. The system may include a conduit placed within an opening in the formation. A conductor may be placed within the conduit. The conductor may provide heat to a portion of the formation. In some embodiments, an electrically conductive material may be coupled to a portion of the conductor in the overburden. The electrically conductive material may lower the electrical resistance of the portion of the conductor in the overburden. Lowering the electrical resistance of the portion of the conductor in the overburden may reduce the heat output of the portion in the overburden. The system may allow heat to transfer from the conductor to a section of the formation.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an in situ system of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

providing heat from one or more heaters to a portion of the formation;

monitoring one or more acoustic events in the formation using one or more acoustic detectors placed in a wellbore in the formation;

recording one or more of the acoustic events with an acoustic monitoring system;

analyzing one or more of the recorded acoustic events to determine one or more properties of the formation; and

controlling the in situ system based on the analysis of at least one of the recorded acoustic events.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the acoustic events comprises a seismic event.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is continuously operated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic monitoring system comprises a seismic monitoring system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring more than one of the acoustic events simultaneously with the acoustic monitoring system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring at least one of the acoustic events at a sampling rate of at least once about every 0.25 milliseconds.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing at least one of the recorded acoustic events comprises interpreting at least one of the recorded acoustic events.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the properties of the formation comprises a location of at least one fracture in the formation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the properties of the formation comprises an extent of at least one fracture in the formation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the properties of the formation comprises an orientation of at least one fracture in the formation.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the properties of the formation comprises a location and an extent of at least one fracture in the formation.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the in situ system comprises modifying a temperature of the in situ system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the in situ system comprises modifying a pressure of the in situ system.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the acoustic detectors comprises a geophone.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the acoustic detectors comprises a hydrophone.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing heat to a portion of the formation.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising pyrolyzing some hydrocarbons in a portion of the formation.