Heater assisted fluid treatment of a subsurface formation
First Claim
1. A method for treating a tar sands formation, comprising:
- providing heat from a substantially horizontal portion of a first heater, wherein the substantially horizontal portion of the first heater is located between a substantially horizontal portion of a steam injection well and a substantially horizontal portion of a production well in a hydrocarbon containing layer of the formation;
providing heat from a substantially horizontal portion of a second heater horizontally offset from the first heater, the substantially horizontal portion of the second heater being located vertically above an injection/production well in the hydrocarbon containing layer;
injecting steam into the hydrocarbon containing layer through the substantially horizontal portion of the steam injection well after a selected amount of heat is provided from the substantially horizontal portion of the first heater;
producing hydrocarbons from the layer through the substantially horizontal portion of the production well; and
alternately injecting additional steam and producing additional hydrocarbons through the injection/production well after a selected amount of heat is provided from the substantially horizontal portion of the second heater.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for treating a tar sands formation includes providing heat from a first heater located between a steam injection well and a production well in a hydrocarbon containing layer. The first heater, the steam injection well, and the production well are located substantially horizontally in the layer. Heat is provided from a second heater horizontally offset from the first heater. The second heater is located vertically above an injection/production well and substantially horizontally in the layer. Steam is injected into the layer through the steam injection well after a selected amount of heat is provided from the first heater. Hydrocarbons are produced from the layer through the production well. Steam is injected and hydrocarbons are produced alternately through the injection/production well after a selected amount of heat is provided from the second heater.
1089 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for treating a tar sands formation, comprising:
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providing heat from a substantially horizontal portion of a first heater, wherein the substantially horizontal portion of the first heater is located between a substantially horizontal portion of a steam injection well and a substantially horizontal portion of a production well in a hydrocarbon containing layer of the formation; providing heat from a substantially horizontal portion of a second heater horizontally offset from the first heater, the substantially horizontal portion of the second heater being located vertically above an injection/production well in the hydrocarbon containing layer; injecting steam into the hydrocarbon containing layer through the substantially horizontal portion of the steam injection well after a selected amount of heat is provided from the substantially horizontal portion of the first heater; producing hydrocarbons from the layer through the substantially horizontal portion of the production well; and alternately injecting additional steam and producing additional hydrocarbons through the injection/production well after a selected amount of heat is provided from the substantially horizontal portion of the second heater. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for treating a tar sands formation, comprising:
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providing heat from a substantially horizontal portion of a heater located in a wellbore between a substantially horizontal portion of a steam injection well and a substantially horizontal portion of a production well in a hydrocarbon containing layer of the formation, wherein the substantially horizontal portion of the heater is approximately vertically equidistant between the substantially horizontal portion of the steam injection well and the substantially horizontal portion of the production well; injecting steam into the hydrocarbon containing layer through the substantially horizontal portion of the steam injection well after a selected amount of heat is provided from the substantially horizontal portion of the heater; and producing hydrocarbons from the layer through the substantially horizontal portion of the production well. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification