Treating tar sands formations with dolomite

• US 7,730,946 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• 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: Karanikas, John Michael, Vinegar, Harold J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SUCHFIELD, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US11/975,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20080142216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 166/272.3
• 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 treating a tar sands formation are described herein. The tar sands formation may include dolomite and hydrocarbons. Methods may include providing heat at less than the decomposition temperature of dolomite from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation. At least some of the hydrocarbon fluids are mobilized in the formation. At least some of the hydrocarbon fluids may be produced from the formation.

Claims

1. A method for treating a formation containing dolomite and hydrocarbons, comprising:

providing heat at less than the decomposition temperature of dolomite from one or more heaters located in an opening in the formation to at least a portion of the formation;

providing heat at or higher than the decomposition temperature of dolomite in another portion of the formation to produce carbon dioxide, the heating being provided such that the carbon dioxide mixes with hydrocarbons in the formation and reduces the viscosity of such hydrocarbons;

mobilizing hydrocarbon fluids in the formation; and

producing hydrocarbon fluids from the formation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the formation is heated to a temperature of less than about 400°

C.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising flowing the mobilized hydrocarbon fluids in an interconnected pore network of the formation.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising flowing the mobilized hydrocarbons fluids in an interconnected pore network of the formation, wherein the interconnected pore network comprises a plurality of vugs.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat is provided to mobilize hydrocarbons in vugs of the formation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the produced hydrocarbons comprise pyrolyzed hydrocarbons.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising draining mobilizing hydrocarbon fluids to a production well in the formation.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising injecting steam into the formation prior to heating.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein heating the formation with the one or more heaters creates injectivity in the formation, and then injecting steam in the formation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the formation comprises water, and the method further comprises controlling a pressure in the formation to control the decomposition of dolomite in the formation.

11. A method for treating a formation containing dolomite and hydrocarbons, comprising:

injecting steam into the formation prior to heating the formation;

providing heat at less than the decomposition temperature of dolomite from one or more heaters located in an opening in the formation to at least a portion of the formation;

mobilizing hydrocarbon fluids in the formation; and

producing hydrocarbon fluids from the formation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the portion of the formation is heated to a temperature of less than about 400°

C.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising flowing the mobilized hydrocarbon fluids in an interconnected pore network of the formation.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein at least some of the produced hydrocarbons comprise pyrolyzed hydrocarbons.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising draining mobilizing hydrocarbon fluids to a production well in the formation.

16. A method for treating a formation containing dolomite and hydrocarbons, comprising:

providing heat at less than the decomposition temperature of dolomite from one or more heaters located in an opening in the formation to at least a portion of the formation, wherein heating the formation with the one or more heaters creates injectivity in the formation;

injecting steam in the formation;

mobilizing hydrocarbon fluids in the formation; and

producing hydrocarbon fluids from the formation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the portion of the formation is heated to a temperature of less than about 400°

C.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising flowing the mobilized hydrocarbon fluids in an interconnected pore network of the formation.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein at least some of the produced hydrocarbons comprise pyrolyzed hydrocarbons.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising draining mobilizing hydrocarbon fluids to a production well in the formation.

21. A method for treating a formation containing dolomite and hydrocarbons, comprising:

providing heat at less than the decomposition temperature of dolomite from one or more heaters located in an opening in the formation to at least a portion of the formation;

controlling a pressure in the formation to control the decomposition of dolomite in the formation, wherein the formation comprises water;

mobilizing hydrocarbon fluids in the formation; and

producing hydrocarbon fluids from the formation.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the portion of the formation is heated to a temperature of less than about 400°

C.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising flowing the mobilized hydrocarbon fluids in an interconnected pore network of the formation.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein at least some of the produced hydrocarbons comprise pyrolyzed hydrocarbons.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising draining mobilizing hydrocarbon fluids to a production well in the formation.