Reducing viscosity of oil for production from a hydrocarbon containing formation
First Claim
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1. A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
- providing heat from a plurality of heaters in a plurality of wellbores to a section of the formation located below the surface of the formation, wherein heat from at least one heater in a first wellbore is superpositioned with heat from at least one other heater in a second wellbore to produce hydrocarbon containing formation fluid in the section;
applying electrical current through one or more lead-in cables directly to one or more electrical conductors located in an opening in the formation, wherein the applied electrical current resistively heats the electrical conductors to provide electrically resistive heat output;
allowing heat to transfer from one or more of the electrical conductors to a part of the formation containing at least a portion of the generated hydrocarbon containing formation fluid so that a viscosity of hydrocarbon fluids in the part and at or near the opening adjacent to the part is reduced;
cycling between allowing formation fluid into a lift chamber in the opening through one or more check valves while inhibiting flow of lift gas into the lift chamber through one or more gas injection valves and inhibiting formation fluid into the lift chamber by closing one or more of the check valves while allowing lift gas into the lift chamber through one or more of the gas injection valves to transport formation fluid in the lift chamber through a conduit to the surface of the formation.
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Abstract
Certain embodiments provide a method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation. The method includes applying electrical current to one or more electrical conductors located in an opening in the formation to provide an electrically resistive heat output. The heat is allowed to transfer from the electrical conductors to a part of the formation containing hydrocarbons so that a viscosity of fluids in the part and at or near the opening in the formation is reduced. Gas is provided at one or more locations in the opening such that the fluids are lifted in the opening towards the surface of the formation. The fluids are produced through the opening.
971 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
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providing heat from a plurality of heaters in a plurality of wellbores to a section of the formation located below the surface of the formation, wherein heat from at least one heater in a first wellbore is superpositioned with heat from at least one other heater in a second wellbore to produce hydrocarbon containing formation fluid in the section; applying electrical current through one or more lead-in cables directly to one or more electrical conductors located in an opening in the formation, wherein the applied electrical current resistively heats the electrical conductors to provide electrically resistive heat output; allowing heat to transfer from one or more of the electrical conductors to a part of the formation containing at least a portion of the generated hydrocarbon containing formation fluid so that a viscosity of hydrocarbon fluids in the part and at or near the opening adjacent to the part is reduced; cycling between allowing formation fluid into a lift chamber in the opening through one or more check valves while inhibiting flow of lift gas into the lift chamber through one or more gas injection valves and inhibiting formation fluid into the lift chamber by closing one or more of the check valves while allowing lift gas into the lift chamber through one or more of the gas injection valves to transport formation fluid in the lift chamber through a conduit to the surface of the formation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
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providing heat from a plurality of heaters in a plurality of wellbores to a section of the formation located below the surface of the formation, wherein heat from at least one heater in a first wellbore is superpositioned with heat from at least one other heater in a second wellbore to produce hydrocarbon containing formation fluid in the section; resistively heating a conductor located in an opening in the formation to provide heat that reduces viscosity of fluid adjacent to the conductor, wherein at least a portion of the conductor is located adjacent to a lift chamber in the opening; cycling between allowing liquid formation fluid including at least some hydrocarbons from the section into the lift chamber through one or more check valves while inhibiting flow of lift gas into the lift chamber through one or more gas injection valves and inhibiting formation fluid into the lift chamber by closing one or more of the check valves while allowing lift gas into the lift chamber through one or more of the gas injection valves to transport formation fluid in the lift chamber through a conduit to the surface of the formation; and producing at least a portion of vaporized formation fluid including at least some hydrocarbons from the section through a separate pathway in the opening to limit an amount of vaporized formation fluid passing through the lift chamber. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification