Title: In situ recovery from residually heated sections in a hydrocarbon containing formation

Abstract

Methods of treating a tar sands formation is described herein. The methods may include providing heat to a first section of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the first section of the formation. Heat is transferred from the heaters so that at least a first section of the formation reaches a selected temperature. At least a portion of residual heat from the first section transfers from the first section to a second section of the formation. At least a portion of hydrocarbons in the second section are mobilized by providing a solvation fluid and/or a pressurizing fluid to the second section of the formation.

Inventors:

Vinegar, Harold J ^[1]; Karanikas, John Michael ^[2]; Ryan, Robert Charles ^[2]

---

+ Show Inventor Affiliations

1. Bellaire, TX
2. Houston, TX

Issue Date:

Tue Dec 14 00:00:00 EST 2010

Research Org.:

Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1011394

Patent Number(s):

7849922

Application Number:

12/106,128

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company (Houston, TX)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

C - CHEMISTRY C09 - DYES C09K - MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10G - CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS

Show more

C - CHEMISTRY C09 - DYES C09K - MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

C09K8/845 - {containing inorganic compounds}
C09K8/86 - containing organic compounds

C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10G - CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS

C10G1/008 - {Controlling or regulating of liquefaction processes
C10G1/02 - by distillation
C10G1/04 - by extraction
C10G1/042 - {by the use of hydrogen-donor solvents}

E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING

E21B36/04 - using electrical heaters
E21B43/16 - Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
E21B43/24 - using heat, e.g. steam injection
E21B43/2401 - {by means of electricity}

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10T - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

Y10T29/49083 - Heater type

Show less

DOE Contract Number:  

AC04-94AL85000

Resource Type:

Patent

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English