Varying properties of in situ heat treatment of a tar sands formation based on assessed viscosities

Karanikas, John Michael; Vinegar, Harold J

Varying properties of in situ heat treatment of a tar sands formation based on assessed viscosities

Patent · 04 March 2014

OSTI ID:1127090

Karanikas, John Michael; Vinegar, Harold J

A method for treating a tar sands formation includes providing heat to at least part of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation. The heat is allowed to transfer from the heaters to at least a portion of the formation. A viscosity of one or more zones of the hydrocarbon layer is assessed. The heating rates in the zones are varied based on the assessed viscosities. The heating rate in a first zone of the formation is greater than the heating rate in a second zone of the formation if the viscosity in the first zone is greater than the viscosity in the second zone. Fluids are produced from the formation through the production wells.

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Research Organization:: SNL-A (Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM (United States))

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Assignee:: Shell Oil Company (Houston, TX)

Patent Number(s):: 8,662,175

Application Number:: 12/105,997

OSTI ID:: 1127090

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (29)

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