Producing hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbon containing materials when treating a hydrocarbon containing formation
First Claim
1. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ, comprising:
- providing heat from one or more heaters substantially by conduction to a portion of the formation;
allowing the heat to transfer from the portion to a selected section of the formation such that dissociation of carbonate minerals is inhibited;
injecting a first fluid into the selected section;
producing a second fluid from the formation; and
conducting an in situ conversion process in the selected section.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is provided. In one embodiment, heat from one or more heaters may be provided to at least a portion of the formation. Heat may be allowed to transfer from the one or more heaters to at least a part of the formation. In certain embodiments, the heat from the one or more heaters may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons within the formation. In an embodiment, a first fluid may be introduced into at least a portion of the formation. The portion may have previously undergone an in situ conversion process. A mixture of the first fluid and a second fluid (or a second compound) may be produced from the formation. In some embodiments, a first fluid may be provided to the formation prior to pyrolyzing hydrocarbons in the formation, and a second fluid (or a second compound) may be produced prior to pyrolyzing hydrocarbons in the formation. In some embodiments the second fluid or second compound include minerals, metals, salts, or other compounds that may be recovered.
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Citations
82 Claims
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1. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ, comprising:
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providing heat from one or more heaters substantially by conduction to a portion of the formation; allowing the heat to transfer from the portion to a selected section of the formation such that dissociation of carbonate minerals is inhibited; injecting a first fluid into the selected section; producing a second fluid from the formation; and conducting an in situ conversion process in the selected section. - 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, 40)
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41. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ, compnsing:
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providing heat to a portion of the formation; allowing the heat to transfer from the portion to a selected section of the formation such that dissociation of carbonate minerals is inhibited; injecting a first fluid into the selected section; conducting an in situ conversion process in the selected section; producing a second fluid from the formation, wherein the second fluid includes nahcolite; separating at least a portion of the nahcolite from the second fluid; providing heat to at least some of the separated nahcolite to form a sodium carbonate solution; providing at least some of the sodium carbonate solution to at least the portion of the formation; and producing a third fluid including alumina from the formation. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ, comprising:
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providing heat to a portion of the formation; allowing the heat to transfer from the portion to a selected section of the formation such that dissociation of carbonate minerals is inhibited; controlling the heat provided to the formation such that a temperature in the selected section of the formation is less than about 100°
C.;injecting a first fluid into the selected section; producing a second fluid from the formation; and conducting an in situ conversion process in the selected section. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ, comprising:
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providing heat from one or more heaters to a portion of the formation; allowing the heat to transfer from the portion to a selected section of the formation such that dissociation of carbonate minerals is inhibited; injecting a first fluid into the selected section; producing a second fluid from the formation; conducting an in situ conversion process in the selected section; pyrolyzing at least some hydrocarbons in the selected section of the formation; producing a mixture from the formation; reducing a temperature of the selected section of the formation; injecting a third fluid into the selected section; and producing a fourth fluid from the formation. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ, comprising:
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providing heat to a portion of the formation; allowing the heat to transfer from the portion to a selected section of the formation such that dissociation of carbonate minerals is inhibited; injecting a first fluid into the selected section, wherein a temperature in the selected section is less than about 90°
C.;producing a second fluid from the formation; and conducting an in situ conversion process in the selected section. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
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Specification