In situ heat treatment of a tar sands formation after drive process treatment
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorsHarold J. Vinegar, John Stanecki
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Abstract
A method for treating a tar sands formation includes providing a drive fluid to a hydrocarbon containing layer of the tar sands formation to mobilize at least some hydrocarbons in the layer. At least some first hydrocarbons from the layer are produced. Heat is provided to the layer from one or more heaters located in the formation. At least some second hydrocarbons are produced from the layer of the formation. The second hydrocarbons include at least some hydrocarbons that are upgraded compared to the first hydrocarbons produced by using the drive fluid.
Claims28
A method for treating a tar sands formation, comprising:
- providing a drive fluid to a hydrocarbon containing layer of the tar sands formation to mobilize at least some hydrocarbons in the layer;
- producing at least some first hydrocarbons from the layer;
- providing heat to the layer from one or more heaters located in a first portion and a second portion of the layer, wherein the first portion has a substantially different hydrocarbon recovery than the second portion after producing the first hydrocarbons using the drive fluid;
- and
- producing at least some second hydrocarbons from the layer of the formation, the second hydrocarbons comprising at least some hydrocarbons that are upgraded compared to the first hydrocarbons produced by using the drive fluid.
A method for treating a tar sands formation, comprising:
- providing heat to a hydrocarbon containing layer in the tar sands formation from one or more heaters located in the formation, wherein the hydrocarbon containing layer has been previously treated using a steam injection and production process;
- producing at least some hydrocarbons from the layer of the formation, the produced hydrocarbons comprising at least some hydrocarbons that are upgraded compared to hydrocarbons produced by the steam injection and production process;
- and
- resuming the steam injection and production process while providing heat to the formation from the one or more heaters.
A method for treating a tar sands formation, comprising:
- providing a drive fluid to a hydrocarbon containing layer of the tar sands formation to mobilize at least some hydrocarbons in the layer;
- producing at least some first hydrocarbons from the layer;
- providing heat to the layer from one or more heaters located in the formation, wherein at least one of the heaters comprises a temperature limited heater;
- and
- producing at least some second hydrocarbons from the layer of the formation, the second hydrocarbons comprising at least some hydrocarbons that are upgraded compared to the first hydrocarbons produced by using the drive fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.