skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Creating and maintaining a gas cap in tar sands formations

Abstract

Methods for treating a tar sands formation are disclosed herein. Methods for treating a tar sands formation may include providing heat to at least part of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from one or more heaters located in the formation. Pressure may be allowed to increase in an upper portion of the formation to provide a gas cap in the upper portion. At least some hydrocarbons are produced from a lower portion of the formation.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [1]
  1. Bellaire, TX
  2. Houston, TX
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Shell Oil Company (Houston, TX)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1014494
Patent Number(s):
7,677,310
Application Number:
U S Patent Application 11/975,689
Assignee:
Shell Oil Company (Houston, TX)
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725; AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Citation Formats

Vinegar, Harold J, Karanikas, John Michael, Dinkoruk, Deniz Sumnu, and Wellington, Scott Lee. Creating and maintaining a gas cap in tar sands formations. United States: N. p., 2010. Web.
Vinegar, Harold J, Karanikas, John Michael, Dinkoruk, Deniz Sumnu, & Wellington, Scott Lee. Creating and maintaining a gas cap in tar sands formations. United States.
Vinegar, Harold J, Karanikas, John Michael, Dinkoruk, Deniz Sumnu, and Wellington, Scott Lee. 2010. "Creating and maintaining a gas cap in tar sands formations". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1014494.
@article{osti_1014494,
title = {Creating and maintaining a gas cap in tar sands formations},
author = {Vinegar, Harold J and Karanikas, John Michael and Dinkoruk, Deniz Sumnu and Wellington, Scott Lee},
abstractNote = {Methods for treating a tar sands formation are disclosed herein. Methods for treating a tar sands formation may include providing heat to at least part of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from one or more heaters located in the formation. Pressure may be allowed to increase in an upper portion of the formation to provide a gas cap in the upper portion. At least some hydrocarbons are produced from a lower portion of the formation.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1014494}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Mar 16 00:00:00 EDT 2010},
month = {Tue Mar 16 00:00:00 EDT 2010}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Fast-SAGD: Half the Wells and 30% Less Steam
conference, April 2013


The Thermal and Structural Properties of a Hanna Basin Coal
journal, June 1984


Review of Reservoir Parameters to Optimize SAGD and Fast-SAGD Operating Conditions
journal, January 2007


Production Report
journal, April 1960


Kinetics of oil generation from Colorado oil shale
journal, June 1978


Fast-SAGD Application in the Alberta Oil Sands Areas
journal, September 2006


Some Effects of Pressure on Oil-Shale Retorting
journal, September 1969


Molecular Mechanism of Oil Shale Pyrolysis in Nitrogen and Hydrogen Atmospheres
book, August 1983


Application of a Microretort to Problems in Shade Pyrolysis
journal, July 1970


An Analog Computer for Studying Heat Transfer During a Thermal Recovery Process
journal, December 1955


The Characteristics of a Low Temperature In Situ Shale Oil
conference, April 2013


Evaluation of downhole electric impedance heating systems for paraffin control in oil wells
journal, January 1992


Electrical Heating With Horizontal Wells, The Heat Transfer Problem
conference, April 2013


Improving the Performance of Classic SAGD with Offsetting Vertical Producers
journal, February 2008


Direct Production of Low Pour Point High Gravity Shale Oil
journal, March 1967


Fast SAGD and Geomechanical Mechanisms
conference, April 2013