Systems and methods for recovering bitumen from subterranean formations

A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir, comprising:

• forming a first inclined wellbore section of a continuous wellbore by drilling from a wellbore entry location at the surface to the subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir;
• forming a substantially horizontal wellbore section of the continuous wellbore after deviating an end of the first inclined wellbore section and then drilling until an end of the substantially horizontal wellbore section, the substantially horizontal wellbore section lying within the subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir;
• forming a second inclined wellbore section of the continuous wellbore after deviating the end of the substantially horizontal wellbore section and then drilling until a wellbore exit location at the surface;
• applying heat to a portion of the subsurface reservoir surrounding the substantially horizontal wellbore section from a plurality of heater-lifter units movably disposed within the substantially horizontal wellbore section;
• producing hydrocarbon fluids flowing into the substantially horizontal wellbore section from the portion of the subsurface reservoir;
• and
• moving the heater-lifter units in bidirectional manner within the continuous wellbore to mechanically lift the hydrocarbon fluids to the wellbore entry location and the wellbore exit location by sweeping the hydrocarbons fluids with bidirectional motion of the heater-lifter units.

An apparatus for heating a subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir surrounding a substantially horizontal perforated section of a cased continuous wellbore extending between a first ground surface opening and a second ground surface opening and recovering the hydrocarbon products released thereby, comprising:

• a plurality of heater-lifter units movably disposed within the substantially horizontal perforated section of the cased continuous wellbore, each heater-lifter unit comprising,
• an elongated housing defined by a cylindrical peripheral wall facing the inner surface of the substantially horizontal wellbore section and two end-walls sealing the ends of the elongated housing,
• a plurality of heating members protrude outwardly from the cylindrical peripheral wall, the heating members being configured to heat the subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir to produce hydrocarbon fluids which fill the substantially horizontal wellbore section, and
• a plurality of flexible sweeping members protruding outwardly from the cylindrical peripheral wall of the heater units, the flexible sweeping members being configured to sweep and carry the hydrocarbon fluids along the direction of motion of the heater-lifter units;
• a carrier line configured to carry the plurality of heater-lifter units in a spaced apart fashion within the continuous wellbore and include electrical power and data lines connecting the heater-lifter units to a surface power and control center;
• and
• a lifting mechanism configured to move the carrier line in bidirectional manner to mechanically lift the hydrocarbon fluids to the first ground surface opening and the second ground surface opening by sweeping the hydrocarbon fluid through the continuous wellbore with bidirectional motion of the heater-lifter units.