Heating subsurface formations with fluids
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorRobert Charles Ryan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of treating a hydrocarbon formation includes providing heat to the hydrocarbon formation from a plurality of heaters. The heat transfers from the heaters so that at least a section the formation reaches a selected temperature. The section includes hydrocarbons having an API gravity below 10°. A solution including water is provided to the section. A temperature of the solution is at least 250° C. A pressure of the formation is maintained such that the water remains a liquid at 250° C. At least a some of the hydrocarbons in the section having an API gravity below 10° are contacted to produce hydrocarbon fluids. The hydrocarbon fluids in the section are mobilized. The hydrocarbon fluids include hydrocarbons having an API gravity of at least 10°.
Claims20
A method of treating a hydrocarbon formation, comprising:
- providing heat to the hydrocarbon formation from a plurality of heaters;
- allowing the heat to transfer from the heaters such that at least a section the formation reaches a selected temperature, the section comprising hydrocarbons having an API gravity below 10°;
- providing a solution comprising water to the heated section, wherein a temperature of the solution is at least 250° C.;
- maintaining a pressure of the formation such that the water remains a liquid at 250° C.;
- contacting at least some of the hydrocarbons in the section having an API gravity below 10° with the solution to produce hydrocarbon fluids;
- and
- mobilizing the hydrocarbon fluids in the section, wherein the hydrocarbon fluids comprise hydrocarbons having an API gravity of at least 10°.
A method of treating an oil shale formation, comprising:
- providing heat to the oil shale formation from a plurality of heaters, at least a portion of the oil shale formation comprising kerogen;
- allowing the heat to transfer from the heaters such that at least some of the kerogen is transformed to hydrocarbons comprising bitumen;
- providing a solution comprising water to the heated portion of the oil shale formation, wherein a temperature of the solution is at least 250° C.;
- maintaining a pressure of the formation such that the water remains a liquid at 250° C.;
- contacting at least some of the hydrocarbons comprising bitumen with the solution;
- and
- mobilizing hydrocarbon fluids in the section, wherein the hydrocarbon fluids comprise hydrocarbons having a viscosity less than a viscosity of bitumen.
A method of treating a hydrocarbon formation, comprising:
- providing heat to the hydrocarbon formation from a plurality of heaters, at least one of the heaters being located in a heater well in a section of the hydrocarbon formation;
- allowing the heat to transfer from the heaters such that the section the formation reaches a selected temperature;
- providing a solution comprising water to the heater well in the section, the heater well comprising hydrocarbons having an API gravity below 10° and wherein a temperature of the solution is at least 250° C.;
- maintaining a pressure of the heater well such that the water remains a liquid at 250° C.;
- in the heater well, contacting at least some of the hydrocarbons having an API gravity below 10° with the solution to produce hydrocarbon fluids;
- and
- mobilizing the hydrocarbon fluids in the section, wherein the hydrocarbon fluids comprise hydrocarbons having an API gravity of at least 10°.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.