In situ conversion process systems utilizing wellbores in at least two regions of a formation

• US 8,027,571 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salamander IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Vinegar, Harold J., Hsu, Chia-Fu
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMPBELL, THOR S
• Application Number:
  US11/409,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20070133960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,985 Days
• Field of Search: 392/301
• US Class Current: 392/301
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 4/02 by cracking a single hydrocarbon or a mixture of individually defined hydrocarbons or a normally gaseous hydrocarbon fraction
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 9/04 Methane production by treatment of sewage C02F11/04; natural gas, synthetic natural gas C10L3/06
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/028 Electrical or electro-magnetic connections
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/001 Cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/04 using electrical heaters
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/24 using heat, e.g. steam injection
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/243 Combustion in situ
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49179 by metal fusion bonding

Abstract

A system for heating a subsurface formation is described. The system includes a plurality of elongated heaters located in a plurality of openings in the formation. At least two of the heaters are substantially parallel to each other for at least a portion of the lengths of the heaters. At least two of the heaters have first end portions in a first region of the formation and second end portions in a second region of the formation. A source of time-varying current is configured to apply time-varying current to at least two of the heaters. The first end portions of at least two heaters are configured to have substantially the same voltage applied to them. The second portions of at least two heaters are configured to have substantially the same voltage applied to them.

Claims

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

a plurality of elongated heaters located in a plurality of openings in the formation, at least two of the heaters being substantially parallel to each other for at least a portion of the lengths of the heaters, wherein at least one opening comprises a substantially u-shaped opening;

at least two of the heaters having first end portions in a first region of the formation and second end portions in a second region of the formation; and

a source of time-varying current configured to apply time-varying current to at least two of the heaters, wherein the first end portions of at least two heaters are configured to have substantially the same voltage applied to them, and the second end portions of at least two heaters are configured to have substantially the same voltage applied to them, and wherein the source of time-varying current comprises an electrically isolated, single-phase transformer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first end portions of the heaters are configured to be applied with a first voltage and the second end portions of the heaters are configured to be applied with a second voltage, and wherein the first voltage is, at a selected point in time on the voltage versus time wave of the first voltage, opposite in polarity to the second voltage, at the selected point in time on the voltage versus time wave of the second voltage.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the voltage configured to be applied to the first end portions of the heaters is substantially equal in magnitude to the voltage configured to be applied to the second end portions of the heaters.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the voltage at a selected distance along the length of a first heater of the one or more heaters is similar to or at substantially the same voltage as a corresponding point at the selected distance along the length of a second heater of the one or more heaters.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least two heaters have substantially similar electrical resistivities along at least a portion of the length of the heaters.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the heaters has a substantially uniform electrical resistivity along a heated portion of the heater.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to inhibit current leakage between heaters in the formation.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one superconducting cable electrically coupled between the source of time-varying current and at least one of the heaters.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one bus bar electrically coupled between the source of time-varying current and one or more of the heaters.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one superconducting bus bar electrically coupled between the source of time-varying current and one or more of the heaters.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first end portions of the heaters are electrically coupled to one side of the transformer, and the second end portions of the heaters are electrically coupled to the opposite side of the transformer.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first end portions of the heaters are configured to be applied with a first voltage and the second end portions of the heaters are configured to be applied with a second voltage, wherein the first voltage is equal in magnitude and opposite in polarity to the second voltage, with an average voltage that is substantially at ground potential.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the source of time-varying current is configured to apply voltage from an isolated secondary phase of the source.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated heaters comprise heated portions that are substantially horizontal in at least a portion of the formation.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated heaters comprise heated portions that are substantially vertical in at least a portion of the formation.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one elongated heater comprises a temperature limited heater, the temperature limited heater comprising a ferromagnetic conductor and being configured to provide, when a time varying current is applied to the temperature limited heater, and when the heater is below a selected temperature, an electrical resistance and, when the ferromagnetic conductor is at or above the selected temperature, the temperature limited heater automatically provides a reduced electrical resistance.

