Non-ferromagnetic overburden casing

• US 7,793,722 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Vinegar, Harold J., Harris, Christopher Kelvin, Mason, Stanley Leroy
• Primary Examiner(s): KRECK, JOHN J
• Application Number:
  US11/788,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20080017380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 166/302, 166/60, 166/242.1, 166/242.4
• US Class Current: 166/302
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 1/08 Tubular products
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/013 one layer being formed of an iron alloy or steel, another layer being formed of a metal other than iron or aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/015 the said other metal being copper or nickel or an alloy thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/202 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/208 Magnetic, paramagnetic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/002 comprising natural stone or artificial stone
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/045 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 2211/001 Austenite
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 2211/004 Dispersions; Precipitations
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 2211/005 Ferrite
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 6/002 containing Cr C21D6/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 6/007 containing Co
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/02 containing silicon
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/04 containing manganese
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/10 containing cobalt
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/12 containing tungsten, tantalum, molybdenum, vanadium, or niobium
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/14 containing titanium or zirconium
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/24 with vanadium
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/28 with titanium or zirconium
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/30 with cobalt
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/04 : using electrical heaters
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2401 : by means of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/10 : Regulating voltage or current G05F1/02 takes precedence; for electric railways B60M3/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 166/902 : for inhibiting corrosion or coating

Abstract

Systems, methods, and heaters for treating a subsurface formation are described herein. At least one system for electrically insulating an overburden portion of a heater wellbore is described. The system may include a heater wellbore located in a subsurface formation and an electrically insulating casing located in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore. The casing may include at least one non-ferromagnetic material such that ferromagnetic effects are inhibited in the casing.

Claims

1. A system for electrically insulating an overburden portion of a heater wellbore, comprising:

the heater wellbore located in a subsurface formation; and

an electrically insulating casing located in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore, the casing comprising at least one non-ferromagnetic material such that ferromagnetic effects are inhibited in the casing, wherein the non-ferromagnetic material comprises high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and non-metallic material; and

a heater located in the heater wellbore, wherein the heater is configured to provide heat to at least a portion of the subsurface formation.

2. A system for electrically insulating an overburden portion of a heater wellbore, comprising:

the heater wellbore located in a subsurface formation; and

an electrically insulating casing located in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore, the casing comprising at least one non-ferromagnetic material such that ferromagnetic effects are inhibited in the casing, and the casing comprises a ferromagnetic metal coupled to the inside diameter of a non-ferromagnetic metal such that ferromagnetic effects are inhibited in the casing; and

a heater located in the heater wellbore, wherein the heater is configured to provide heat to at least a portion of the subsurface formation.

3. A method for electrically insulating an overburden portion of a heater wellbore, comprising:

locating an electrically insulating casing in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore in a subsurface formation, wherein the casing comprises at least one non-ferromagnetic material that inhibits ferromagnetic effects in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore, wherein the non-ferromagnetic material comprises high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and non-metallic material; and

installing a heater in the heater wellbore.

4. A method for electrically insulating an overburden portion of a heater wellbore, comprising:

locating an electrically insulating casing in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore in a subsurface formation, wherein the casing comprises at least one non-ferromagnetic material that inhibits ferromagnetic effects in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore, and the casing comprises a ferromagnetic metal coupled to the inside diameter of a non-ferromagnetic metal such that ferromagnetic effects are inhibited in the casing; and

installing a heater in the heater wellbore.

5. A method for treating a subsurface formation, comprising:

providing heat to at least a portion of the subsurface formation with a heater located in a heater wellbore in a subsurface formation, wherein an electrically insulating casing is located in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore in the subsurface formation, the casing comprises at least one non-ferromagnetic material that inhibits ferromagnetic effects in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore, and the non-ferromagnetic material comprises high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and non-metallic material.

6. A method for treating a subsurface formation, comprising:

providing heat to at least a portion of the subsurface formation with a heater located in a heater wellbore in a subsurface formation, wherein an electrically insulating casing is located in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore in the subsurface formation, the casing comprises at least one non-ferromagnetic material that inhibits ferromagnetic effects in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore, and the casing comprises a ferromagnetic metal coupled to the inside diameter of a non-ferromagnetic metal such that ferromagnetic effects are inhibited in the casing.

7. A system for electrically insulating an overburden portion of a heater wellbore, comprising:

the heater wellbore located in a subsurface formation; and

an electrically insulating casing located in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore, the casing comprising at least one non-ferromagnetic material such that ferromagnetic effects are inhibited in the casing, wherein the non-ferromagnetic material comprises fiberglass and non-metallic material; and

a heater located in the heater wellbore, wherein the heater is configured to provide heat to at least a portion of the subsurface formation.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the non-ferromagnetic material comprises high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the casing consists of non-ferromagnetic material.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the casing comprises a ferromagnetic metal coupled to the inside diameter of a non-ferromagnetic metal such that ferromagnetic effects are inhibited in the casing.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the ferromagnetic metal comprises carbon steel and the non-ferromagnetic metal comprises copper.

12. A method for electrically insulating an overburden portion of a heater wellbore, comprising:

locating an electrically insulating casing in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore in a subsurface formation, wherein the casing comprises at least one non-ferromagnetic material that inhibits ferromagnetic effects in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore, wherein the non-ferromagnetic material comprises fiberglass and non-metallic material; and

installing a heater in the heater wellbore.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the non-ferromagnetic material comprises high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the casino consists of non-ferromagnetic material.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the casing comprises a ferromagnetic metal coupled to the inside diameter of a non-ferromagnetic metal such that ferromagnetic effects are inhibited in the casing.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the ferromagnetic metal comprises carbon steel and the non-ferromagnetic metal comprises copper.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing heat to at least a portion of the subsurface formation with the heater located in the heater wellbore.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the subsurface formation comprises a hydrocarbon containing formation, the method further comprising providing heat to at least a portion of the formation with the heater located in the heater wellbore such that at least some hydrocarbons are pyrolyzed and/or mobilized in the formation.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the subsurface formation comprises a hydrocarbon containing formation, the method further comprising providing heat to at least a portion of the formation with the heater located in the heater wellbore such that at least some hydrocarbons are pyrolyzed and/or mobilized in the formation, and producing a fluid from the formation.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the subsurface formation comprises a hydrocarbon containing formation, the method further comprising providing heat to at least a portion of the formation with the heater located in the heater wellbore such that at least some hydrocarbons are pyrolyzed and/or mobilized in the formation, and producing a composition comprising hydrocarbons from the formation.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the subsurface formation comprises a hydrocarbon containing formation, the method further comprising providing heat to at least a portion of the formation with the heater located in the heater wellbore such that at least some hydrocarbons are pyrolyzed and/or mobilized in the formation, producing hydrocarbons from the formation, and producing a transportation fuel from hydrocarbons produced from the formation.

22. A method for treating a subsurface formation, comprising:

providing heat to at least a portion of the subsurface formation with a heater located in a heater wellbore in a subsurface formation, wherein an electrically insulating casing is located in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore in the subsurface formation, the casing comprises at least one non-ferromagnetic material that inhibits ferromagnetic effects in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore, and the non-ferromagnetic material comprises fiberglass and non-metallic material.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the subsurface formation comprises a hydrocarbon containing formation, the method further comprising providing heat to at least a portion of the formation with the heater such that at least some hydrocarbons are pyrolyzed and/or mobilized in the formation, and producing a composition comprising hydrocarbons from the formation.