Molten salt as a heat transfer fluid for heating a subsurface formation

• US 7,832,484 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2008
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Scott Vinh, Vinegar, Harold J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SUCHFIELD, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US12/106,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20090095476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 166/302
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/845 containing inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/86 containing organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/008 Controlling or regulating of liquefaction processes
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/02 by distillation
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/04 by extraction
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/042 by the use of hydrogen-donor solvents
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/04 using electrical heaters
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/16 Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/24 using heat, e.g. steam injection
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2401 by means of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49083 Heater type

Abstract

A heating system for a subsurface formation includes a conduit located in an opening in the subsurface formation. An insulated conductor is located in the conduit. A material is in the conduit between a portion of the insulated conductor and a portion of the conduit. The material may be a salt. The material is a fluid at operating temperature of the heating system. Heat transfers from the insulated conductor to the fluid, from the fluid to the conduit, and from the conduit to the subsurface formation.

Claims

1. A method of heating a subsurface formation comprising:

supplying electricity to resistively heat an insulated conductor positioned in a conduit located in an opening in the subsurface formation, wherein the conduit is configured to contain a molten salt in the conduit;

allowing heat to transfer from the insulated conductor to the molten salt adjacent to at least a portion of the insulated conductor, wherein a temperature of the insulated conductor is above a melt temperature of the molten salt, wherein heat from the molten salt transfers to the conduit, and wherein heat transfers from the conduit to the formation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising inhibiting formation of hot spots at one or more high thermal load regions of the conduit by transferring heat using natural convection flow in the molten salt.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising supplying a gas to the conduit above the molten salt, wherein the gas is carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium or combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a least a portion of the heat transferred to the formation mobilizes hydrocarbons in the formation.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising mobilizing hydrocarbons in the formation with the heat transferred from the conduit.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising mobilizing hydrocarbons in the formation with the heat transferred from the conduit, and producing mobilized hydrocarbons from the formation.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing steam to the formation through one or more additional openings in the subsurface formation.

8. A heating system for a subsurface formation, comprising:

a conduit located in an opening in the subsurface formation;

at least one insulated conductor located in the conduit;

a salt in the conduit adjacent to a portion of at least one insulated conductor, wherein the conduit is configured to contain the salt in the conduit, and

wherein at least one insulated conductor is configured to resistively heat to a temperature sufficient to maintain the salt in a molten phase in the conduit.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a gas in the conduit above the salt, wherein the gas is carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium or combinations thereof.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the conduit includes cladding on an inner surface to inhibit corrosion of the conduit by the salt.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the conduit includes cladding on an outer surface to inhibit corrosion of the conduit by formation fluid in the formation.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the salt comprises a mixture of salts.

13. A heating system for a subsurface formation, comprising:

a wellbore in the formation;

a conduit located in the wellbore;

a heat source in the conduit; and

a salt in the conduit between the conduit and the heat source, wherein the conduit is configured to contain the salt in the conduit, and wherein the salt is a liquid at a selected operating temperature of the heat source.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the heat source is an insulated conductor.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the heat source is one or more gas burners.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the salt melts at a temperature greater than 350°

C.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a gas in the conduit above the salt, wherein the gas is carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium or combinations thereof.