In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a natural distributed combustor

An in situ method for providing heat to a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

• heating a portion of the formation with a heater to a temperature sufficient to support reaction of hydrocarbons with an oxidizing fluid in the portion of the formation;
• providing the oxidizing fluid to a reaction zone in the formation;
• controlling a flow of the oxidizing fluid along at least a length of the reaction zone;
• controlling a rate of oxidation by providing the oxidizing fluid to the reaction zone from a conduit having critical flow orifices;
• generating heat in the reaction zone;
• and
• allowing the generated heat to transfer to the formation.

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

• heating a portion of the formation to a temperature sufficient to support reaction of hydrocarbons in the portion of the formation with an oxidizing fluid;
• providing the oxidizing fluid to a reaction zone in the formation;
• allowing the oxidizing fluid to react with at least a portion of the hydrocarbons in the reaction zone to generate heat in the reaction zone;
• providing molecular hydrogen to the reaction zone;
• and
• transferring the generated heat from the reaction zone to a pyrolysis zone in the formation.

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

• heating a portion of the formation to a temperature sufficient to support reaction of hydrocarbons in the portion of the formation with an oxidizing fluid;
• providing the oxidizing fluid to a reaction zone in the formation;
• allowing the oxidizing fluid to react with at least a portion of the hydrocarbons in the reaction zone to generate heat in the reaction zone;
• controlling a flow of the oxidizing fluid with critical flow orifices in a first opening of the formation such that a rate of oxidation is controlled;
• removing an oxidation product from a second opening in the formation;
• and
• allowing the heat to transfer from the reaction zone to the formation.