In situ thermal processing of a tar sands formation

• US 7,066,254 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2002
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: de Rouffignac, Eric Pierre, Karanikas, John Michael, Vinegar, Harold J., Wellington, Scott Lee, Crane, Steven Dexter, Roberts, Bruce Edmunds, Messier, Margaret Ann, Maher, Kevin Albert, Sumnu-Dindoruk, Meliha Deniz
• Primary Examiner(s): SUCHFIELD, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US10/279,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20030155111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 166/50, 166/57, 166/59, 166/60, 166/245, 166/250.15, 166/256, 166/257, 166/258, 166/272.1, 166/272.7, 166/302, 299/2
• US Class Current: 166/245
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/04 using electrical heaters
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/14 Obtaining from a multiple-zone well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/166 Injecting a gaseous medium; Injecting a gaseous medium and a liquid medium CO2 injection E21B43/164; steam injection E21B43/24
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2406 Steam assisted gravity drainage [SAGD]
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2408 SAGD in combination with other methods
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/243 Combustion in situ

Abstract

An in situ process for treating a tar sands formation is provided. The process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that heat from the one or more heat sources pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons within the part. Hydrocarbons may be produced from the formation.

Claims

1. A method for treating a tar sands formation in situ, comprising:

providing heat from first heaters to a first section of the formation such that the heat provided to the first section pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons in the first section;

providing heat from second heaters to a second section of the formation such that the heat provided to the second section pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons in the second section;

inducing at least a portion of the hydrocarbons from the second section to flow into the first section; and

producing a mixture from the first section, wherein the produced mixture comprises at least some pyrolyzed hydrocarbons from the second section.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of the first section comprises a first permeability, wherein a portion of the second section comprises a second permeability, and wherein the first permeability is greater than about the second permeability.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of the first section comprises a first permeability, wherein a portion of the second section comprises a second permeability, and wherein the first permeability is less than about the second permeability.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second section is substantially adjacent to the first section.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing heat to a third section of the formation such that the heat provided to the third section pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons in the third section and inducing a portion of the hydrocarbons from the third section to flow into the first section.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the third section is substantially adjacent to the first section.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing heat from third heaters to a third section of the formation such that the heat provided to the third section pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons in the third section; and

inducing a portion of the hydrocarbons from the third section to flow into the first section through the second section.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the third section is substantially adjacent to the second section.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a pressure in the formation below about 150 bars absolute.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising inhibiting production of the produced mixture until at least some hydrocarbons in the formation have been pyrolyzed.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing at least some hydrocarbons from the first section before providing heat to the second section.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing at least some hydrocarbons from the first section before a temperature in the second section reaches a pyrolysis temperature.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a pressure in the formation below a selected pressure by producing at least some hydrocarbons from the formation.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing the produced mixture through at least one production well in or proximate the first section.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing at least some hydrocarbons through at least one production well in or proximate the second section.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the heat provided to the first section and the second section such that conversion of heavy hydrocarbons into light hydrocarbons in the formation is controlled.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein controlling the heat provided to the first section and the second section comprises adjusting heat output of at least one of the first heaters.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein controlling the heat provided to the first section and the second section comprises adjusting heat output of at least one of the second heaters.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the heaters provides heat to both the first section of the formation and the second section of the formation.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the heat provided to the first section and the second section to produce a desired characteristic in the produced mixture.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein controlling the heat provided to the first section and the second section comprises adjusting heat output of at least one of the first heaters.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein controlling the heat provided to the first section and the second section comprises adjusting heat output of at least one of the second heaters.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the desired characteristic in the produced mixture comprises an API gravity of the produced mixture.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the desired characteristic in the produced mixture comprises a production rate of the produced mixture.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the desired characteristic in the produced mixture comprises a weight percentage of light hydrocarbons in the produced mixture.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the produced mixture comprises an API gravity of greater than about 20°

.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the produced mixture comprises an acid number less than about 1.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein greater than about 50% by weight of the initial mass of hydrocarbons in the formation is produced.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first section is above a pyrolysis temperature of the hydrocarbons.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the pyrolysis temperature is at least about 250°

C.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the first heaters comprise a spacing between heated portions of the first heaters of less than about 25 m.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing the mixture when a partial pressure of hydrogen in the formation is at least about 0.5 bars.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat provided from at least one of the first or second heaters is transferred to at least a portion of the formation substantially by conduction.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein a ratio of energy content of the produced mixture to energy input into the formation is at least about 5.

