Circulated heated transfer fluid heating of subsurface hydrocarbon formations
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorsScott Vinh Nguyen, Renfeng Richard Cao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of heating a subsurface formation includes introducing a molten salt into a first passageway of a conduit-in-conduit heater at a first location. The molten salt is passed through the conduit-in-conduit heater in the formation to a second location. Heat transfers from the molten salt to a treatment area during passage of the molten salt through the conduit-in-conduit heater. The molten salt is removed from the conduit-in-conduit heater at a second location spaced away from the first location.
Claims29
A method of heating a subsurface formation, comprising:
- introducing a secondary heat transfer fluid into a first passageway of a heater positioned in the subsurface formation to preheat the heater;
- introducing a primary heat transfer fluid into a second passageway of the heater;
- and
- eliminating or reducing flow of the secondary heat transfer fluid into the first passageway after a temperature of the heater is sufficient to ensure flowability of the primary heat transfer fluid.
A method for heating a subsurface formation, comprising:
- circulating a first heat transfer fluid through a first passageway in a heater positioned in the subsurface formation to raise a temperature of the heater to a temperature that ensures flowability of a second heat transfer fluid in the heater;
- stopping circulation of the first heat transfer fluid through the heater;
- and
- circulating the second heat transfer fluid through a second passageway in the heater positioned in the subsurface formation to raise the temperature of a heat treatment area adjacent to the heater.
A method for heating a subsurface formation, comprising:
- circulating a first heat transfer fluid through a heater positioned in the subsurface formation to raise a temperature of the heater to a temperature that ensures flowability of a second heat transfer fluid in the heater, wherein the first heat transfer fluid comprises an aqueous solution of the second heat transfer fluid;
- stopping circulation of the first heat transfer fluid through the heater;
- and
- circulating the second heat transfer fluid through the heater positioned in the subsurface formation to raise the temperature of a heat treatment area adjacent to the heater.
A method for heating a subsurface formation, comprising:
- circulating a first heat transfer fluid through a heater positioned in the subsurface formation to raise a temperature of the heater to a temperature that ensures flowability of a second heat transfer fluid in the heater, wherein the first heat transfer fluid comprises an aqueous solution of the second heat transfer fluid;
- removing water from the first heat transfer fluid to form the second heat transfer fluid;
- and
- circulating the second heat transfer fluid through the heater positioned in the subsurface formation to raise the temperature of a heat treatment area adjacent to the heater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.