Sulfur barrier for use with in situ processes for treating formations
First Claim
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1. A method of forming a barrier in a formation, comprising:
- heating a portion of a formation adjacent to a plurality of wellbores to raise a temperature of the formation adjacent to the wellbores above a melting temperature of sulfur and below a pyrolysis temperature of hydrocarbons in the formation;
introducing molten sulfur into at least some of the wellbores; and
allowing the sulfur to move outwards from the wellbores towards portions of the formation cooler than the melting temperature of sulfur so that the sulfur solidifies in the formation to form a barrier.
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Abstract
Methods for forming a barrier around at least a portion of a treatment area in a subsurface formation are described herein. Sulfur may be introduced into one or more wellbores located inside a perimeter of a treatment area in the formation having a permeability of at least 0.1 darcy. At least some of the sulfur is allowed to move towards portions of the formation cooler than the melting point of sulfur to solidify the sulfur in the formation to form the barrier.
1060 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of forming a barrier in a formation, comprising:
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heating a portion of a formation adjacent to a plurality of wellbores to raise a temperature of the formation adjacent to the wellbores above a melting temperature of sulfur and below a pyrolysis temperature of hydrocarbons in the formation; introducing molten sulfur into at least some of the wellbores; and allowing the sulfur to move outwards from the wellbores towards portions of the formation cooler than the melting temperature of sulfur so that the sulfur solidifies in the formation to form a barrier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for forming a barrier around at least a portion of a treatment area in a subsurface formation, comprising:
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introducing sulfur into one or more wellbores located inside a perimeter of a treatment area in the formation, wherein the treatment area has a permeability of at least 0.1 darcy, wherein at least a portion of the sulfur is provided as a vapor into the formation; and allowing at least some of the sulfur to move towards portions of the formation cooler than the melting point of sulfur to solidify the sulfur in the formation to form a barrier. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification