US2819761A - Process of removing viscous oil from a well bore - Google Patents

Process of removing viscous oil from a well bore Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US2819761A
US2819761A US560171A US56017156A US2819761A US 2819761 A US2819761 A US 2819761A US 560171 A US560171 A US 560171A US 56017156 A US56017156 A US 56017156A US 2819761 A US2819761 A US 2819761A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
well bore
oil
strata
formation
casing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US560171A
Inventor
Jack L Popham
D Arcy A Shock
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ConocoPhillips Co
Original Assignee
Continental Oil Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Continental Oil Co filed Critical Continental Oil Co
Priority to US560171A priority Critical patent/US2819761A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2819761A publication Critical patent/US2819761A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/16—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
    • E21B43/24—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection
    • E21B43/243—Combustion in situ
    • E21B43/247—Combustion in situ in association with fracturing processes or crevice forming processes
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B36/00—Heating, cooling, insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones
    • E21B36/005—Heater surrounding production tube

Definitions

  • vsicous oil may be defined as liquid hydrocarbons entrained in any type of strata and not naturally flowable into a well bore trav ersing the strata.
  • this invention relates to what is commonly known as secondary recovery of oil which will not normally flow into a well bore, such as the heavy crude in sands, or oil in tar sands.
  • Various methods of secondary recovery by the use of heat and/or gas drive have been proposed, but, to the best of applicants knowledge, none have proved economically feasible.
  • One general type of such methods involves the circulation of a heated fluid, such as oil, gas or steam through the lower portion of a well bore in contact with a formation containing the entrained oil.
  • a heated fluid such as oil, gas or steam
  • Another type of proposed secondary recovery method utilizes two or more spaced well bores.
  • combustion is initiated in one well bore and driven through the formation to an adjacent well bore.
  • the formation is sufficiently permeable to permit pumping gas from one well to another, and where the well bores are closely spaced, such methods are effective in recovering a large portion of the oil which will not normally flow into the well bores.
  • the use of two well bores unduly increases the cost of the method, and in many formations it is extremely diflicult to establish gas communication between the wells.
  • This invention is also useful in the removal of oil from oil shale.
  • Present known methods for this purpose ordinarily involve the formation of horizontal tunnels through the shale, with or without interconnecting channels. Hot gas or an absorbent is circulated through the various passageways to heat the shale in the immediate vicinity of the passageways and provide a drainage of oil into the passageways for subsequent removal. It will be apparent that the formation of the passageways is an extremely expensive operation and only the oil in the immediate vicinity of the passageways is removed.
  • the present invention contemplates a novel process for removing viscous oil from a strata or formation through the use of a single well bore.
  • Combustion is initiated in the top portion of the strata around the well bore, and the resulting flame front is moved downwardly around the well bore to progressively heat the strata.
  • the entrained oil becomes less viscous and flows into the lower portion of the well bore ahead of the flame front.
  • the movement of the oil is assisted by a gas drive 2 consisting of the products of combustion from the flame front and air forced through the strata to support the combustion but not used in the combustion process.
  • An important object of this invention is to provide an economical process of removing viscous oil from subsurface strata.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an improved process of removing viscous oil from subsurface formations by utilizing a single well bore.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a process utilizing a combination heat and gas drive for removing viscous oil from around a single well bore.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a maximum recovery of oil from around a well bore.
  • Another object of this invention is to remove viscous oil from a subsurface strata through a substantial distance around a well bore.
  • a still further object of this invention is to provide a downward flow of heat through an oil-bearing formation surrounding a well bore.
  • the single figure is a vertical sectional view through a well bore illustrating (partially schematically) one form of apparatus which may be used in practicing this invention.
  • the present invention may be defined as a process of removing viscous oil from a subsurface strata traversed by a vertical well bore, including the steps of:
  • reference character 2 designates a well bore extending downwardly from the surface 4 through formations 6 and 8 and terminating in a lower formation 10. It will be understood that the well bore 2 will actually extend through a plurality of subsurface formations and that only two of such formations are shown for simplification.
  • the formation or strata 8 may be any type of oil-containing material where the oil will not normally flow into the well bore 2, such as an oil sand containing heavy crude, or an oil shale.
  • a well casing 12 extends downwardly through the well bore 2 and terminates at a point above the lower formation 10 Within the lower portion of the oil-bearing formation 8.
  • the upper end 14 of the casing 12 is capped or closed off above the surface 4, and a conduit 16 communicates with the casing 2 above the surface for purposes which will be hereinafter set forth.
  • Three strings of tubing, 18, 20 and 22, are disposed concentrically in the casing 12.
  • the outer tubing string 18 terminates slightly below the lower end of the casing 12, and the upper end 24 of the tubing 18 is capped or closed off around the next smaller tubing string 20.
  • a conduit 26 communicates with the upper end portion of the tubing 18 above the upper end 14 of the casing 12.
  • the middle-sized tubing string 20 extends downwardly through the tubing 18 and preferably terminates in proximity with the lower end 28 of the well bore 2 for posihereinafter set forth.
  • the upper end 30 of the tubing Patented Jan. 14, 1958 20 extends above the tubing 18 and is capped around the smaller tubing 22.
  • a conduit 32 communicates with the tubing string 20 above the upper end 24 of the tubing 18.
  • the smaller tubing string 22 extends downwardly in the tubing string 20 to a depth approximating the depth of the tubing 20, and the upper end 34 of the tubing 22 extends outwardly to receive air or gas as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.
  • the casing 12 is cemented to the walls of the well bore 2 through the central portion of the oil-bearing formation 8 as indicated by reference character 36.
  • the formation 8 is in direct communication with the casing 12 throughout the upper portion of the formation, and the formation is in direct communication with the large tubing string 18 through the lower end portion of the formation.
  • the cement 36 extend through the major portion of the formation 8 to provide relatively small exposed portions of the formation above and below the cement 36.
  • a plurality of perforations 38 are formed in the casing 12 above the cement 36 and opposite the upper portion of the oil-bearing formation 8. Also, a suitable packer or concrete ring 40 is preferably disposed between the outer surface of the casing 12 and the walls of the well bore 2 above the perforations 38 adjacent the upper end of the oil-bearing formation 8.
  • a horizontal fracture 42 is formed in the upper portion of the oil-bearing formation 8 opposite the perforations 38.
  • one or more fractures may be formed in the lower portion of the formation 8 below the lower end 46 of the casing 12. These lower fractures may be either horizontal (as shown at 44) Or vertical (as shown at 45) fractures.
  • Air is then forced through the conduit 16 downwardly through the annulus between the casing 12 and the tubing 18 and then outwardly through the perforations 38 into the upper horizontal fracture 42.
  • the packers 40 and 48 and cement 36 direct the air into the perforations 38 and fracture 42.
  • the oil in the fracture 42 may then be igmted by any suitable means and the air will supply the necessary oxygen to promote combustion. In some formatrons, the oil entrained in the formation 8 surrounding the fracture 42 will be ignited upon being contacted by the fresh a r discharging through the perforations 38.
  • the flame front resulting from the combustion of the arr and the oil entrained in the formation 8 will proceed downwardly through the formation 8 around the well bore 2 in the direction indicated by the arrows. Also, the gases of combustion will be forced downwardly through the formation 8 by the high pressure incoming air and will re-enter the well bore 2 below the lower end 46 of the casing 12.
  • the oil entrained in the formation 8 around the well bore 2 will be removed and directed into the lower portion of the well bore by a combination of two different effects.
  • the heat of combustion will heat the formation 8 and reduce the viscosity of the entrained oil to induce a downward flow of the oil toward the lower portion of the well bore 2.
  • the gases of combustion along with a portion of the air not utilized in the combustion process, will provide a gas drive to force the entrained oil downwardly toward the lower portion of the well bore 2.
  • the lower fractures 44 or 45 will facilitate flow of the entrained oil into the well bore.
  • the gases of combustion entering the lower portion of the well bore 2 will be discharged upwardly through the tubing string 18 and out the conduit 26; whereas the oil removed from the formation 8 will accumulate iuthe lower portion of the well bore 2 and may be removed by any desired artificial lifting means. However, in some formations the amount and pressure of the gas discharging into the lower portion of the well bore 2 may be suflicient to provide a removal of the accumulated oil along with the combustion gases through the tubing 18.
  • any desired artificial lifting means may be utilized to remove the oil accumulated in the lower portion of the well bore 2.
  • a gas lift arrangement comprising the tubing strings 2i and 22. Air or under pressure may be forced downwardly through the inner tubing 22 and discharged upwardly through the tubing string 20. As this high pressure gas reverses direction and proceeds upwardly through the tubing string 20 it will pick up a portion of the accumulated oil and provide a gas lift of the oil through the tubing string 20. The combined oil and gas is discharged through the upper conduit 32 to a suitable separator or the like (not shown).
  • the packer or cement ring 40 prevents an upward flow of the air through the annulus between the casing 12 and the well bore 2 to direct the high pressure air into the fracture 42.
  • the fracture 42 will normally be formed below the interface 50 between the formations 6 and 8, whereby the interface 50 provides a barrier to an upward flow of air from the fracture 42 through the formation 6.
  • the air will be constrained to flow in a generally downward direction from the fracture 42 through the formation 8.
  • the air (as well as the gases of combustion resulting from the flame front) will follow the path of least resistance and flow into the lower portion of the well bore 2.
  • the upper fracture 42 provides an extension of the flame front to a substantial distance from the well bore 2.
  • the air introduced into the fracture 42 will completely fill the fracture to induce combustion all the way out to the outer limits of the fracture 42.
  • the lower fractures 44 assist in the establishment of gas communication from the upper fracture 42 to the lower portion of the Well bore 2 and facilitate the flow of the heated oil into the well bore. It will be apparent, however, that in relatively permeable formations it will not be necessary to form the lower fractures 44 or 45, since gas communication will be easily established between the upper fracture 42 and the lower portion of the well bore 2.
  • the present invention provides an economical process of removing viscous oil from subsurface strata.
  • the process utilizes a single well bore and involves the use of a combination heat and gas drive for removing the viscous oil.
  • the maximum amount of oil may be removed from a single well bore and the present process will reach the viscous oil a substantial distance from the well bore.
  • the flame I front progresses downwardly around the well bore in the same direction as the gas flow to provide an efficient heat and gas drive.
  • a process of removing viscous oil from a subsurface strata traversed by a vertical well bore including the steps of: ((1) initiating combustion in the upper portion of the strata around the well bore to form a flame front, and (b) continuously forcing gas only into the upper portion of the strata for feeding the flame front and forcing the flame front downwardly around the well bore, whereby the strata is progressively heated in a downward direction and the products of combustion are forced downwardly to release oil entrained in the strata and direct the released oil into the well bore at the lower portion of the strata.
  • a process as defined in claim 1 characterized further in that the upper portion of the strata is horizontally fractured around the well bore and combustion is initiated in the fracture.
  • a process as defined in claim 1 characterized further in that the upper and lower portions of the strata are fractured around the well bore and combustion is initiated in the upper fracture.
  • a process as defined in claim 1 characterized further in that gas communication is established from the well bore at the upper portion of the strata downwardly through the strata around the well bore and back into the well bore at the lower end of the strata prior to initiation of combustion.
  • a .process as defined in claim 1 characterized further in that the lower portion of the strata is vertically fractured around the well bore prior to the initiation of combustion.
  • a process of removing viscous oil from a subsurface strata traversed by a vertical well bore including the steps of: (a) placing a casing in the well bore at a depth where the casing terminates in the lower portion of the strata, (b) cementing the casing in the well bore from the lower end of the casing through the major portion of the strata, (c) perforating the casing opposite the upper end portion of the strata above the cement, (d) suspending a tubing in the casing, (e) packing the tubing to the casing below the perforations in the casing, (1) forcing air down through the annulus between the tubing and casing, outwardly through the perforations, downwardly through the strata around the well bore, and back into the well bore and the lower end of the tubing, and (g) initiating combustion of the air and the oil in the strata at the upper end portion of the strata to form a flame front around the well bore, whereby the air feeds and forces the flame front progressively downward around the well bore
  • a process as defined in claim 6 characterized further by including the step of horizontally fracturing the strata around the well bore opposite the perforations in the casing prior to the initiation of combustion.
  • a process as defined in claim 6 characterized further by including the steps of horizontally fracturing the strata around the well bore opposite the perforations in the casing, and fracturing the strata around the well bore below the lower end of the casing.
  • a process as defined in claim 1 characterized further by including the step of removing the released oil from the well bore upwardly through the well bare to the surface.

Description

Jan. 14, 1958 J. L. P6PHAM ETAL 1 PROCESS OF REMOVING VISCOUS OIL FROM A WELL BORE Filed Jan. 19, 1956 IIQVENTORS ,1 1.. POPHAM 0. 4. SHOCK ATTORNEY PROCESS OF REMOVING VISCOUS OIL FROM A WELL BORE lack L. Popham and DArcy A. Shock, Ponca City, Okla, assignors to Continental Oil Company, Ponca City, Okla, a corporation of Delaware Application January 19, 1556, Serial No. 560,171
9 Claims. (Cl. 166-39) This invention relates to an improved process of recovering viscous oil from subsurface strata, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an improved process of recovering viscous oil by utilizing a combination heat and gas drive. For the purpose of this specification and the appended claims, vsicous oil may be defined as liquid hydrocarbons entrained in any type of strata and not naturally flowable into a well bore trav ersing the strata.
In one aspect, this invention relates to what is commonly known as secondary recovery of oil which will not normally flow into a well bore, such as the heavy crude in sands, or oil in tar sands. Various methods of secondary recovery by the use of heat and/or gas drive have been proposed, but, to the best of applicants knowledge, none have proved economically feasible. One general type of such methods involves the circulation of a heated fluid, such as oil, gas or steam through the lower portion of a well bore in contact with a formation containing the entrained oil. Perhaps the greatest deficiency of these methods is the lack of penetration of heat through the formation. Ordinarily, only the formation in the immediate proximity of the well bore is effectively heated to reduce the viscosity of the oil and induce the oil to flow into the well bore.
Another type of proposed secondary recovery method utilizes two or more spaced well bores. In general, combustion is initiated in one well bore and driven through the formation to an adjacent well bore. In rather ideal formations, Where the formation is sufficiently permeable to permit pumping gas from one well to another, and where the well bores are closely spaced, such methods are effective in recovering a large portion of the oil which will not normally flow into the well bores. However, the use of two well bores unduly increases the cost of the method, and in many formations it is extremely diflicult to establish gas communication between the wells.
This invention is also useful in the removal of oil from oil shale. Present known methods for this purpose ordinarily involve the formation of horizontal tunnels through the shale, with or without interconnecting channels. Hot gas or an absorbent is circulated through the various passageways to heat the shale in the immediate vicinity of the passageways and provide a drainage of oil into the passageways for subsequent removal. It will be apparent that the formation of the passageways is an extremely expensive operation and only the oil in the immediate vicinity of the passageways is removed.
The present invention contemplates a novel process for removing viscous oil from a strata or formation through the use of a single well bore. Combustion is initiated in the top portion of the strata around the well bore, and the resulting flame front is moved downwardly around the well bore to progressively heat the strata. As the strata is heated, the entrained oil becomes less viscous and flows into the lower portion of the well bore ahead of the flame front. The movement of the oil is assisted by a gas drive 2 consisting of the products of combustion from the flame front and air forced through the strata to support the combustion but not used in the combustion process.
An important object of this invention is to provide an economical process of removing viscous oil from subsurface strata.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved process of removing viscous oil from subsurface formations by utilizing a single well bore.
Another object of this invention is to provide a process utilizing a combination heat and gas drive for removing viscous oil from around a single well bore.
A further object of this invention is to provide a maximum recovery of oil from around a well bore.
Another object of this invention is to remove viscous oil from a subsurface strata through a substantial distance around a well bore.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a downward flow of heat through an oil-bearing formation surrounding a well bore.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustrates our invention.
in the drawing, the single figure is a vertical sectional view through a well bore illustrating (partially schematically) one form of apparatus which may be used in practicing this invention.
Stated broadly, the present invention may be defined as a process of removing viscous oil from a subsurface strata traversed by a vertical well bore, including the steps of:
(a) Initiating combustion in the upper portion of the strata around the well bore to form a flame front, and
(b) Continuously forcing gas into the upper portion of the strata for feeding the flame front and forcing the flame front downwardly around the well bore, whereby the strata is progressively heated in a downward direction and the products of combustion are forced downwardly to release oil entrained in the strata and direct the re leased oil into the well bore at the lower portion of the strata.
Referring to the drawing in detail, reference character 2 designates a well bore extending downwardly from the surface 4 through formations 6 and 8 and terminating in a lower formation 10. It will be understood that the well bore 2 will actually extend through a plurality of subsurface formations and that only two of such formations are shown for simplification. The formation or strata 8 may be any type of oil-containing material where the oil will not normally flow into the well bore 2, such as an oil sand containing heavy crude, or an oil shale.
A well casing 12 extends downwardly through the well bore 2 and terminates at a point above the lower formation 10 Within the lower portion of the oil-bearing formation 8. The upper end 14 of the casing 12 is capped or closed off above the surface 4, and a conduit 16 communicates with the casing 2 above the surface for purposes which will be hereinafter set forth. Three strings of tubing, 18, 20 and 22, are disposed concentrically in the casing 12. The outer tubing string 18 terminates slightly below the lower end of the casing 12, and the upper end 24 of the tubing 18 is capped or closed off around the next smaller tubing string 20. A conduit 26 communicates with the upper end portion of the tubing 18 above the upper end 14 of the casing 12.
The middle-sized tubing string 20 extends downwardly through the tubing 18 and preferably terminates in proximity with the lower end 28 of the well bore 2 for posihereinafter set forth. The upper end 30 of the tubing Patented Jan. 14, 1958 20 extends above the tubing 18 and is capped around the smaller tubing 22. Also, a conduit 32 communicates with the tubing string 20 above the upper end 24 of the tubing 18.
The smaller tubing string 22 extends downwardly in the tubing string 20 to a depth approximating the depth of the tubing 20, and the upper end 34 of the tubing 22 extends outwardly to receive air or gas as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.
In practicing the present invention, the casing 12 is cemented to the walls of the well bore 2 through the central portion of the oil-bearing formation 8 as indicated by reference character 36. Thus, the formation 8 is in direct communication with the casing 12 throughout the upper portion of the formation, and the formation is in direct communication with the large tubing string 18 through the lower end portion of the formation. It is preferred that the cement 36 extend through the major portion of the formation 8 to provide relatively small exposed portions of the formation above and below the cement 36.
A plurality of perforations 38 are formed in the casing 12 above the cement 36 and opposite the upper portion of the oil-bearing formation 8. Also, a suitable packer or concrete ring 40 is preferably disposed between the outer surface of the casing 12 and the walls of the well bore 2 above the perforations 38 adjacent the upper end of the oil-bearing formation 8.
In one embodiment of this invention a horizontal fracture 42 is formed in the upper portion of the oil-bearing formation 8 opposite the perforations 38. Also, one or more fractures may be formed in the lower portion of the formation 8 below the lower end 46 of the casing 12. These lower fractures may be either horizontal (as shown at 44) Or vertical (as shown at 45) fractures. After the fractures 42 and 44 or 45 have been formed and the casing 12 is set in the well bore 2 as illustrated in the drawing, the tubing string 18 is run inside the casing 12 and a packer 48 is set between the tubing 18 and the casing 12 opposite the cement 36.
Air is then forced through the conduit 16 downwardly through the annulus between the casing 12 and the tubing 18 and then outwardly through the perforations 38 into the upper horizontal fracture 42. The packers 40 and 48 and cement 36 direct the air into the perforations 38 and fracture 42. The oil in the fracture 42 may then be igmted by any suitable means and the air will supply the necessary oxygen to promote combustion. In some formatrons, the oil entrained in the formation 8 surrounding the fracture 42 will be ignited upon being contacted by the fresh a r discharging through the perforations 38.
As the high pressure air is supplied through the fracture 42, the flame front resulting from the combustion of the arr and the oil entrained in the formation 8 will proceed downwardly through the formation 8 around the well bore 2 in the direction indicated by the arrows. Also, the gases of combustion will be forced downwardly through the formation 8 by the high pressure incoming air and will re-enter the well bore 2 below the lower end 46 of the casing 12.
It will thus be apparent that the oil entrained in the formation 8 around the well bore 2 will be removed and directed into the lower portion of the well bore by a combination of two different effects. The heat of combustion will heat the formation 8 and reduce the viscosity of the entrained oil to induce a downward flow of the oil toward the lower portion of the well bore 2. In addition, the gases of combustion, along with a portion of the air not utilized in the combustion process, will provide a gas drive to force the entrained oil downwardly toward the lower portion of the well bore 2. The lower fractures 44 or 45 will facilitate flow of the entrained oil into the well bore.
The gases of combustion entering the lower portion of the well bore 2 will be discharged upwardly through the tubing string 18 and out the conduit 26; whereas the oil removed from the formation 8 will accumulate iuthe lower portion of the well bore 2 and may be removed by any desired artificial lifting means. However, in some formations the amount and pressure of the gas discharging into the lower portion of the well bore 2 may be suflicient to provide a removal of the accumulated oil along with the combustion gases through the tubing 18.
As previously noted, any desired artificial lifting means may be utilized to remove the oil accumulated in the lower portion of the well bore 2. For purposes of illustration we have shown, schematically, a gas lift arrangement comprising the tubing strings 2i and 22. Air or under pressure may be forced downwardly through the inner tubing 22 and discharged upwardly through the tubing string 20. As this high pressure gas reverses direction and proceeds upwardly through the tubing string 20 it will pick up a portion of the accumulated oil and provide a gas lift of the oil through the tubing string 20. The combined oil and gas is discharged through the upper conduit 32 to a suitable separator or the like (not shown).
Prior to initiating combustion in the upper fracture 42, it may be desirable to establish gas communication downwardly through the formation 8 around the Well bore 2. In that event, the high pressure air supplied through the perforations 38 will be forced downwardly through the formation 8 around the well bore 2 and the cement sleeve 36 into the lower portion of the Well bore 2, until a return of the air is noted through the outlet conduit 26. When this condition occurs the air and the oil entrained in the formation 8 may be ignited within the fracture 42 to start the downwardly moving flame front.
It will be noted that the packer or cement ring 40 prevents an upward flow of the air through the annulus between the casing 12 and the well bore 2 to direct the high pressure air into the fracture 42. Also, the fracture 42 will normally be formed below the interface 50 between the formations 6 and 8, whereby the interface 50 provides a barrier to an upward flow of air from the fracture 42 through the formation 6. Thus, the air will be constrained to flow in a generally downward direction from the fracture 42 through the formation 8. And since the lower portion of the well bore 2 will be at a lower pressure than any other accessible portion of the formation 8, the air (as well as the gases of combustion resulting from the flame front) will follow the path of least resistance and flow into the lower portion of the well bore 2.
The upper fracture 42 provides an extension of the flame front to a substantial distance from the well bore 2. The air introduced into the fracture 42 will completely fill the fracture to induce combustion all the way out to the outer limits of the fracture 42. The lower fractures 44 assist in the establishment of gas communication from the upper fracture 42 to the lower portion of the Well bore 2 and facilitate the flow of the heated oil into the well bore. It will be apparent, however, that in relatively permeable formations it will not be necessary to form the lower fractures 44 or 45, since gas communication will be easily established between the upper fracture 42 and the lower portion of the well bore 2.
From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides an economical process of removing viscous oil from subsurface strata. The process utilizes a single well bore and involves the use of a combination heat and gas drive for removing the viscous oil. The maximum amount of oil may be removed from a single well bore and the present process will reach the viscous oil a substantial distance from the well bore. The flame I front progresses downwardly around the well bore in the same direction as the gas flow to provide an efficient heat and gas drive.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and it is, therefore, contemplated to cover by the appended claims any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
The invention having thus been described, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
1. A process of removing viscous oil from a subsurface strata traversed by a vertical well bore, including the steps of: ((1) initiating combustion in the upper portion of the strata around the well bore to form a flame front, and (b) continuously forcing gas only into the upper portion of the strata for feeding the flame front and forcing the flame front downwardly around the well bore, whereby the strata is progressively heated in a downward direction and the products of combustion are forced downwardly to release oil entrained in the strata and direct the released oil into the well bore at the lower portion of the strata.
2. A process as defined in claim 1 characterized further in that the upper portion of the strata is horizontally fractured around the well bore and combustion is initiated in the fracture.
3. A process as defined in claim 1 characterized further in that the upper and lower portions of the strata are fractured around the well bore and combustion is initiated in the upper fracture.
4. A process as defined in claim 1 characterized further in that gas communication is established from the well bore at the upper portion of the strata downwardly through the strata around the well bore and back into the well bore at the lower end of the strata prior to initiation of combustion.
5. A .process as defined in claim 1 characterized further in that the lower portion of the strata is vertically fractured around the well bore prior to the initiation of combustion.
6. A process of removing viscous oil from a subsurface strata traversed by a vertical well bore, including the steps of: (a) placing a casing in the well bore at a depth where the casing terminates in the lower portion of the strata, (b) cementing the casing in the well bore from the lower end of the casing through the major portion of the strata, (c) perforating the casing opposite the upper end portion of the strata above the cement, (d) suspending a tubing in the casing, (e) packing the tubing to the casing below the perforations in the casing, (1) forcing air down through the annulus between the tubing and casing, outwardly through the perforations, downwardly through the strata around the well bore, and back into the well bore and the lower end of the tubing, and (g) initiating combustion of the air and the oil in the strata at the upper end portion of the strata to form a flame front around the well bore, whereby the air feeds and forces the flame front progressively downward around the well bore to heat the strata and drive oil from the strata into the well bore at the lower end portion of the strata.
7. A process as defined in claim 6 characterized further by including the step of horizontally fracturing the strata around the well bore opposite the perforations in the casing prior to the initiation of combustion.
8. A process as defined in claim 6 characterized further by including the steps of horizontally fracturing the strata around the well bore opposite the perforations in the casing, and fracturing the strata around the well bore below the lower end of the casing.
9. A process as defined in claim 1 characterized further by including the step of removing the released oil from the well bore upwardly through the well bare to the surface.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,457,479 Wolcott June 5, 1923 2,675,081 Nowak Apr. 13, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 481,151 Canada Feb. 12, 1952

Claims (1)

1. A PROCESS FOR REMOCING VISCOUS OIL FROM A SUBSURFACE STRATE TRANSVERSED BY A VERTICAL WELL BORE, INCLUDING THE STEPS OF: (A) INITIATING COMBUSTION IN THE UPPER PORTION OF THE STRATA AROUND THE WELL BORE TO FORM A FLAME FRONT, AND (B) CONTINUOUSLY FORCING GAS ONLY INTO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE STRATA FOR FEEDING THE FLAME FRONT AND FORCING THE FLAME FRONT DOWNWARDLY AROUND THE WELL
US560171A 1956-01-19 1956-01-19 Process of removing viscous oil from a well bore Expired - Lifetime US2819761A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US560171A US2819761A (en) 1956-01-19 1956-01-19 Process of removing viscous oil from a well bore

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US560171A US2819761A (en) 1956-01-19 1956-01-19 Process of removing viscous oil from a well bore

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2819761A true US2819761A (en) 1958-01-14

Family

ID=24236673

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US560171A Expired - Lifetime US2819761A (en) 1956-01-19 1956-01-19 Process of removing viscous oil from a well bore

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US2819761A (en)

Cited By (58)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2970826A (en) * 1958-11-21 1961-02-07 Texaco Inc Recovery of oil from oil shale
US2978025A (en) * 1957-02-18 1961-04-04 Pan American Petroleum Corp Fracturing well formations
US3004596A (en) * 1958-03-28 1961-10-17 Phillips Petroleum Co Process for recovery of hydrocarbons by in situ combustion
US3004600A (en) * 1957-06-17 1961-10-17 Gulf Research Development Co Single well in-situ combustion process for production of oil
US3018827A (en) * 1957-06-17 1962-01-30 Gulf Research Development Co Single well vertical drive in-situ combustion process
US3024013A (en) * 1958-04-24 1962-03-06 Phillips Petroleum Co Recovery of hydrocarbons by in situ combustion
US3026935A (en) * 1958-07-18 1962-03-27 Texaco Inc In situ combustion
US3040809A (en) * 1957-06-05 1962-06-26 Sinclair Oil & Gas Company Process for recovering viscous crude oil from unconsolidated formations
US3048221A (en) * 1958-05-12 1962-08-07 Phillips Petroleum Co Hydrocarbon recovery by thermal drive
US3110345A (en) * 1959-02-26 1963-11-12 Gulf Research Development Co Low temperature reverse combustion process
US3113620A (en) * 1959-07-06 1963-12-10 Exxon Research Engineering Co Process for producing viscous oil
US3180414A (en) * 1961-03-27 1965-04-27 Phillips Petroleum Co Production of hydrocarbons by fracturing and fluid drive
US3195632A (en) * 1957-06-17 1965-07-20 Gulf Res & Developement Compan Radial burning in-situ combustion process utilizing a single well
US3208527A (en) * 1961-07-10 1965-09-28 Exxon Production Research Co Method and apparatus for controlling flow of well fluids
US3342257A (en) * 1963-12-30 1967-09-19 Standard Oil Co In situ retorting of oil shale using nuclear energy
US3511282A (en) * 1966-02-07 1970-05-12 Continental Oil Co Prestressed conduit for heated fluids
US3608637A (en) * 1969-11-12 1971-09-28 Phillips Petroleum Co In situ combustion production method
US3654691A (en) * 1966-02-07 1972-04-11 Continental Oil Co Process for constructing prestressed conduit for heated fluids
US4083404A (en) * 1976-03-10 1978-04-11 Texaco Inc. Oil recovery process utilizing air and superheated steam
US20030079877A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-01 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation in a reducing environment
US20030080604A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-01 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing and inhibiting migration of fluids into or out of an in situ oil shale formation
US20030098149A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-29 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation using gas to increase mobility
US20030155111A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-08-21 Shell Oil Co In situ thermal processing of a tar sands formation
US20030173072A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-09-18 Vinegar Harold J. Forming openings in a hydrocarbon containing formation using magnetic tracking
US20030173085A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-09-18 Vinegar Harold J. Upgrading and mining of coal
US20030173081A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-09-18 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of an oil reservoir formation
US20030178191A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2003-09-25 Maher Kevin Albert In situ recovery from a kerogen and liquid hydrocarbon containing formation
US20030192693A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-10-16 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce heated fluids
US20040020642A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2004-02-05 Vinegar Harold J. In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation using conductor-in-conduit heat sources with an electrically conductive material in the overburden
US20040146288A1 (en) * 2002-10-24 2004-07-29 Vinegar Harold J. Temperature limited heaters for heating subsurface formations or wellbores
US20050269092A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Vinegar Harold J Vacuum pumping of conductor-in-conduit heaters
US7104319B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-09-12 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a heavy oil diatomite formation
US20060210468A1 (en) * 2005-03-10 2006-09-21 Peter Veenstra Heat transfer system for the combustion of a fuel and heating of a process fluid and a process that uses same
US20060210936A1 (en) * 2005-03-10 2006-09-21 Peter Veenstra Multi-tube heat transfer system for the combustion of a fuel and heating of a process fluid and the use thereof
US20060222578A1 (en) * 2005-03-10 2006-10-05 Peter Veenstra Method of starting up a direct heating system for the flameless combustion of fuel and direct heating of a process fluid
US7121342B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2006-10-17 Shell Oil Company Thermal processes for subsurface formations
US20070045265A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-03-01 Mckinzie Billy J Ii Low temperature barriers with heat interceptor wells for in situ processes
US20070095537A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-05-03 Vinegar Harold J Solution mining dawsonite from hydrocarbon containing formations with a chelating agent
US20070108201A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-05-17 Vinegar Harold J Insulated conductor temperature limited heater for subsurface heating coupled in a three-phase wye configuration
US20070284108A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2007-12-13 Roes Augustinus W M Compositions produced using an in situ heat treatment process
US20080236831A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-10-02 Chia-Fu Hsu Condensing vaporized water in situ to treat tar sands formations
US20090053660A1 (en) * 2007-07-20 2009-02-26 Thomas Mikus Flameless combustion heater
US20090056696A1 (en) * 2007-07-20 2009-03-05 Abdul Wahid Munshi Flameless combustion heater
US20090090158A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-04-09 Ian Alexander Davidson Wellbore manufacturing processes for in situ heat treatment processes
US20090159277A1 (en) * 2006-02-27 2009-06-25 Grant Hocking Enhanced Hydrocarbon Recovery by in Situ Combustion of Oil Sand Formations
US20090194333A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-06 Macdonald Duncan Ranging methods for developing wellbores in subsurface formations
US20090272526A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2009-11-05 David Booth Burns Electrical current flow between tunnels for use in heating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US20100147521A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-06-17 Xueying Xie Perforated electrical conductors for treating subsurface formations
US20100258309A1 (en) * 2009-04-10 2010-10-14 Oluropo Rufus Ayodele Heater assisted fluid treatment of a subsurface formation
US20110088904A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2011-04-21 De Rouffignac Eric Pierre In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US20130333874A1 (en) * 2012-04-16 2013-12-19 Leonard Alan Bollingham Through Tubing gas lift mandrel
US8631866B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-01-21 Shell Oil Company Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations
US8701768B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-04-22 Shell Oil Company Methods for treating hydrocarbon formations
US8820406B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-09-02 Shell Oil Company Electrodes for electrical current flow heating of subsurface formations with conductive material in wellbore
US9016370B2 (en) 2011-04-08 2015-04-28 Shell Oil Company Partial solution mining of hydrocarbon containing layers prior to in situ heat treatment
US9033042B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2015-05-19 Shell Oil Company Forming bitumen barriers in subsurface hydrocarbon formations
US9309755B2 (en) 2011-10-07 2016-04-12 Shell Oil Company Thermal expansion accommodation for circulated fluid systems used to heat subsurface formations
US10047594B2 (en) 2012-01-23 2018-08-14 Genie Ip B.V. Heater pattern for in situ thermal processing of a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1457479A (en) * 1920-01-12 1923-06-05 Edson R Wolcott Method of increasing the yield of oil wells
CA481151A (en) * 1952-02-12 Ranney Leo Recovery of fluid products from sub-surface mineral deposits
US2675081A (en) * 1950-10-23 1954-04-13 Union Oil Co Method and apparatus for pumping and heating oil wells

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA481151A (en) * 1952-02-12 Ranney Leo Recovery of fluid products from sub-surface mineral deposits
US1457479A (en) * 1920-01-12 1923-06-05 Edson R Wolcott Method of increasing the yield of oil wells
US2675081A (en) * 1950-10-23 1954-04-13 Union Oil Co Method and apparatus for pumping and heating oil wells

Cited By (330)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2978025A (en) * 1957-02-18 1961-04-04 Pan American Petroleum Corp Fracturing well formations
US3040809A (en) * 1957-06-05 1962-06-26 Sinclair Oil & Gas Company Process for recovering viscous crude oil from unconsolidated formations
US3004600A (en) * 1957-06-17 1961-10-17 Gulf Research Development Co Single well in-situ combustion process for production of oil
US3018827A (en) * 1957-06-17 1962-01-30 Gulf Research Development Co Single well vertical drive in-situ combustion process
US3195632A (en) * 1957-06-17 1965-07-20 Gulf Res & Developement Compan Radial burning in-situ combustion process utilizing a single well
US3004596A (en) * 1958-03-28 1961-10-17 Phillips Petroleum Co Process for recovery of hydrocarbons by in situ combustion
US3024013A (en) * 1958-04-24 1962-03-06 Phillips Petroleum Co Recovery of hydrocarbons by in situ combustion
US3048221A (en) * 1958-05-12 1962-08-07 Phillips Petroleum Co Hydrocarbon recovery by thermal drive
US3026935A (en) * 1958-07-18 1962-03-27 Texaco Inc In situ combustion
US2970826A (en) * 1958-11-21 1961-02-07 Texaco Inc Recovery of oil from oil shale
US3110345A (en) * 1959-02-26 1963-11-12 Gulf Research Development Co Low temperature reverse combustion process
US3113620A (en) * 1959-07-06 1963-12-10 Exxon Research Engineering Co Process for producing viscous oil
US3180414A (en) * 1961-03-27 1965-04-27 Phillips Petroleum Co Production of hydrocarbons by fracturing and fluid drive
US3208527A (en) * 1961-07-10 1965-09-28 Exxon Production Research Co Method and apparatus for controlling flow of well fluids
US3342257A (en) * 1963-12-30 1967-09-19 Standard Oil Co In situ retorting of oil shale using nuclear energy
US3654691A (en) * 1966-02-07 1972-04-11 Continental Oil Co Process for constructing prestressed conduit for heated fluids
US3511282A (en) * 1966-02-07 1970-05-12 Continental Oil Co Prestressed conduit for heated fluids
US3608637A (en) * 1969-11-12 1971-09-28 Phillips Petroleum Co In situ combustion production method
US4083404A (en) * 1976-03-10 1978-04-11 Texaco Inc. Oil recovery process utilizing air and superheated steam
US8789586B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2014-07-29 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US8225866B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2012-07-24 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7011154B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-03-14 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a kerogen and liquid hydrocarbon containing formation
US20030178191A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2003-09-25 Maher Kevin Albert In situ recovery from a kerogen and liquid hydrocarbon containing formation
US20110088904A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2011-04-21 De Rouffignac Eric Pierre In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US8485252B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2013-07-16 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US6880633B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-04-19 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce a desired product
US7051811B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-05-30 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing through an open wellbore in an oil shale formation
US20030111223A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-06-19 Rouffignac Eric Pierre De In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using horizontal heat sources
US20030116315A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-06-26 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation
US20030131995A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-17 De Rouffignac Eric Pierre In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation to increase permeability of the formation
US20030131993A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-17 Etuan Zhang In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation with a selected property
US20030131996A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-17 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation having permeable and impermeable sections
US20030136559A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-24 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing while controlling pressure in an oil shale formation
US20030136558A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-24 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce a desired product
US20030137181A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-24 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce hydrocarbons having a selected carbon number range
US20030141067A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-31 Rouffignac Eric Pierre De In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to increase permeability of the formation
US20030142964A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-31 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a controlled heating rate
US20030141068A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-31 Pierre De Rouffignac Eric In situ thermal processing through an open wellbore in an oil shale formation
US20030141066A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-31 Karanikas John Michael In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation while inhibiting coking
US20030146002A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-08-07 Vinegar Harold J. Removable heat sources for in situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation
US20030148894A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-08-07 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a natural distributed combustor
US20030155111A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-08-21 Shell Oil Co In situ thermal processing of a tar sands formation
US20030164239A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-09-04 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation in a reducing environment
US8608249B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2013-12-17 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation
US20030173078A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-09-18 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce a condensate
US20030173080A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-09-18 Berchenko Ilya Emil In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a pattern of heat sources
US20030079877A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-01 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation in a reducing environment
US20060213657A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2006-09-28 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a pattern of heat sources
US20030102130A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-06-05 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with quality control
US20030080604A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-01 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing and inhibiting migration of fluids into or out of an in situ oil shale formation
US7225866B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2007-06-05 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a pattern of heat sources
US7096942B1 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-08-29 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation while controlling pressure
US7066254B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-06-27 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a tar sands formation
US20030102124A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-06-05 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of a blending agent from a relatively permeable formation
US7055600B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-06-06 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with controlled production rate
US7051807B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-05-30 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with quality control
US6981548B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-01-03 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation
US7040400B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-05-09 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation using an open wellbore
US7040399B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-05-09 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a controlled heating rate
US7040398B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-05-09 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation in a reducing environment
US7032660B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-04-25 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing and inhibiting migration of fluids into or out of an in situ oil shale formation
US6782947B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2004-08-31 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation to increase permeability of the formation
US7013972B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-03-21 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a natural distributed combustor
US20040211554A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2004-10-28 Vinegar Harold J. Heat sources with conductive material for in situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation
US20040211557A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2004-10-28 Cole Anthony Thomas Conductor-in-conduit heat sources for in situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation
US20030098149A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-29 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation using gas to increase mobility
US6877555B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-04-12 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation while inhibiting coking
US20030102125A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-06-05 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation in a reducing environment
US7004247B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-02-28 Shell Oil Company Conductor-in-conduit heat sources for in situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation
US6915850B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-07-12 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation having permeable and impermeable sections
US6918442B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-07-19 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation in a reducing environment
US6918443B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-07-19 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce hydrocarbons having a selected carbon number range
US6923257B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-08-02 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce a condensate
US6929067B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-08-16 Shell Oil Company Heat sources with conductive material for in situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation
US7004251B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-02-28 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing and remediation of an oil shale formation
US6948562B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-09-27 Shell Oil Company Production of a blending agent using an in situ thermal process in a relatively permeable formation
US6951247B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-10-04 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using horizontal heat sources
US6964300B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-11-15 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with backproduction through a heater wellbore
US6966374B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-11-22 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation using gas to increase mobility
US6997518B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-02-14 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing and solution mining of an oil shale formation
US20080314593A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2008-12-25 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a pattern of heat sources
US6994169B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-02-07 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation with a selected property
US6991033B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-01-31 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing while controlling pressure in an oil shale formation
US6991032B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-01-31 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a pattern of heat sources
US7735935B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2010-06-15 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation containing carbonate minerals
US20100270015A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2010-10-28 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation
US20030102126A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-06-05 Sumnu-Dindoruk Meliha Deniz In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with controlled production rate
US20030098605A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-29 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation
US6991036B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-01-31 Shell Oil Company Thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation
US20030196810A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-10-23 Vinegar Harold J. Treatment of a hydrocarbon containing formation after heating
US7066257B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-06-27 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from lean and rich zones in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US20030173072A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-09-18 Vinegar Harold J. Forming openings in a hydrocarbon containing formation using magnetic tracking
US8627887B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2014-01-14 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US20030173085A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-09-18 Vinegar Harold J. Upgrading and mining of coal
US7165615B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2007-01-23 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation using conductor-in-conduit heat sources with an electrically conductive material in the overburden
US6991045B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-01-31 Shell Oil Company Forming openings in a hydrocarbon containing formation using magnetic tracking
US7461691B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2008-12-09 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US6969123B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2005-11-29 Shell Oil Company Upgrading and mining of coal
US6932155B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2005-08-23 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation via backproducing through a heater well
US20050092483A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2005-05-05 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a natural distributed combustor
US7156176B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2007-01-02 Shell Oil Company Installation and use of removable heaters in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US20040211569A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2004-10-28 Vinegar Harold J. Installation and use of removable heaters in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7128153B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-10-31 Shell Oil Company Treatment of a hydrocarbon containing formation after heating
US20030173081A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-09-18 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of an oil reservoir formation
US20040040715A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2004-03-04 Wellington Scott Lee In situ production of a blending agent from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US20040020642A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2004-02-05 Vinegar Harold J. In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation using conductor-in-conduit heat sources with an electrically conductive material in the overburden
US20030205378A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-11-06 Wellington Scott Lee In situ recovery from lean and rich zones in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7051808B1 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-05-30 Shell Oil Company Seismic monitoring of in situ conversion in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US20030201098A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-10-30 Karanikas John Michael In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation using one or more simulations
US20030196789A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-10-23 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation and upgrading of produced fluids prior to further treatment
US7063145B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-06-20 Shell Oil Company Methods and systems for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ with an opening contacting the earth's surface at two locations
US20030196801A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-10-23 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation via backproducing through a heater well
US20030192693A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-10-16 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce heated fluids
US20030192691A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-10-16 Vinegar Harold J. In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation using barriers
US7077198B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-07-18 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation using barriers
US7077199B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-07-18 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil reservoir formation
US7086465B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-08-08 Shell Oil Company In situ production of a blending agent from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7090013B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-08-15 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce heated fluids
