Wax barrier for use with in situ processes for treating formations

• US 7,703,513 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Carter, Ernest E., Khoda Verdian, Mohamad Fereydoon, Son, Jaime Santos, Bai, Taixu, Vinegar, Harold J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SUCHFIELD, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US11/975,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20080185147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 166/245
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/02 by distillation
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/4037 In-situ processes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/04 using electrical heaters
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/243 Combustion in situ
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/30 Specific pattern of wells, e.g. optimising the spacing of wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0228 using electromagnetic energy or detectors therefor

Abstract

Methods for forming a barrier around at least a portion of a treatment area in a subsurface formation are described herein. A material including wax may be introduced into one or more wellbores. The material introduced into two or more wells may mix in the formation and congeal to form a barrier to fluid flow.

Claims

1. A method of forming a wellbore in a formation through at least two permeable zones, comprising:

drilling a first portion of the wellbore to a depth between a first permeable zone and a second permeable zone;

heating a portion of the formation adjacent to the first permeable zone to a temperature above the melting temperature of a first fluid comprising wax;

introducing the first fluid through the wellbore into the first permeable zone, wherein a portion of the first fluid enters the first permeable zone and congeals in the first permeable zone to form a first barrier; and

drilling a second portion of the wellbore through the second permeable zone to a desired depth.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first barrier inhibits contamination of fluid flowing in the first permeable zone with fluid flowing in the second permeable zone.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating a portion of the formation adjacent to the second permeable zone to a temperature above a melting temperature of a second fluid comprising wax, and introducing the second fluid through the wellbore into the second permeable zone, wherein a portion of the second fluid enters the second permeable zone and congeals to form a second barrier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein heating the portion of the formation adjacent to the first permeable zone comprises using one or more antennas to heat fluid in the first permeable zone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein heating the portion of the formation adjacent to the first permeable zone comprises using one or more electrical heaters in the wellbore to heat the first permeable zone.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fluid comprises branched chain waxes.

7. A method of providing a barrier and treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

providing a fluid to a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation at least partially surrounding a treatment area in the formation, wherein the fluid comprises liquefied wax, and at least a first part of the portion is at a temperature below a melting point temperature of the wax;

allowing the wax to solidify in the first part of the portion that is at the temperature below the melting point temperature of the wax, wherein the solidified wax forms the barrier that at least partially surrounds the treatment area;

providing heat to at least part of the treatment area from one or more heaters located in the treatment area;

mobilizing at least some hydrocarbons located in the treatment area with the provided heat; and

producing at least some of the mobilized hydrocarbons from the treatment area.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing the fluid through a plurality of wellbores located in the portion of the formation at least partially surrounding the treatment area.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising pressurizing the fluid such that at least some of the fluid flows into the first part of the portion of the formation at least partially surrounding the treatment area.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing heat to at least a second part of the portion of the formation at least partially surrounding the treatment area prior to providing the fluid to the portion, wherein the provided heat heats the second part to a temperature above the melting point temperature of the wax, and wherein the first part of the portion and the second part of the portion are separate parts of the portion.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the fluid is provided to the second part of the portion.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising forming a low temperature barrier that at least partially surrounds the treatment area.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising forming a low temperature barrier that at least partially surrounds the treatment area, wherein the solidified wax barrier and the low temperature barrier inhibit fluid migration into or out of the treatment area.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

pyrolyzing at least some hydrocarbons located in the treatment area with the provided heat; and

producing at least some of the pyrolyzed hydrocarbons from the treatment area.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the heat provided by the heaters located in the treatment area does not raise the temperature of the solidified wax barrier above the melting point temperature of the wax.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising mobilizing at least some hydrocarbons located in the treatment area with the provided heat.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising mobilizing at least some hydrocarbons located in the treatment area with the provided heat, and producing at least some of the mobilized hydrocarbons from the treatment area.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the fluid through a plurality of wellbores located in the portion of the formation at least partially surrounding the treatment area.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising pressurizing the fluid such that the fluid flows into one or more of the permeable sections of the portion at least partially surrounding the treatment area.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the solidified wax barrier inhibits fluid migration into or out of the treatment area.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

pyrolyzing at least some hydrocarbons located in the treatment area with the provided heat; and

producing at least some of the pyrolyzed hydrocarbons from the treatment area.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the heat provided by the heaters located in the treatment area does not raise the temperature of the solidified wax barrier above a melting point temperature of the wax.

16. A method of providing a barrier and treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

providing heat to a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation at least partially surrounding a treatment area in the formation, wherein the portion includes one or more permeable sections;

providing a fluid to the portion at least partially surrounding the treatment area, wherein the fluid comprises liquefied wax;

allowing the fluid to flow into one or more of the permeable sections of the portion at least partially surrounding the treatment area;

allowing the wax to solidify in at least some of the permeable sections to form the barrier that at least partially surrounds the treatment area; and

providing heat to at least part of the treatment area from one or more heaters located in the treatment area.