Creating fluid injectivity in tar sands formations
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for treating a tar sands formation, comprising:
- heating a portion of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from one or more heaters located in the portion;
controlling the heating to increase the permeability of at least part of the portion to create an injection zone in the portion with an average permeability sufficient to allow injection of a fluid through the injection zone;
controlling the pressure in the portion such that the pressure is below the fracture pressure of the portion;
providing a drive fluid and/or an oxidizing fluid into the injection zone;
controlling the temperature in the portion such that at least a majority of the hydrocarbons in the portion are mobilized; and
producing a fluid comprising at least some of the mobilized hydrocarbons through a production well.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for treating a tar sands formation are described herein. Methods for treating a tar sands may include heating a portion of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from one or more heaters located in the portion. The heat may be controlled to increase the permeability of at least part of the portion to create an injection zone in the portion with an average permeability sufficient to allow injection of a fluid through the injection zone. A drive fluid and/or an oxidizing fluid may be provided into the injection zone. At least some hydrocarbons including mobilized hydrocarbons are produced from the portion.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method for treating a tar sands formation, comprising:
-
heating a portion of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from one or more heaters located in the portion; controlling the heating to increase the permeability of at least part of the portion to create an injection zone in the portion with an average permeability sufficient to allow injection of a fluid through the injection zone; controlling the pressure in the portion such that the pressure is below the fracture pressure of the portion; providing a drive fluid and/or an oxidizing fluid into the injection zone; controlling the temperature in the portion such that at least a majority of the hydrocarbons in the portion are mobilized; and producing a fluid comprising at least some of the mobilized hydrocarbons through a production well. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for treating a tar sands formation, comprising:
-
heating a portion of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from one or more heaters located in the portion; controlling the heating to increase the permeability of at least part of the portion to create an injection zone in the portion with an average permeability sufficient to allow injection of a fluid through the injection zone; controlling the pressure in the portion such that the pressure is below the fracture pressure of the portion; providing a drive fluid into the injection zone; controlling the temperature in the formation such that a majority of the hydrocarbons are mobilized by the drive fluid; and producing a fluid comprising mobilized hydrocarbons through a production well. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method for treating a tar sands formation, comprising:
-
heating a portion of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from one or more heaters located in the portion; controlling the heating to increase the permeability of at least part of the portion to create an injection zone in the portion with an average permeability sufficient to allow injection of a fluid through the injection zone; controlling the pressure in the portion such that the pressure is below the fracture pressure of the portion; providing an oxidizing fluid into the injection zone to oxidize at least some hydrocarbons in the injection zone; controlling the temperature in the formation such that a majority of the hydrocarbons in the formation are mobilized by heat produced by the oxidation of hydrocarbons in the injection zone; and producing a fluid comprising mobilized hydrocarbons through a production well. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
-
Specification