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

a plurality of first elongated heaters located in a plurality of first openings in the formation, at least two of the first heaters being substantially parallel to each other for at least a portion of the lengths of the heaters;

a plurality of second elongated heaters located in a plurality of second openings in the formation, at least two of the second heaters being substantially parallel to each other for at least a portion of the lengths of the heaters;

at least two of the first heaters and at least two of the second heaters having first end portions in a first region of the formation and second end portions in a second region of the formation; and

a source of time-varying current configured to apply time-varying current to at least two of the heaters;

wherein a first voltage is applied to the first end portions of the first heaters during use that is opposite in polarity to a second voltage applied to the first end portions of the second heaters during use; and

the second voltage is applied to the second end portions of the first heaters during use.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first voltage is substantially equal in magnitude to the second voltage.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein at least two heaters have substantially similar electrical resistivities along at least a portion of the length of the heaters.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the heaters has a substantially uniform electrical resistivity along a heated portion of the heater.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising at least one superconducting cable electrically coupled between the source of time-varying current and at least one of the heaters.

22. The system of claim 17, further comprising at least one bus bar electrically coupled between the source of time-varying current and one or more of the heaters.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the source of time-varying current comprises an electrically isolated, single-phase transformer.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the elongated heaters comprise heated portions that are substantially horizontal in at least a portion of the formation.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the elongated heaters comprise heated portions that are substantially vertical in at least a portion of the formation.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one elongated heater comprises a temperature limited heater, the temperature limited heater comprising a ferromagnetic conductor and being configured to provide, when a time varying current is applied to the temperature limited heater, and when the heater is below a selected temperature, an electrical resistance and, when the ferromagnetic conductor is at or above the selected temperature, the temperature limited heater automatically provides a reduced electrical resistance.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein the first voltage is configured to be applied to the second end portions of the second heaters.

28. The system of claim 17, wherein the system is configured to allow current leakage between heaters in the formation.

29. A system for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

an opening in the formation, the opening having a first end portion at a first location on the surface of the formation and a second end portion at a second location on the surface of the formation;

a heater in the opening, the heater having a first end portion at the first location on the surface of the formation and a second end portion at the second location on the surface of the formation;

wherein the heater includes insulated electrical conductors positioned in the portions of the opening in the overburden of the formation at both the first and second end portions of the heater, the insulated electrical conductors including copper;

the heater has a temperature limited heater section positioned in a portion of the opening in a hydrocarbon layer of the formation;

the heater has a transition section coupled between the insulated electrical conductors and the temperature limited heater section; and

the heater is configured to provide heat to a portion of the formation.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the temperature limited heater section is substantially horizontal in the hydrocarbon layer of the formation.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the temperature limited heater section comprises:

a ferromagnetic member;

an electrical conductor electrically coupled to the ferromagnetic member, the electrical conductor configured to conduct a majority of time-varying electrical current passing through the heater at about 25°

C.; and

wherein the heater is configured to provide a first heat output below the Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic member, the heater being configured to automatically provide a second heat output approximately at and above the Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic member, and the second heat output is reduced compared to the first heat output.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the transition sections inhibit heat transfer between the temperature limited heater section and the insulated electrical conductors.

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

a plurality of elongated heaters located in a plurality of openings in the formation, at least two of the heaters being substantially parallel to each other for at least a portion of the lengths of the heaters;

at least two of the heaters having first end portions in a first region of the formation and second end portions in a second region of the formation; and

a source of time-varying current configured to apply time-varying current to at least two of the heaters, wherein the first end portions of at least two heaters are configured to have substantially the same voltage applied to them, and the second end portions of at least two heaters are configured to have substantially the same voltage applied to them;

wherein the first end portions of the heaters are configured to be applied with a first voltage and the second end portions of the heaters are configured to be applied with a second voltage, and wherein the first voltage is, at a selected point in time on the voltage versus time wave of the first voltage, opposite in polarity to the second voltage at the selected point in time on the voltage versus time wave of the second voltage.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the voltage configured to be applied to the first end portions of the heaters is substantially equal in magnitude to the voltage configured to be applied to the second end portions of the heaters.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the voltage at a selected distance along the length of a first heater of the one or more heaters is similar to or at substantially the same voltage as a corresponding point at the selected distance along the length of a second heater of the one or more heaters.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein at least one of the heaters has a substantially uniform electrical resistivity along a heated portion of the heater.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the system is configured to inhibit current leakage between heaters in the formation.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the source of time-varying current comprises an electrically isolated, single-phase transformer.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein at least one opening comprises a u-shaped opening.

