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Heating tar sands formations to visbreaking temperatures

  • US 7,635,024 B2
  • Filed: 10/19/2007
  • Issued: 12/22/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for treating a tar sands formation, comprising:

  • heating at least a section of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation;

    controlling the heating so that at least a majority of the section reaches an average temperature of between about 200°

    C. and about 240°

    C. resulting in visbreaking of at least some hydrocarbons in the section;

    maintaining a pressure in the section below a fracture pressure of the section and within about 1 MPa of the fracture pressure of the section; and

    producing at least some visbroken hydrocarbon fluids from the formation.

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