In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorsHarold Vinegar, Ronald Bass
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An in situ process for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is provided. The process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that heat from the one or more heat sources pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons within the part. Hydrocarbons may be produced from the formation.
Claims20
1-1477. (canceled)
An in situ method for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
- applying an electrical current to a conductor to provide heat to at least a portion of the formation, wherein the conductor is placed in a conduit, wherein the conduit is placed in an opening in the formation, and wherein the conductor is coupled to an electrically conductive material;
- and
- allowing the heat to transfer from the conductor to a section of the formation.
An in situ method for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
- applying an electrical current to a conductor to provide heat to at least a portion of the formation, wherein the conductor is configurable to be placed in an opening in the formation, wherein at least part of the conductor is coupled to a first electrically conductive material to lower a resistance of the part of the conductor in a formation overburden;
- and
- allowing the heat to transfer from the conductor to at least a part of the formation.
An in situ method for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
- applying an electrical current to a conductor to provide heat to at least a portion of the formation, wherein the conductor is configurable to be placed in a conduit, wherein the conduit is configurable to be placed in an opening in the formation, wherein at least part of the conductor in a formation overburden is coupled to a first electrically conductive material so that a majority of the electrical current provided to the conductor flows through the first electrically conductive material in the formation overburden;
- and
- allowing the heat to transfer from the conductor to at least a part of the formation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.