Methods and systems for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ with an opening contacting the earth's surface at two locations

• US 7,063,145 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2002
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• 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: Karanikas, John Michael, de Rouffignac, Eric Pierre, Vinegar, Harold J., Wellington, Scott Lee, Veenstra, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): SUCHFIELD, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US10/279,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20030183390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 166/50, 166/57, 166/59, 166/250.01, 166/250.07, 166/272.1, 166/272.7, 166/302, 166/303, 166/313, 166/384, 166/385, 175/45, 175/53, 175/61, 175/62, 405/154.1, 405/184, 405/184.1
• US Class Current: 166/250.01
• 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 method for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation may include providing heat from one or more heaters to an opening in the formation. A first end of the opening may contact the earth'"'"'s surface at a first location and a second end of the opening may contact the earth'"'"'s surface at a second location. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the opening to at least a part of the formation. The transferred heat may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in the formation. In certain embodiments, providing the heat to the opening may include providing heat, heated materials, and/or oxidation products from at least one heater to the opening.

Claims

1. An in situ method for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

heating a fluid using at least one surface unit;

providing the heated fluid to a first conduit wherein a portion of the first conduit is positioned in an opening in the formation, wherein a first end of the opening contacts an earth surface at a first location, and wherein a second end of the opening contacts the earth surface at a second location;

allowing the heated fluid to flow in a second conduit, wherein the first conduit is positioned in the second conduit; and

allowing heat from the first and second conduit to transfer to a portion of the formation.

48. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing additional heat to the heated fluid using at least one additional surface unit proximate the second location.

49. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises an oxidizing fluid.

50. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises air.

51. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises flue gas.

52. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises steam.

53. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises fuel.

54. The method of claim 1, further comprising compressing the fluid prior to heating.

55. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface unit comprises a furnace.

56. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface unit comprises an indirect furnace.

57. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface unit comprises a burner.

58. The method of claim 1, wherein the first conduit and the second conduit are concentric.

2. A method for forming a wellbore and installing a heater in a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

forming an opening in the formation, wherein the opening comprises a first end that contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a first location and a second end that contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a second location; and

placing a heater in or coupled to the opening, wherein the heater is placed in the opening by pulling the heater from the second end of the opening towards the first end of the opening with machinery located at the first end of the opening, and wherein the heater is configured to provide or transfer heat to at least a portion of the formation to pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in the formation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the opening comprises a portion that is formed substantially horizontally in a hydrocarbon layer of the formation.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising forming the first end of the opening at an angle with respect to the earth'"'"'s surface, wherein the angle is between about 5°

and about 20°

.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising forming the second end of the opening at an angle with respect to the earth'"'"'s surface, wherein the angle is between about 5°

and about 20°

.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the first end and the second end of the opening comprise portions of the opening located substantially in an overburden of the formation.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the first end and the second end of the opening comprise portions of the opening located substantially in the overburden of the formation, the method further comprising placing reinforcing material in the portions of the opening in the overburden.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein forming the opening comprises drilling an opening from the first end of the opening towards the second end of the opening using machinery located at the first end of the opening.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising reaming out the opening.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the heater is laid out on the surface of the formation before the heater is placed in the opening.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the heater is unspooled on the surface of the formation as the heater is placed in the opening.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the heater comprises at least one oxidizer located in the opening.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the heater comprises at least one oxidizer located on the surface, and coupled to the opening.

14. The method of claim 2, further comprising fonning a second opening in the formation using, at least in part, a magnetic field produced in the opening in the formation, wherein the second opening comprises a first end that contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a first location and a second end that contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a second location.

15. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ, comprising:

providing heat from one or more heaters placed in, or coupled to, one or more openings in the formation to at least one part of the formation, wherein at least one opening comprises a first end that contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a first location and a second end that contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a second location, wherein at least one heater is placed in at least one opening by pulling the heater form the second end of the opening towards the first end of the opening with machinery located at the first end of the opening;

allowing the heat to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation to substantially pyrolyze at least a portion of the formation; and

producing a mixture from the formation, wherein the mixture comprises at least some pyrolyzation products.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one opening has been formed by drilling the opening from the first end of the opening towards the second end of the opening using machinery located at the first end of the opening.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one opening comprises a portion that is formed substantially horizontally in a hydrocarbon layer of the formation.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first end of the opening is formed at an angle with respect to the earth'"'"'s surface, and wherein the angle is between about 5°

and about 20°

.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the second end of the opening is formed at an angle with respect to the earth'"'"'s surface, and wherein the angle is between about 5°

and about 20°

.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising maintaining a temperature in at least a portion of the formation in a pyrolysis temperature range with a lower pyrolysis temperature of about 250°

C. and an upper pyrolysis temperature of about 400°

C.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising heating at least a part of the formation to substantially pyrolyze at least a majority of the hydrocarbons in the formation in a selected section of the formation.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising controlling a pressure and a temperature in at least a part of the formation, wherein the pressure is controlled as a function of temperature, or the temperature is controlled as a function of pressure.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein allowing the heat to transfer from the one or more heaters to the part of the formation comprises transferring heat substantially by conduction.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the produced mixture comprises condensable hydrocarbons having an API gravity of at least about 25°

.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising controlling a pressure in at least a majority of a part of the formation, wherein the controlled pressure is at least about 2.0 bars absolute.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising controlling formation conditions such that the produced mixture comprises a partial pressure of H₂ in the mixture greater than about 0.5 bars.

27. An in situ method for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

providing heat from one or more heaters to an opening in the formation, wherein a first end of the opening contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a first location, wherein a second end of the opening contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a second location, and wherein at least one of the heaters is placed in the opening by pulling the heater from the second end of the opening towards the first end of the opening with machinery located at the first end of the opening; and

allowing the heat to transfer from the opening to at least a part of the formation to pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in the formation.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein providing heat to the opening comprises providing heat from at least one heater to the opening.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein providing heat to the opening comprises providing heated materials from at least one heater to the opening.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein providing heat to the opening comprises providing oxidation products from at least one heater to the opening.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising allowing the heat to transfer from a conduit positioned in at least a portion of the opening.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising allowing the heat to transfer from the conduit and through an annulus formed between a wall of the opening and a wall of the conduit.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one of the heaters comprises an oxidizer, the method further comprising:

providing fuel to the oxidizer; and

oxidizing at least some of the fuel.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising allowing heat to migrate through the opening, and thereby transfer heat to at least a part of the formation.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising recycling at least some fuel to at least one additional oxidizer.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one heater comprises a surface unit, the method further comprising heating a fluid or other material using the surface unit.

37. The method of claim 36, allowing the heated fluid or other material to migrate through the opening, and thereby transfer heat to at least a part of the formation.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one of the heaters comprises an oxidizer, and further comprising:

providing fuel to a conduit positioned in the opening;

providing an oxidizing fluid to the oxidizer, wherein the oxidizer is positioned in or coupled to the conduit in the opening;

oxidizing the fuel in the oxidizer; and

allowing the heat to transfer to at least a part of the formation.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising providing oxidation products from the oxidized fuel to the opening proximate the first location, and then allowing the oxidation products to exit the opening proximate the second location.

40. The method of claim 27, further comprising providing a fluid to the opening in order to inhibit coking in or proximate the opening.

41. The method of claim 27, further comprising controlling a pressure and a temperature in at least a majority of the part of the formation, wherein the pressure is controlled as a function of temperature.

42. The method of claim 27, further comprising controlling a pressure and a temperature in at least a majority of the part of the formation, wherein the temperature is controlled as a function of pressure.

43. The method of claim 27, further comprising producing a mixture from the formation, wherein the produced mixture comprises condensable hydrocarbons having an API gravity of at least about 25°

.

