Methods of treating a subterranean formation to convert organic matter into producible hydrocarbons

• US 7,331,385 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2004
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaminsky, Robert D., Passey, Quinn R., Thomas, Michele M., Symington, William A., Moss, Jeff H., El-Rabaa, Abdel Wadood M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsay; Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/558,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20070000662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 166/248, 166/272.1, 166272- 2, 166/263, 166/279, 166/308
• US Class Current: 166/248
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2401 by means of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2405 in association with fracturing or crevice forming processes E21B43/247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/26 by forming crevices or fractures

Abstract

Methods are provided that include the steps of providing wells in a formation, establishing one or more fractures (12) in the formation, such that each fracture intersects at least one of the wells (16, 18), placing electrically conductive material in the fractures, and generating electric current through the fractures and through the material such that sufficient heat (10) is generated by electrical resistivity within the material to pyrolyze organic matter in the formation into producible hydrocarbons.

Claims

1. A method of treating a subterranean formation that contains solid organic matter, said method comprising:

(a) providing one or more wells that penetrate a treatment interval within the subterranean formation;

(b) establishing at least one fracture from at least one of said wells, whereby said fracture intersects at least one of said wells;

(c) placing electrically conductive material in said fracture; and

(d) passing electric current through said fracture such that said current passes through at least a portion of said electrically conductive material and sufficient heat is generated by electrical resistivity within said portion of said electrically conductive material to pyrolyze at least a portion of said solid organic matter into producible hydrocarbons.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said subterranean formation comprises oil shale.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said wells are substantially vertical.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said wells are substantially horizontal.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said fracture is substantially horizontal.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said fracture is substantially vertical.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said fracture is substantially longitudinal to the well from which it is established.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive material comprises a proppant material.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive material comprises a conductive cement.

10. A method of treating a subterranean formation that contains solid organic matter, said method comprising:

(a) providing one or more wells that penetrate a treatment interval within the subterranean formation;

(b) establishing at least one fracture from at least one of said wells, whereby said fracture intersects at least one of said wells;

(c) placing electrically conductive proppant material in said fracture; and

(d) passing electric current through said fracture such that said current passes through at least a portion of said electrically conductive proppant material and sufficient heat is generated by electrical resistivity within said portion of said electrically conductive proppant material to pyrolyze at least a portion of said solid organic matter into producible hydrocarbons.

11. A method of treating a subterranean formation that contains solid organic matter, said method comprising:

(a) providing two or more wells that penetrate a treatment interval within the subterranean formation;

(b) establishing at least one fracture from at least one of said wells, whereby said fracture intersects at least two of said wells;

(c) placing electrically conductive material in said fracture; and

(d) passing electric current through said fracture such that said current passes through at least a portion of said electrically conductive material and sufficient heat is generated by electrical resistivity within said portion of said electrically conductive material to pyrolyze at least a portion of said solid organic matter into producible hydrocarbons.

12. A method of treating a subterranean formation that contains solid organic matter, said method comprising:

(a) providing two or more wells that penetrate a treatment interval within the subterranean formation;

(b) establishing at least one fracture from at least one of said wells, whereby said fracture intersects at least two of said wells;

(c) placing electrically conductive proppant material in said fracture; and

(d) passing electric current through said fracture such that said current passes through at least a portion of said electrically conductive proppant material and sufficient heat is generated by electrical resistivity within said portion of said electrically conductive proppant material to pyrolyze at least a portion of said solid organic matter into producible hydrocarbons.

13. A method of treating a heavy oil or tar sand subterranean formation containing hydrocarbons, said method comprising:

(a) providing one or more wells that penetrate a treatment interval within the subterranean formation;

(b) establishing at least one fracture from at least one of said wells, whereby said fracture intersects at least one of said wells;

(c) placing electrically conductive material in said fracture; and

(d) passing electric current through said fracture such that said current passes through at least a portion of said electrically conductive material and sufficient heat is generated by electrical resistivity within said portion of said electrically conductive material to reduce the viscosity of at least a portion of said hydrocarbons.