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

a plurality of elongated heaters located in a plurality of openings in the formation, at least two of the heaters being substantially parallel to each other for at least a portion of the lengths of the heaters;

at least two of the heaters having first end portions in a first region of the formation and second end portions in a second region of the formation; and

a source of time-varying current configured to apply time-varying current to at least two of the heaters, wherein the first end portions of at least two heaters are configured to have substantially the same voltage applied to them, and the second end portions of at least two heaters are configured to have substantially the same voltage applied to them;

wherein the first end portions of the heaters are configured to be applied with a first voltage and the second end portions of the heaters are configured to be applied with a second voltage, wherein the first voltage is equal in magnitude and opposite in polarity to the second voltage, with an average voltage that is substantially at ground potential.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the voltage configured to be applied to the first end portions of the heaters is substantially equal in magnitude to the voltage configured to be applied to the second end portions of the heaters.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the voltage at a selected distance along the length of a first heater of the one or more heaters is similar to or at substantially the same voltage as a corresponding point at the selected distance along the length of a second heater of the one or more heaters.

43. The system of claim 40, wherein at least one of the heaters has a substantially uniform electrical resistivity along a heated portion of the heater.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein the system is configured to inhibit current leakage between heaters in the formation.

45. The system of claim 40, wherein the source of time-varying current comprises an electrically isolated, single-phase transformer.

46. The system of claim 40, wherein at least one opening comprises a u-shaped opening.

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

a plurality of elongated heaters located in a plurality of openings in the formation, at least two of the heaters being substantially parallel to each other for at least a portion of the lengths of the heaters, wherein at least one opening comprises a substantially u-shaped opening;

at least two of the heaters having first end portions in a first region of the formation and second end portions in a second region of the formation; and

a source of time-varying current configured to apply time-varying current to at least two of the heaters, wherein the first end portions of at least two heaters are configured to have substantially the same voltage applied to them, the second end portions of at least two heaters are configured to have substantially the same voltage applied to them, and the voltage configured to be applied to the first end portions of the heaters is substantially equal in magnitude to the voltage configured to be applied to the second end portions of the heaters.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the voltage at a selected distance along the length of a first heater of the one or more heaters is similar to or at substantially the same voltage as a corresponding point at the selected distance along the length of a second heater of the one or more heaters.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein at least one of the heaters has a substantially uniform electrical resistivity along a heated portion of the heater.

50. The system of claim 47, wherein the source of time-varying current comprises an electrically isolated, single-phase transformer.

51. The system of claim 47, wherein at least one opening comprises a u-shaped opening.

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

a plurality of elongated heaters located in a plurality of openings in the formation, at least two of the heaters being substantially parallel to each other for at least a portion of the lengths of the heaters, wherein at least one opening comprises a substantially u-shaped opening;

at least two of the heaters having first end portions in a first region of the formation and second end portions in a second region of the formation; and

a source of time-varying current configured to apply time-varying current to at least two of the heaters, wherein the first end portions of at least two heaters are configured to have substantially the same voltage applied to them, and the second end portions of at least two heaters are configured to have substantially the same voltage applied to them;

wherein at least one elongated heater comprises a temperature limited heater, the temperature limited heater comprising a ferromagnetic conductor and being configured to provide, when a time varying current is applied to the temperature limited heater, and when the heater is below a selected temperature, an electrical resistance and, when the ferromagnetic conductor is at or above the selected temperature, the temperature limited heater automatically provides a reduced electrical resistance.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the voltage at a selected distance along the length of a first heater of the one or more heaters is similar to or at substantially the same voltage as a corresponding point at the selected distance along the length of a second heater of the one or more heaters.

54. The system of claim 52, wherein at least one of the heaters has a substantially uniform electrical resistivity along a heated portion of the heater.

55. The system of claim 52, wherein the source of time-varying current comprises an electrically isolated, single-phase transformer.

56. The system of claim 52, wherein at least one opening comprises a u-shaped opening.