Treating tar sands formations with dolomite

• US 8,555,971 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2012
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Vinegar, Harold J., Karanikas, John Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): SUCHFIELD, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US13/485,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20130056210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 166/272.3
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/02 by distillation
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/4037 In-situ processes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/04 using electrical heaters
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/243 Combustion in situ
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/30 Specific pattern of wells, e.g. optimising the spacing of wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0228 using electromagnetic energy or detectors therefor

Abstract

A method for treating a karsted formation containing heavy hydrocarbons and dolomite includes providing heat to at least part of one or more karsted layers in the formation from one or more heaters located in the karsted layers. A temperature in at least one of the karsted layers is allowed to reach a decomposition temperature of dolomite in the formation. The dolomite is allowed to decompose and at least some hydrocarbons are produced from at least one of the karsted layers of the formation.

Claims

1. A method for treating a karsted formation containing heavy hydrocarbons and dolomite, comprising:

providing heat to at least part of one or more karsted layers in the formation from one or more heaters located in the karsted layers;

allowing a temperature in at least one of the karsted layers to reach a decomposition temperature of dolomite in the formation;

allowing the dolomite to decompose; and

producing at least some hydrocarbons from at least one of the karsted layers of the formation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the temperature in the at least one karsted layer to reach a temperature of about 400°

C.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing carbon dioxide in the at least one karsted layer that reaches the decomposition temperature of dolomite.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the produced carbon dioxide mixes with hydrocarbons in the formation to reduce the viscosity of such hydrocarbons.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising mobilizing hydrocarbons in one or more of the karsted layers.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising producing at least some of the mobilized hydrocarbons.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising pyrolyzing hydrocarbons in one or more of the karsted layers.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising producing at least some of the pyrolyzed hydrocarbons.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one karsted layer that reaches the decomposition temperature of dolomite comprises vugs.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising injecting steam into the formation prior to providing heat from the one or more heaters.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling a pressure in the formation to control the decomposition of dolomite in the formation.

12. A method for treating a karsted formation containing heavy hydrocarbons and dolomite, comprising:

providing heat to one or more karsted layers in the formation from one or more heaters located in the karsted layers to increase a temperature in at least one of the karsted layers to a decomposition temperature of dolomite in the formation;

maintaining the temperature at the decomposition temperature of dolomite to decompose at least some of the dolomite; and

producing at least some hydrocarbons from at least one of the karsted layers of the formation.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising increasing the tmperature in the at least one karsted layer to a temperature of about 400°

C.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising producing carbon dioxide in the at least one karsted layer that reaches the decomposition temperature of dolomite.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising mobilizing hydrocarbons in one or more of the karsted layers.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising producing at least some of the mobilized hydrocarbons.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising pyrolyzing hydrocarbons in one or more of the karsted layers.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising producing at least some of the pyrolyzed hydrocarbons.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one karsted layer that reaches the decomposition temperature of dolomite comprises vugs.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising injecting steam into the formation prior to providing heat from the one or more heaters.