Method and apparatus for producing tar sand deposits containing conductive layers having little or no vertical communication

Patent · Tue Oct 29 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5383620

Glandt, C A; Vinegar, H J; Gardner, J W

This patent describes a process for recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-bearing deposits containing thin highly conductive layers adjacent to at least one hydrocarbon rich zone. It comprises selecting a hydrocarbon-bearing deposit which contains a thin highly conductive layer within the deposit; installing at least one pair of horizontal electrodes spanning the highly conductive layer and dividing the layer into electrically heated and non-electrically heated zones; providing at least one vertical injection well for hot fluid injection into the hydrocarbon rich zone; providing at least one vertical production well for production of hydrocarbons; electrically heating the thin highly conductive layer to form a preheated zone immediately adjacent to the thin highly conductive layer while simultaneously stimulating the wells with steam; injecting the hot fluid into the deposit adjacent to the thin highly conductive layer and within the thin preheated zone to displace the hydrocarbons to the production wells; and recovering hydrocarbons from the production wells. This patent also describes an apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from tar sand deposits containing highly conductive layers. It comprises at least two pairs of horizontal electrodes which span the highly conductive layer and divide the highly conductive layer into at least two horizontally displaced electrically heated zones separated by non-electrically heated zones; at least one vertical injection well; and at least one vertical production well.

• Assignee: Shell Oil Co., Houston, TX (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5060726
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-571391
• OSTI ID: 5383620
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040401 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
DRILLING
ELECTRODES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EQUIPMENT
FLUID INJECTION
FLUID INJECTION PROCESSES
FLUIDS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
INJECTION WELLS
LAYERS
MINERAL RESOURCES
OIL SAND DEPOSITS
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RECOVERY
RESOURCES
STEAM INJECTION
STIMULATION
TAR SAND TRIANGLE DEPOSIT
THERMAL RECOVERY
WELL DRILLING
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS