Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a line drive staged process

A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

• providing heat to a first section of the formation with one or more first heaters in the first section;
• heating first hydrocarbons in the first section such that at least some of the first hydrocarbons are mobilized;
• producing at least some of the mobilized first hydrocarbons through a production well located in a second section of the formation, the second section being located substantially adjacent to the first section, wherein a portion of the second section is provided some heat from the mobilized first hydrocarbons but is not conductively heated by heat from the first heaters;
• controlling a temperature of the portion proximate the production well in the second section so that the temperature is at most about 200° C.;
• reducing or turning off production in the production well in the second section when a temperature in the portion proximate the production well reaches a temperature of about 200° C.;
• and
• providing heat to the second section with one or more second heaters in the second section to further heat the second section.

A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

• providing heat to a first section of the formation with one or more first heaters in the first section;
• heating first hydrocarbons in the first section such that at least some of the first hydrocarbons are mobilized;
• producing at least some of the mobilized first hydrocarbons through a production well located in a second section of the fonnation, the second section being located substantially adjacent to the first section, wherein a portion of the second section is provided some heat from the mobilized first hydrocarbons but is not conductively heated by heat from the first heaters;
• controlling a temperature of the portion proximate the production well in the second section so that the temperature is at most about 200° C.;
• providing heat to the second section with one or more second heaters in the second section to further heat the second section;
• heating second hydrocarbons in the second section such that at least some of the second hydrocarbons are mobilized;
• and
• producing at least some of the mobilized second hydrocarbons through a production well located in a third section of the formation, wherein a portion of the third section proximate the production well is provided some heat from the mobilized second hydrocarbons.