Circulated heated transfer fluid systems used to treat a subsurface formation
First Claim
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1. A method for heating a subsurface formation, comprising:
- applying heat from a plurality of heaters to at least a portion of the subsurface formation by circulating a heat transfer fluid through at least one conduit in each of the heaters; and
allowing a portion of at least one of the conduits of at least one of the heaters to move relative to the heater'"'"'s respective wellhead using one or more sliding seals in the wellhead to accommodate thermal expansion of the conduit.
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Abstract
A method for heating a subsurface formation includes applying heat from a plurality of heaters to at least a portion of the subsurface formation. A portion of one or more of the heaters are allowed to move relative to the heaters respective wellhead using sliding seals to accommodate thermal expansion of the heaters.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for heating a subsurface formation, comprising:
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applying heat from a plurality of heaters to at least a portion of the subsurface formation by circulating a heat transfer fluid through at least one conduit in each of the heaters; and allowing a portion of at least one of the conduits of at least one of the heaters to move relative to the heater'"'"'s respective wellhead using one or more sliding seals in the wellhead to accommodate thermal expansion of the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 18)
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5. A method for heating a subsurface formation, comprising:
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applying heat from a plurality of heaters to the subsurface formation by circulating a heat transfer fluid through at least one conduit in each of the heaters, wherein the heat transfer fluid is provided to, or removed from, the conduit using a fixed conduit in fluid communication with the conduit; and allowing a portion of least one of the conduits of at least one of the heaters to move relative to the fixed conduit using one or more slip joints located between the conduit and the fixed conduit to accommodate thermal expansion of the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for accommodating thermal expansion of a heater in a subsurface formation, comprising:
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providing heat to a portion of the subsurface formation using a heated heater in the formation; and lifting a portion of the heater out of the formation to accommodate thermal expansion of the heater. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for heating a subsurface formation, comprising:
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a plurality of heaters positioned in the subsurface formation, the heaters configured to provide heat to at least a portion of the subsurface formation; and at least one hydraulic lifter coupled to a portion of a heater, the hydraulic lifter configured to lift one or more portions of the heater out of the formation to accommodate thermal expansion of the heater by maintaining a hydraulic pressure during thermal expansion of the heater that is approximately the same as a hydraulic pressure before thermal expansion of the heater. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 19)
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Specification