Deployment of insulated conductors for treating subsurface formations

• US 8,353,347 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Mason, Stanley Leroy
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Giovanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUNYAN, RONALD R
• Application Number:
  US12/576,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20100224368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 166/60, 166/302, 166378-387, 405/183.5, 219544-548, 338226-246, 392301-306, 138/33
• US Class Current: 166/302
• 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: E21B 43/2405 in association with fracturing or crevice forming processes E21B43/247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/02 Automatic control of the tool feed E21B44/005, E21B44/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 3/00 Non-adjustable metal resistors made of wire or ribbon, e.g. coiled, woven or formed as grids
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2214/03 Heating of hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/48 heating conductor embedded in insulating material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49083 Heater type

Abstract

A method for making a coiled insulated conductor heater to heat a subsurface formation includes pushing the insulated conductor heater longitudinally inside a flexible conduit using pressure. One or more cups are coupled to the outside of the insulated conductor heater. The cups maintain at least some pressure inside at least a portion of the flexible conduit as the insulated conductor heater is pushed inside the flexible conduit. The flexible conduit and the insulated conductor heater are coiled onto a coiled tubing rig.

Claims

1. A method for installing a horizontal or inclined subsurface insulated conductor heater, comprising:

installing a flexible conduit and an insulated conductor heater into a subsurface wellbore by uncoiling the flexible conduit and the insulated conductor heater from a coiled tubing rig, wherein the insulated conductor heater is located longitudinally inside the flexible conduit, and one or more cups are coupled to the outside of the insulated conductor heater, the cups being configured to maintain pressure inside the flexible conduit; and

removing the flexible conduit from the subsurface wellbore with the coiled tubing rig while leaving the insulated conductor heater installed in the subsurface wellbore.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cups are flexible cups.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cups comprise elastomeric cups.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cups provide little or no mechanical resistance to the movement of the insulated conductor heater inside the flexible conduit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the cups are configured to at least partially burn or melt when the insulated conductor heater is energized and the temperature of the insulated conductor heater increases.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing a guide string on an end of the flexible conduit and insulated conductor heater assembly.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing a guide string on an end of the flexible conduit and insulated conductor heater assembly; and

using the guide string to guide the installation of the flexible conduit and insulated conductor heater assembly into the subsurface wellbore.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the insulated conductor heater is at least about 10 m in length.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising stopping removal of the flexible conduit at a bend in the subsurface wellbore, and pumping plugging material through the flexible conduit to the bend in the subsurface wellbore, wherein the plugging material is configured to plug the subsurface wellbore around the insulated conductor heater at the bend in the subsurface wellbore.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the insulated conductor heater is placed in a hydrocarbon containing layer of the subsurface formation.

11. A method for heating a subsurface formation, comprising:

providing heat from an insulated conductor heater to at least a portion of the formation, wherein the insulated conductor heater has been installed in the formation by;

installing a flexible conduit and the insulated conductor heater into a subsurface wellbore by uncoiling the flexible conduit and the insulated conductor heater from a coiled tubing rig, wherein the insulated conductor heater is located longitudinally inside the flexible conduit, and one or more cups are coupled to the outside of the insulated conductor heater, the cups being configured to maintain pressure inside the flexible conduit; and

removing the flexible conduit from the subsurface wellbore with the coiled tubing rig while leaving the insulated conductor heater installed in the subsurface wellbore.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the cups are flexible cups.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the cups comprise elastomeric cups.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the cups provide little or no mechanical resistance to the movement of the insulated conductor heater inside the flexible conduit.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising at least partially burning or melting one or more of the cups.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the insulated conductor heater is at least about 10 m in length.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising mobilizing at least some hydrocarbons in the formation with the provided heat, and producing at least some of the mobilized hydrocarbons from the formation.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising pyrolyzing at least some hydrocarbons in the formation with the provided heat, and producing at least some of the pyrolyzed hydrocarbons from the formation.