Low temperature barriers with heat interceptor wells for in situ processes
First Claim
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1. A system for reducing heat load applied to a frozen barrier by a heated formation, comprising:
- a plurality of wells in the formation, the plurality of wells configured to heat a treatment area of the formation to form the heated formation;
one or more barriers at least partially surrounding the treatment area configured to inhibit fluid flow into the treatment area, wherein a first barrier closest to the treatment area comprises a plurality of freeze wells, and wherein the plurality of freeze wells form the frozen barrier;
heat interceptor wells positioned between the heated formation and the frozen barrier; and
fluid positioned in the heat interceptor wells, wherein heat transfers from the heated formation to the fluid to reduce the heat load applied to the frozen barrier from the heated formation.
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Abstract
A system for reducing heat load applied to a frozen barrier by a heated formation is described. The system includes heat interceptor wells positioned between the heated formation and the frozen barrier. Fluid is positioned in the heat interceptor wells. Heat transfers from the formation to the fluid to reduce the heat load applied to the frozen barrier.
890 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A system for reducing heat load applied to a frozen barrier by a heated formation, comprising:
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a plurality of wells in the formation, the plurality of wells configured to heat a treatment area of the formation to form the heated formation; one or more barriers at least partially surrounding the treatment area configured to inhibit fluid flow into the treatment area, wherein a first barrier closest to the treatment area comprises a plurality of freeze wells, and wherein the plurality of freeze wells form the frozen barrier; heat interceptor wells positioned between the heated formation and the frozen barrier; and fluid positioned in the heat interceptor wells, wherein heat transfers from the heated formation to the fluid to reduce the heat load applied to the frozen barrier from the heated formation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of reducing heat load applied to freeze wells in a subsurface formation, comprising:
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heating a treatment area of a formation to form a heated formation, wherein the treatment area is surrounded by one or more barriers, and wherein at least a portion of a first barrier closest to the treatment area comprises a plurality of freeze wells for forming a low temperature barrier; circulating a heat transfer fluid in wellbores, wherein the wellbores are positioned between the heated portion of the formation and the freeze wells; transferring heat to the heat transfer fluid; and removing heat from the heat transfer fluid to reduce the heat load applied to the freeze wells from the heated portion of the formation. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A composition comprising hydrocarbons, wherein the hydrocarbons are produced from a subsurface formation surrounded in part by a frozen barrier system, the frozen barrier system comprising:
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heat interceptor wells positioned between a heated treatment area and freeze wells configured to establish a low temperature barrier, wherein the freeze wells comprise at least a portion of one or more barriers at least partially surrounding the heated treatment area, wherein the freeze wells form at least a portion of a first barrier closest to the heated treatment area; and fluid positioned in the heat interceptor wells, wherein heat transfers from the formation to the fluid to reduce the heat load applied to the frozen barrier.
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19. A system for reducing heat load applied to a frozen barrier by a heated formation, comprising:
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heat interceptor wells positioned between the heated formation and the frozen barrier; fluid positioned in the heat interceptor wells, wherein heat transfers from the formation to the fluid to reduce the heat load applied to the frozen barrier; wherein at least one heat interceptor well comprises a heat pipe configured so that heat from the heated formation vaporizes liquid in the heat interceptor well proximate to a heated section of the formation; and wherein the vaporized liquid rises in the heat interceptor well, condenses to liquid in the heat interceptor well and falls by gravity to an area adjacent to the heated section of the formation. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of reducing heat load applied to freeze wells in a subsurface formation, comprising:
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circulating a heat transfer fluid in wellbores, wherein the wellbores are positioned between a heated portion of the formation and the freeze wells; transferring heat to the heat transfer fluid; removing heat from the heat transfer fluid; and wherein circulating the heat transfer fluid in at least one of the wellbores comprises; evaporating liquid heat transfer fluid in a section of the wellbore adjacent to the heated portion of the formation to form vapor; condensing at least a portion of the vapor in an overburden to form liquid heat transfer fluid; and allowing the liquid heat transfer fluid in the overburden to fall by gravity to the section of the wellbore adjacent to the heated portion. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification