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Title: Heating tar sands formations to visbreaking temperatures

Abstract

Methods for treating a tar sands formation are described herein. Methods may include heating at least a section of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation. The heat may be controlled so that at least a majority of the section reaches an average temperature of between 200.degree. C. and 240.degree. C., which results in visbreaking of at least some hydrocarbons in the section. At least some visbroken hydrocarbon fluids may be produced from the formation.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Houston, TX
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Shell Oil Company (Houston, TX)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1013635
Patent Number(s):
7635024
Application Number:
US Patent Application 11/975,676
Assignee:
Shell Oil Company (Houston, TX)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10G - CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS
E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS

Citation Formats

Karanikas, John Michael, Colmenares, Tulio Rafael, Zhang, Etuan, Marino, Marian, Roes, Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria, Ryan, Robert Charles, Beer, Gary Lee, Dombrowski, Robert James, and Jaiswal, Namit. Heating tar sands formations to visbreaking temperatures. United States: N. p., 2009. Web.
Karanikas, John Michael, Colmenares, Tulio Rafael, Zhang, Etuan, Marino, Marian, Roes, Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria, Ryan, Robert Charles, Beer, Gary Lee, Dombrowski, Robert James, & Jaiswal, Namit. Heating tar sands formations to visbreaking temperatures. United States.
Karanikas, John Michael, Colmenares, Tulio Rafael, Zhang, Etuan, Marino, Marian, Roes, Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria, Ryan, Robert Charles, Beer, Gary Lee, Dombrowski, Robert James, and Jaiswal, Namit. Tue . "Heating tar sands formations to visbreaking temperatures". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1013635.
@article{osti_1013635,
title = {Heating tar sands formations to visbreaking temperatures},
author = {Karanikas, John Michael and Colmenares, Tulio Rafael and Zhang, Etuan and Marino, Marian and Roes, Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria and Ryan, Robert Charles and Beer, Gary Lee and Dombrowski, Robert James and Jaiswal, Namit},
abstractNote = {Methods for treating a tar sands formation are described herein. Methods may include heating at least a section of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation. The heat may be controlled so that at least a majority of the section reaches an average temperature of between 200.degree. C. and 240.degree. C., which results in visbreaking of at least some hydrocarbons in the section. At least some visbroken hydrocarbon fluids may be produced from the formation.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 22 00:00:00 EST 2009},
month = {Tue Dec 22 00:00:00 EST 2009}
}

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