Staged and/or patterned heating during in situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorsHarold J. Vinegar, John Michael Karanikas, Kirk Samuel Hansen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation may include heating a first volume of the formation using a first set of heaters. A second volume of the formation may be heated using a second set of heaters. The first volume may be spaced apart from the second volume by a third volume of the formation. The first volume, second volume, and/or third volume may be sized, shaped, and/or located to inhibit deformation of subsurface equipment caused by geomechanical motion of the formation during heating.
Claims62
A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
- heating a first volume of the formation using a first set of heaters;
- and
- heating a second volume of the formation using a second set of heaters, wherein the first volume is spaced apart from the second volume by a third volume of the formation, and wherein the first volume, the second volume, and the third volume are sized, shaped, and/or located to inhibit deformation of subsurface equipment caused by geomechanical motion of the formation during heating.
A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
- heating a first volume of the formation using a first set of heaters;
- heating a second volume of the formation using a second set of heaters, wherein the first volume is spaced apart from the second volume by a third volume of the formation;
- heating the third volume using a third set of heaters, wherein the third set of heaters begins heating at a selected time after the first set of heaters and the second set of heaters;
- allowing the heat to transfer from the first volume, the second volume, and the third volume of the formation to at least a part of the formation;
- and
- producing a mixture from the formation.
A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
- heating a first volume of the formation using a first set of heaters;
- and
- heating a second volume of the formation using a second set of heaters, wherein the first volume is spaced apart from the second volume by a third volume of the formation;
- and
- sizing, shaping, and/or locating the first volume, the second volume, and the third volume to inhibit deformation of subsurface equipment caused by geomechanical motion of the formation during heating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.