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Title: Heating tar sands formations while controlling pressure

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. A pressure in the majority of the section may be maintained below a fracture pressure of the formation. The pressure in the majority of the section may be reduced to a selected pressure after the average temperature reaches a temperature that is above 240.degree. C. and is at or below pyrolysis temperatures of hydrocarbons in the section. At least some hydrocarbon fluids may be produced from the formation.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Houston, TX
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Shell Oil Company (Houston, TX); Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1015188
Patent Number(s):
7644765
Application Number:
11/975,713
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; AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Citation Formats

Stegemeier, George Leo, Beer, Gary Lee, and Zhang, Etuan. Heating tar sands formations while controlling pressure. United States: N. p., 2010. Web.
Stegemeier, George Leo, Beer, Gary Lee, & Zhang, Etuan. Heating tar sands formations while controlling pressure. United States.
Stegemeier, George Leo, Beer, Gary Lee, and Zhang, Etuan. Tue . "Heating tar sands formations while controlling pressure". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1015188.
@article{osti_1015188,
title = {Heating tar sands formations while controlling pressure},
author = {Stegemeier, George Leo and Beer, Gary Lee and Zhang, Etuan},
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. A pressure in the majority of the section may be maintained below a fracture pressure of the formation. The pressure in the majority of the section may be reduced to a selected pressure after the average temperature reaches a temperature that is above 240.degree. C. and is at or below pyrolysis temperatures of hydrocarbons in the section. At least some hydrocarbon fluids may be produced from the formation.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 12 00:00:00 EST 2010},
month = {Tue Jan 12 00:00:00 EST 2010}
}

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