44. The method of claim 27, further comprising controlling a pressure in at least a majority of the part of the formation, wherein the controlled pressure is at least about 2.0 bars absolute.

45. The method of claim 27, further comprising controlling formation conditions such that a produced mixture comprises a partial pressure of H₂ in the mixture greater than about 0.5 bars.

46. The method of claim 27, further comprising altering a pressure in the formation to inhibit production of hydrocarbons from the formation having carbon numbers greater than about 25.

47. The method of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the part of the formation is heated to a minimum pyrolysis temperature of about 270°

C.

59. A method for forming a wellbore and installing a heater in a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

forming an opening in the formation, wherein the opening comprises a first end that contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a first location and a second end that contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a second location; and

placing a heater in or coupled to the opening, wherein the heater is coupled to a drill bit used to form the opening, wherein the heater is placed in the opening by pulling the heater coupled to the drill bit from the second end of the opening towards the first end of the opening with machinery located at the first end of the opening, and wherein the heater is configured to provide or transfer heat to at least a portion of the formation to pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in the formation.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the opening comprises a portion that is formed substantially horizontally in a hydrocarbon layer of the formation.

61. The method of claim 59, further comprising forming the first end of the opening at an angle with respect to the earth'"'"'s surface, wherein the angle is between about 5°

and about 20°

.

62. The method of claim 59, further comprising forming the second end of the opening at an angle with respect to the earth'"'"'s surface, wherein the angle is between about 5°

and about 20°

.

63. The method of claim 59, wherein the first end and the second end of the opening comprise portions of the opening located substantially in an overburden of the formation.

64. The method of claim 59, wherein the first end and the second end of the opening comprise portions of the opening located substantially in the overburden of the formation, the method further comprising placing reinforcing material in the portions of the opening in the overburden.

65. The method of claim 59, wherein forming the opening comprises drilling an opening from the first end of the opening towards the second end of the opening using machinery located at the first end of the opening.

66. A method for forming a wellbore and installing a heater in a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

forming an opening in the formation, wherein the opening comprises a first end that contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a first location and a second end that contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a second location; and

placing a heater in or coupled to the opening, comprising reaming out the opening while pulling a heater from the second end of the opening towards the first end of the opening with machinery located at the first end of the opening, wherein the heater is configured to provide or transfer heat to at least a portion of the formation to pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in the formation.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the opening comprises a portion that is formed substantially horizontally in a hydrocarbon layer of the formation.

68. The method of claim 66, further comprising reaming out the opening.

69. The method of claim 66, wherein the heater is laid out on the surface of the formation before the heater is placed in the opening.

70. The method of claim 66, wherein the heater is unspooled on the surface of the formation as the heater is placed in the opening.

71. The method of claim 66, wherein the heater comprises at least one oxidizer located in the opening.

72. The method of claim 66, wherein the heater comprises at least one oxidizer located on the surface, and coupled to the opening.

73. The method of claim 66, further comprising forming a second opening in the formation using, at least in part, a magnetic field produced in the opening in the formation, wherein the second opening comprises a first end that contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a first location and a second end that contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a second location.

74. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ, comprising:

providing heat from one or more heaters placed in, or coupled to, one or more openings in the formation to at least one part of the formation, wherein at least one opening comprises a first end that contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a first location and a second end that contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a second location, wherein at least one heater is coupled to a drill bit used to form at least one opening, and wherein the at least one heater is placed in the at least one opening by pulling the heater coupled to the drill bit from the second end of the opening towards the first end of the opening by pulling the heater coupled to the drill bit from the second end of the opening towards the first end of the opening with machinery located at the first end of the opening;

allowing the heat to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation to substantially pyrolyze at least a portion of the formation; and

producing a mixture from the formation, wherein the mixture comprises at least some pyrolyzation products.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein at least one opening has been formed by drilling the opening from the first end of the opening towards the second end of the opening using machinery located at the first end of the opening.

76. The method of claim 74, wherein at least one opening comprises a portion that is formed substantially horizontally in a hydrocarbon layer of the formation.

77. The method of claim 74, wherein the first end of the opening is formed at an angle with respect to the earth'"'"'s surface, and wherein the angle is between about 5°

and about 20°

.

78. The method of claim 74, wherein the second end of the opening is formed at an angle with respect to the earth'"'"'s surface, and wherein the angle is between about 5°

and about 20°

.

79. The method of claim 74, further comprising maintaining a temperature in at least a portion of the formation in a pyrolysis temperature range with a lower pyrolysis temperature of about 250°

C. and an upper pyrolysis temperature of about 400°

C.

80. The method of claim 74, further comprising heating at least a part of the formation to substantially pyrolyze at least a majority of the hydrocarbons in the formation in a selected section of the formation.

81. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ, comprising:

providing heat from one or more heaters placed in, or coupled to, one or more openings in the formation to at least one part of the formation, wherein at least one opening comprises a first end that contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a first location and a second end that contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a second location;

reaming out at least one of the openings while pulling one of the heaters from the second end of the opening towards the first end of the opening with machinery located at the first end of the opening;

allowing the heat to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation to substantially pyrolyze at least a portion of the formation; and

producing a mixture from the formation, wherein the mixture comprises at least some pyrolyzation products.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein at least one opening has been formed by drilling the opening from the first end of the opening towards the second end of the opening using machinery located at the first end of the opening.

83. The method of claim 81, further comprising controlling a pressure and a temperature in at least a part of the formation, wherein the pressure is controlled as a function of temperature, or the temperature is controlled as a function of pressure.

84. The method of claim 81, wherein allowing the heat to transfer from the one or more heaters to the part of the formation comprises transferring heat substantially by conduction.

85. The method of claim 81, wherein the produced mixture comprises condensable hydrocarbons having an API gravity of at least about 250.

86. The method of claim 81, further comprising controlling a pressure in at least a majority of a part of the formation, wherein the controlled pressure is at least about 2.0 bars absolute.

87. The method of claim 81, further comprising controlling formation conditions such that the produced mixture comprises a partial pressure of H₂ in the mixture greater than about 0.5 bars.

88. An in situ method for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

providing heat from one or more heaters to an opening in the formation, wherein a first end of the opening contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a first location, wherein a second end of the opening contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a second location, and wherein at least one of the heaters is coupled to a drill bit used to form the opening, and wherein the heater is placed in the opening by pulling the heater coupled to the drill bit from the second end of the opening towards the first end of the opening with machinery located at the first end of the opening; and

allowing the heat to transfer from the opening to at least a part of the formation to pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in the formation.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein at least one of the heaters comprises an oxidizer, the method further comprising:

providing fuel to the oxidizer; and

oxidizing at least some of the fuel.

90. The method of claim 89, further comprising allowing heat to migrate through the opening, and thereby transfer heat to at least a part of the formation.

91. The method of claim 88, wherein at least one of the heaters comprises a surface unit, the method further comprising heating a fluid or other material using the surface unit.

92. The method of claim 88, further comprising providing a fluid in the opening in order to inhibit coking in or proximate the opening.

93. An in situ method for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

providing heat from one or more heaters to an opening in the formation, wherein a first end of the opening contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a first location, and wherein a second end of the opening contacts the earth'"'"'s surface at a second location;

reaming out the opening while pulling at least one of the heaters from the second end of the opening towards the first end of the opening with machinery located at the first end of the opening; and

allowing the heat to transfer from the opening to at least a part of the formation to pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in the formation.

94. The method of claim 93, wherein at least one of the heaters comprises an oxidizer, the method further comprising:

providing fuel to the oxidizer; and

oxidizing at least some of the fuel.

95. The method of claim 94, further comprising allowing heat to migrate through the opening, and thereby transfer heat to at least a part of the formation.

96. The method of claim 93, wherein at least one of the heaters comprises a surface unit, the method further comprising heating a fluid or other material using the surface unit.