# US 2009/0260824 A1 · Hydrocarbon production from mines and tunnels used in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations

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- Number: US 2009/0260824 A1
- Document ID: US20090260824A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/422,104
- Filed: 2009-04-10
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-18
- Inventors: David Booth Burns; Horng Jye (Jay) Hwang; Jochen Marwede; Duncan Charles MacDonald; Robert George Prince-Wright
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260824A1

## CPC

- E21B 7/068: {drilled by a down-hole drilling motor (down-hole drives per se E21B4/00, E21B7/067 takes precedence)}
- C10G 21/22: Compounds containing sulfur, selenium, or tellurium
- C10G 21/28: Recovery of used solvent
- E21B 3/022: {Top drives}
- E21B 4/04: Electric drives (E21B4/12 takes precedence)
- E21B 7/18: Drilling by liquid or gas jets, with or without entrained pellets (E21B7/14 takes precedence)
- E21B 10/003: {with cutting edges facing in opposite axial directions}
- E21B 21/019: {Arrangements for maintaining circulation of drilling fluid while connecting or disconnecting tubular joints}
- E21B 21/08: Controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid, e.g. automatic filling of boreholes, automatic control of bottom pressure (valve arrangements therefor E21B21/10)
- E21B 36/001: {Cooling arrangements}
- E21B 36/02: using burners
- E21B 36/04: using electrical heaters
- E21B 43/2401: {by means of electricity}
- E21B 43/2403: {by means of nuclear energy}
- E21B 43/243: Combustion in situ
- E21B 43/281: {using heat}
- E21B 43/30: Specific pattern of wells, e.g. optimising the spacing of wells
- E21B 43/305: {comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well}
- E21B 47/022: of the borehole, e.g. using geomagnetism
- E21B 47/06: Measuring temperature or pressure
- C10G 2300/207: Acid gases, e.g. H2S, COS, SO2, HCN
- C10G 2300/301: Boiling range
- C10G 2300/302: Viscosity
- C10G 2300/308: Gravity, density, e.g. API
- C10G 2300/4006: Temperature
- C10G 2300/4012: Pressure
- C10G 2300/42: Hydrogen of special source or of special composition
- C10G 2300/807: Steam
- C10G 2400/02: Gasoline
- E21B 43/119: Details, e.g. for locating perforating place or direction
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES

## Abstract

A system for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes one or more substantially horizontal or inclined tunnels extending from one or more shafts. A production system is located in at least one of the tunnels. The production system is configured to produce fluids from the formation that collect in the tunnel.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-2230. (canceled)

### Claim 2231

A system for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
one or more substantially horizontal or inclined tunnels extending from one or more shafts; and
a production system located in at least one of the tunnels, the production system being configured to produce fluids from the formation that collect in the tunnel.

### Claim 2232 (depends on 2231)

The system of claim 2231, wherein the tunnel with the production system is located to collect fluids in the formation by gravity drainage.

### Claim 2233 (depends on 2231)

The system of claim 2231, wherein the production system includes a substantially vertical production wellbore coupled to the tunnel with the production system.

### Claim 2234

A method for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
allowing mobilized formation fluids to drain to at least one of a plurality of substantially horizontal or inclined tunnel extending from at least one shaft; and
producing mobilized fluids from the drainage tunnel to the surface of the formation.

### Claim 2235 (depends on 2234)

The method of claim 2234, further comprising providing heat to the formation from at least one heat source located in a wellbore extending from at least one of the tunnels.

### Claim at position 7

2236-2468. (canceled)

### Claim 2469 (depends on 2231)

The system of claim 2231, wherein at least one of the tunnels has an average diameter of at least 1 m.

### Claim 2470 (depends on 2231)

The system of claim 2231, wherein the shaft has an average diameter of at least 0.5 m.

### Claim 2471 (depends on 2231)

The system of claim 2231, wherein the shaft is substantially vertically oriented.

### Claim 2472 (depends on 2231)

The system of claim 2231, wherein the shaft extends between the surface of the formation and at least one of the tunnels.

### Claim 2473 (depends on 2231)

The system of claim 2231, further comprising at least one heat source located in a wellbore extending from at least one of the tunnels, wherein the heat source is configured to provide heat to the formation.

### Claim 2474 (depends on 2234)

The method of claim 2234, wherein the mobilized formation fluids comprise hydrocarbons.

### Claim 2475 (depends on 2234)

The method of claim 2234, wherein at least one of the tunnels has an average diameter of at least 1 m.

### Claim 2476 (depends on 2234)

The method of claim 2234, wherein the shaft has an average diameter of at least 0.5 m.

### Claim 2477 (depends on 2234)

The method of claim 2234, wherein the shaft extends between the surface of the formation and at least one of the tunnels.

### Claim 2478 (depends on 2234)

The method of claim 2234, further comprising producing mobilized fluids from the drainage tunnel to the surface of the formation through a substantially vertical production wellbore coupled to the drainage tunnel.

### Claim 2479 (depends on 2234)

The method of claim 2234, further comprising providing heat from at least one of the heat sources to at least a portion of the subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation to pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in the formation.

### Claim 2480 (depends on 2479)

The method of claim 2479, further comprising allowing pyrolyzed hydrocarbons to drain to at least one of the tunnels, and producing at least some of the pyrolyzed hydrocarbons from the tunnel to the surface of the formation.