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Title: Controlling and assessing pressure conditions during treatment of tar sands formations

Abstract

A method for treating a tar sands formation includes providing heat to at least part of a hydrocarbon layer in the tar sands formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation. Heat is allowed to transfer from the heaters to at least a portion of the formation. A pressure in the portion of the formation is controlled such that the pressure remains below a fracture pressure of the formation overburden while allowing the portion of the formation to heat to a selected average temperature of at least about 280.degree. C. and at most about 300.degree. C. The pressure in the portion of the formation is reduced to a selected pressure after the portion of the formation reaches the selected average temperature.

Inventors:
;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1225734
Patent Number(s):
9,181,780
Application Number:
12/105,974
Assignee:
Shell Oil Company
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2008 Apr 08
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS

Citation Formats

Zhang, Etuan, and Beer, Gary Lee. Controlling and assessing pressure conditions during treatment of tar sands formations. United States: N. p., 2015. Web.
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Zhang, Etuan, & Beer, Gary Lee. Controlling and assessing pressure conditions during treatment of tar sands formations. United States.
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Zhang, Etuan, and Beer, Gary Lee. Tue . "Controlling and assessing pressure conditions during treatment of tar sands formations". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1225734.
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@article{osti_1225734,
title = {Controlling and assessing pressure conditions during treatment of tar sands formations},
author = {Zhang, Etuan and Beer, Gary Lee},
abstractNote = {A method for treating a tar sands formation includes providing heat to at least part of a hydrocarbon layer in the tar sands formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation. Heat is allowed to transfer from the heaters to at least a portion of the formation. A pressure in the portion of the formation is controlled such that the pressure remains below a fracture pressure of the formation overburden while allowing the portion of the formation to heat to a selected average temperature of at least about 280.degree. C. and at most about 300.degree. C. The pressure in the portion of the formation is reduced to a selected pressure after the portion of the formation reaches the selected average temperature.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2015},
month = {11}
}
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