35. A method for treating a tar sands formation in situ, comprising:

providing heat from first heaters to a first section of the formation such that the heat provided to the first section pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons in the first section;

providing heat from second heaters to a second section of the formation such that the heat provided to the second section pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons in the second section;

inducing at least a portion of the hydrocarbons from the second section to flow into the first section;

inhibiting production of a mixture until at least some hydrocarbons in the formation have been pyrolyzed; and

producing the mixture from the first section, wherein the produced mixture comprises at least some pyrolyzed hydrocarbons from the second section.

36. A method for treating a tar sands formation in situ, comprising:

providing heat from first heaters to a first section of the formation such that the heat provided to the first section reduces the viscosity of at least some heavy hydrocarbons in the first section;

providing heat from second heaters to a second section of the formation such that the heat provided to the second section reduces the viscosity of at least some heavy hydrocarbons in the second section;

inducing a portion of the heavy hydrocarbons from the second section to flow into the first section;

pyrolyzing at least some of the heavy hydrocarbons in the first section; and

producing a mixture from the first section, wherein the produced mixture comprises at least some pyrolyzed hydrocarbons.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the second section is substantially adjacent to the first section.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising producing a mixture from the first section of the formation, wherein the mixture comprises at least some heavy hydrocarbons.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising producing the mixture from the first section through a production well in or proximate the first section and pyrolyzing at least some of the heavy hydrocarbons in the production well.

40. The method of claim 36, further comprising pyrolyzing at least some hydrocarbons in the second section.

41. The method of claim 36, further comprising providing heat to a third section of the formation such that the heat provided to the third section reduces the viscosity of at least some heavy hydrocarbons in the third section, and inducing a portion of the heavy hydrocarbons from the third section to flow into the first section.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the third section is substantially adjacent to the first section.

43. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

providing heat from third heaters to a third section of the formation such that the heat provided to the third section reduces the viscosity of at least some heavy hydrocarbons in the third section;

inducing a portion of the heavy hydrocarbons from the third section to flow into the second section;

pyrolyzing at least some of the heavy hydrocarbons in the second section; and

producing a mixture from the second section, wherein the produced mixture comprises at least some pyrolyzed hydrocarbons.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the third section is substantially adjacent to the second section.

45. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

providing heat from third heaters to a third section of the formation such that the heat provided to the third section reduces the viscosity of at least some heavy hydrocarbons in the third section; and

inducing a portion of the heavy hydrocarbons from the third section to flow into the first section through the second section.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the third section is substantially adjacent to the second section.

47. The method of claim 36, wherein at least one of the first or second heaters provides heat to both the first section of the formation and the second section of the formation.

48. The method of claim 36, further comprising controlling the heat provided to the first section and the second section such that conversion of heavy hydrocarbons into light hydrocarbons in the first section is controlled.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein controlling the heat provided to the first section and the second section comprises adjusting heat output of at least one of the first heaters.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein controlling the heat provided to the first section and the second section comprises adjusting heat output of at least one of the second heaters.

51. The method of claim 36, further comprising controlling the heat provided to the first section and the second section to produce a desired characteristic in the produced mixture.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein controlling the heat provided to the first section and the second section comprises adjusting heat output of at least one of the first heaters.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein controlling the heat provided to the first section and the second section comprises adjusting heat output of at least one of the second heaters.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the desired characteristic in the produced mixture comprises an API gravity of the produced mixture.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein the desired characteristic in the produced mixture comprises a weight percentage of light hydrocarbons in the produced mixture.

56. The method of claim 36, further comprising producing at least about 70% of an initial volume in place from the formation.

57. The method of claim 36, wherein the produced mixture comprises an API gravity of greater than about 20°

.

58. The method of claim 36, wherein the produced mixture comprises an acid number less than about 1.

59. The method of claim 36, wherein at least a portion of the first section is above a pyrolysis temperature of the hydrocarbons.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the pyrolysis temperature is at least about 250°

C.

61. The method of claim 36, wherein a spacing between heated sections of at least two of the first or second heaters is less than about 25 m.

62. The method of claim 36, further comprising producing the mixture when a partial pressure of hydrogen in the formation is at least about 0.5 bars.

63. The method of claim 36, wherein the heat provided from at least one of the first or second heaters is transferred to at least a portion of the formation substantially by conduction.

64. The method of claim 36, wherein a ratio of energy content of the produced mixture to energy input into the formation is at least about 5.