Methods and systems for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ with an opening contacting the earth's surface at two locations

A method for forming a wellbore and installing a heater in a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

• forming an opening in the formation, wherein the opening comprises a first end that contacts the earth's surface at a first location and a second end that contacts the earth's surface at a second location;
• and
• placing a heater in or coupled to the opening, wherein the heater is placed in the opening by pulling the heater from the second end of the opening towards the first end of the opening with machinery located at the first end of the opening, and wherein the heater is configured to provide or transfer heat to at least a portion of the formation to pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in the formation.

An in situ method for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

• providing heat from one or more heaters to an opening in the formation, wherein a first end of the opening contacts the earth's surface at a first location, wherein a second end of the opening contacts the earth's surface at a second location, and wherein at least one of the heaters is placed in the opening by pulling the heater from the second end of the opening towards the first end of the opening with machinery located at the first end of the opening;
• and
• allowing the heat to transfer from the opening to at least a part of the formation to pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in the formation.

A method for forming a wellbore and installing a heater in a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

• forming an opening in the formation, wherein the opening comprises a first end that contacts the earth's surface at a first location and a second end that contacts the earth's surface at a second location;
• and
• placing a heater in or coupled to the opening, wherein the heater is coupled to a drill bit used to form the opening, wherein the heater is placed in the opening by pulling the heater coupled to the drill bit from the second end of the opening towards the first end of the opening with machinery located at the first end of the opening, and wherein the heater is configured to provide or transfer heat to at least a portion of the formation to pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in the formation.

A method for forming a wellbore and installing a heater in a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

• forming an opening in the formation, wherein the opening comprises a first end that contacts the earth's surface at a first location and a second end that contacts the earth's surface at a second location;
• and
• placing a heater in or coupled to the opening, comprising reaming out the opening while pulling a heater from the second end of the opening towards the first end of the opening with machinery located at the first end of the opening, wherein the heater is configured to provide or transfer heat to at least a portion of the formation to pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in the formation.

An in situ method for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

• providing heat from one or more heaters to an opening in the formation, wherein a first end of the opening contacts the earth's surface at a first location, wherein a second end of the opening contacts the earth's surface at a second location, and wherein at least one of the heaters is coupled to a drill bit used to form the opening, and wherein the heater is placed in the opening by pulling the heater coupled to the drill bit from the second end of the opening towards the first end of the opening with machinery located at the first end of the opening;
• and
• allowing the heat to transfer from the opening to at least a part of the formation to pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in the formation.