US 8,225,866 B2 · In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation

Abstract

An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat input into the formation may be controlled to raise the temperature of portion at a selected rate during pyrolysis of hydrocarbons within the formation. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ, comprising:

providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation;
allowing the heat to transfer from one or more of the heaters to a part of the formation;
producing a mixture from the formation, wherein at least a portion of the mixture is produced during pyrolysis and the mixture moves through the formation in a vapor phase;
controlling the heat such that an average heating rate of the part is less than about 1° C. per day during pyrolysis;
and
maintaining a pressure within at least a majority of the part above about 2.0 bar absolute.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

12/840,957Filed 21 Jul 2010 · continuation

Priority

24 Apr 2000

Published

US 2011/0088904 A121 Apr 2011

Granted

24 Jul 2012

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

E21B 43/24
Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons: using heat, e.g. steam injection
C09K 8/592
Compositions for enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons, i.e. for improving the mobility of the oil, e.g. displacing fluids:…
E21B 36/001
Heating, cooling or insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones: cooling arrangements
E21B 36/04
Heating, cooling or insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones: using electrical heaters

Family

Application60/199,215Us provisional application · filed 24 Apr 2000

Application60/199,214Us provisional application · filed 24 Apr 2000

Application60/199,213Us provisional application · filed 24 Apr 2000

Application09/841,636Parent of this division · filed 24 Apr 2001

Application11/809,723Parent of this continuation · filed 31 May 2007

US 2011/0088904 A1Pre-grant publication · published 21 Apr 2011

US 7,798,221 B2Parent of this continuation

Application11/809,723Parent of this division

US 2002/0049360 A1Published application

US 2009/0101346 A1Published application

US 8,225,866 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation

Life of this patent

In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22