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Heating tar sands formations while controlling pressure

  • US 7,644,765 B2
  • Filed: 10/19/2007
  • Issued: 01/12/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
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;

    maintaining a pressure in the majority of the section below a fracture pressure of the formation while an average temperature in the section is at a temperature below about 24°

    C.;

    reducing the pressure in the majority of the section to a selected pressure after the average temperature reaches a temperature that is above about 240°

    C. and at or below pyrolysis temperatures of hydrocarbons in the section; and

    producing at least some hydrocarbon fluids from the formation.

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