Patent•
Method of treating reservoirs containing very viscous crude oil or bitumen
06 Apr 1981-
TL;DR: In this paper, a method for treating a field containing viscous oil or bitumen for subsequent production is described, and the steps central to the process are drilling a horizontal well within the oil-bearing stratum, and heating the oil in the vicinity of the horizontal well to produce a hot liquid corridor.
Abstract: A method for treating a field containing viscous oil or bitumen for subsequent production is described. The steps central to the process are drilling a horizontal well within the oil-bearing stratum, and heating the oil in the vicinity of the horizontal well to produce a hot liquid corridor. The open borehole is filled and the oil in the heated corridor is displaced from one end to the other. The corridors may be connected in various configurations to effectively displace a high percentage of oil in a particular field.
Citations
More filters
Patent•
24 Oct 2002TL;DR: In this paper, an in situ process for treating an oil containing formation is provided, which includes providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation.
Abstract: An in situ process for treating an oil containing formation is provided. The process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that heat from the one or more heat sources pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons within the part. Hydrocarbons may be produced from the formation.
350 citations
Patent•
24 Oct 2002TL;DR: In this paper, a method of treating a kerogen and liquid hydrocarbon containing formation in situ may include providing heat from one or more heat sources to at least a portion of the formation.
Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of treating a kerogen and liquid hydrocarbon containing formation in situ may include providing heat from one or more heat sources to at least a portion of the formation. Heat may be allowed to transfer from the one or more heat sources to a part of the formation. In some embodiments, at least a portion of liquid hydrocarbons in the part may be mobilized. At least a portion of kerogen in the part may be pyrolyzed. In certain embodiments, a pressure within at least a part of the formation may be controlled. The pressure may be controlled to be at least about 2.0 bars absolute. A mixture may be produced from the formation.
338 citations
Patent•
23 Apr 2004TL;DR: A process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of a subsurface formation as discussed by the authors, which is referred to as pyrolyzing.
Abstract: A process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of a subsurface formation. Heat may transfer from one or more heaters to a part of a formation. In some embodiments, heat from the one or more heat sources may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in a part of a subsurface formation. Hydrocarbons and/or other products may be produced from a subsurface formation. Certain embodiments describe apparatus, methods, and/or processes used in treating a subsurface or hydrocarbon containing formation.
333 citations
Patent•
24 Apr 2002TL;DR: In this paper, a mixture of hydrocarbons, H 2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation, and heat sources may be used to heat the formation.
Abstract: A oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H 2 , and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat sources may be used to heat the formation. The heat sources may be positioned within the formation in a selected pattern.
332 citations
Patent•
24 Oct 2002TL;DR: In this paper, an in situ process for treating a tar sands formation is provided, which includes providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation.
Abstract: An in situ process for treating a tar sands formation is provided. The process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that heat from the one or more heat sources pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons within the part. Hydrocarbons may be produced from the formation.
324 citations
References
More filters
Patent•
ARCO1
TL;DR: In this paper, a method of producing bitumen from a subterranean tar sand formation characterized by the following muti-step process is presented, where a continuous wellbore having a second section thereof contained within the formation and a first and a third section extending said second section to the earth's surface is formed.
Abstract: A method of producing bitumen from a subterranean tar sand formation characterized by the following muti-step process. First, a continuous wellbore having a second section thereof contained within the formation and a first and a third section extending said second section to the earth's surface is formed. Next, a perforated liner is inserted into the wellbore extending the entire length thereof and having perforations so positioned thereon to be adjacent the second section of the wellbore. Thereafter, a heated fluid is circulated through the wellbore, contacting the formation via the perforations, thereby reducing the viscosity of the bitumen contained therein rendering it mobile. Subsequently, the mobilized bitumen is recovered via the wellbore.
201 citations
Patent•
27 Feb 1980TL;DR: In this paper, a method for recovering viscous crudes from petroleum-containing formation, such as tar sand deposits, which are too deep to mine economically but not deep enough, or geologically not structured properly, to successfully hydraulically fracture for well to well production was disclosed.
Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering viscous crudes from petroleum-containing formation, such as tar sand deposits, which are too deep to mine economically but not deep enough, or geologically not structured properly, to successfully hydraulically fracture for well to well production. The method contemplates a field grid layout of sets of injection and production wells and a subsurface generally horizontal heated tubular member passing through the subsurface petroleum-containing formation. Heated fluids are circulated through the tubular members to heat the viscous crudes in the vicinity of the tubular members and a heated drive fluid is injected through the injection wells to move heated crude toward the production wells.
192 citations
Patent•
15 Oct 1979
TL;DR: In this paper, a method of selective plugging of undesirable high permeability streaks and channels in oil-bearing reservoirs during high temperature (250° F. or higher) injection recovery processes such as steamflooding, underground combustion, flooding of a naturally occurring high-temperature reservoir or the like is presented.
Abstract: A method of selective plugging of undesirable high permeability streaks and channels in oil-bearing reservoirs during high temperature (250° F. or higher) injection recovery processes such as steamflooding, underground combustion, flooding of a naturally occurring high-temperature reservoir or the like. Improved sweep efficiency can be effected by injecting a gel-forming solution consisting essentially of sodium or ammonium lignosulfonate and water or brine in the absence of other gelation promoters and then allowing the high temperatures of the underground formation to promote gelation. Optionally, a precooling water injection step can be used prior to placement of the gel-forming solution. This system has the advantage of gel times which are sufficiently long at temperatures in excess of 250° F. to permit placement of large volumes characteristic of commercial use. This method is particularly useful in selectively forming firm, strong gels in thief zones for steamflooding recovery operations.
26 citations