US20030196788A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-10-23 Vinegar Harold J. Producing hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbon containing materials when treating a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7100994B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-09-05 Shell Oil Company Producing hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbon containing materials when treating a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7104319B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-09-12 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a heavy oil diatomite formation
US20040144540A1 (en) * 2002-10-24 2004-07-29 Sandberg Chester Ledlie High voltage temperature limited heaters
US20050006097A1 (en) * 2002-10-24 2005-01-13 Sandberg Chester Ledlie Variable frequency temperature limited heaters
US20040146288A1 (en) * 2002-10-24 2004-07-29 Vinegar Harold J. Temperature limited heaters for heating subsurface formations or wellbores
US7219734B2 (en) 2002-10-24 2007-05-22 Shell Oil Company Inhibiting wellbore deformation during in situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation
US8224164B2 (en) 2002-10-24 2012-07-17 Shell Oil Company Insulated conductor temperature limited heaters
US7121341B2 (en) 2002-10-24 2006-10-17 Shell Oil Company Conductor-in-conduit temperature limited heaters
US8224163B2 (en) 2002-10-24 2012-07-17 Shell Oil Company Variable frequency temperature limited heaters
US7073578B2 (en) 2002-10-24 2006-07-11 Shell Oil Company Staged and/or patterned heating during in situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation
US8238730B2 (en) 2002-10-24 2012-08-07 Shell Oil Company High voltage temperature limited heaters
US7640980B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2010-01-05 Shell Oil Company Thermal processes for subsurface formations
US7360588B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2008-04-22 Shell Oil Company Thermal processes for subsurface formations
US7942203B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2011-05-17 Shell Oil Company Thermal processes for subsurface formations
US7121342B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2006-10-17 Shell Oil Company Thermal processes for subsurface formations
US8579031B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2013-11-12 Shell Oil Company Thermal processes for subsurface formations
US20050269088A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Vinegar Harold J Inhibiting effects of sloughing in wellbores
US20050269077A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Sandberg Chester L Start-up of temperature limited heaters using direct current (DC)
US20060289536A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2006-12-28 Vinegar Harold J Subsurface electrical heaters using nitride insulation
US7490665B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2009-02-17 Shell Oil Company Variable frequency temperature limited heaters
US7481274B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2009-01-27 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heaters with relatively constant current
US20050269092A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Vinegar Harold J Vacuum pumping of conductor-in-conduit heaters
US20060005968A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2006-01-12 Vinegar Harold J Temperature limited heaters with relatively constant current
US20050269094A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Harris Christopher K Triaxial temperature limited heater
US8355623B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2013-01-15 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heaters with high power factors
US20050269091A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Guillermo Pastor-Sanz Reducing viscosity of oil for production from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US20050269093A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Sandberg Chester L Variable frequency temperature limited heaters
US7431076B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2008-10-07 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heaters using modulated DC power
US20050269089A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Sandberg Chester L Temperature limited heaters using modulated DC power
US7320364B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2008-01-22 Shell Oil Company Inhibiting reflux in a heated well of an in situ conversion system
US20050269313A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Vinegar Harold J Temperature limited heaters with high power factors
US7353872B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2008-04-08 Shell Oil Company Start-up of temperature limited heaters using direct current (DC)
US7357180B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2008-04-15 Shell Oil Company Inhibiting effects of sloughing in wellbores
US20050269090A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Vinegar Harold J Temperature limited heaters with thermally conductive fluid used to heat subsurface formations
US7370704B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2008-05-13 Shell Oil Company Triaxial temperature limited heater
US7383877B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2008-06-10 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heaters with thermally conductive fluid used to heat subsurface formations
US20050269095A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Fairbanks Michael D Inhibiting reflux in a heated well of an in situ conversion system
US7424915B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2008-09-16 Shell Oil Company Vacuum pumping of conductor-in-conduit heaters
US7510000B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2009-03-31 Shell Oil Company Reducing viscosity of oil for production from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US8016589B2 (en) 2005-03-10 2011-09-13 Shell Oil Company Method of starting up a direct heating system for the flameless combustion of fuel and direct heating of a process fluid
US7651331B2 (en) * 2005-03-10 2010-01-26 Shell Oil Company Multi-tube heat transfer system for the combustion of a fuel and heating of a process fluid and the use thereof
US7704070B2 (en) * 2005-03-10 2010-04-27 Shell Oil Company Heat transfer system for the combustion of a fuel heating of a process fluid and a process that uses same
US20060210468A1 (en) * 2005-03-10 2006-09-21 Peter Veenstra Heat transfer system for the combustion of a fuel and heating of a process fluid and a process that uses same
US20060210936A1 (en) * 2005-03-10 2006-09-21 Peter Veenstra Multi-tube heat transfer system for the combustion of a fuel and heating of a process fluid and the use thereof
US20060222578A1 (en) * 2005-03-10 2006-10-05 Peter Veenstra Method of starting up a direct heating system for the flameless combustion of fuel and direct heating of a process fluid
US7942197B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2011-05-17 Shell Oil Company Methods and systems for producing fluid from an in situ conversion process
US20080217321A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2008-09-11 Vinegar Harold J Temperature limited heater utilizing non-ferromagnetic conductor
US7500528B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2009-03-10 Shell Oil Company Low temperature barrier wellbores formed using water flushing
US7831134B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2010-11-09 Shell Oil Company Grouped exposed metal heaters
US20070045265A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-03-01 Mckinzie Billy J Ii Low temperature barriers with heat interceptor wells for in situ processes
US7527094B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2009-05-05 Shell Oil Company Double barrier system for an in situ conversion process
US7860377B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2010-12-28 Shell Oil Company Subsurface connection methods for subsurface heaters
US20070045268A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-03-01 Vinegar Harold J Varying properties along lengths of temperature limited heaters
US7546873B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2009-06-16 Shell Oil Company Low temperature barriers for use with in situ processes
US20070144732A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-06-28 Kim Dong S Low temperature barriers for use with in situ processes
US20070137856A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-06-21 Mckinzie Billy J Double barrier system for an in situ conversion process
US7986869B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2011-07-26 Shell Oil Company Varying properties along lengths of temperature limited heaters
US20070133959A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-06-14 Vinegar Harold J Grouped exposed metal heaters
US8027571B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2011-09-27 Shell Oil Company In situ conversion process systems utilizing wellbores in at least two regions of a formation
US8070840B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2011-12-06 Shell Oil Company Treatment of gas from an in situ conversion process
US20070045267A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-03-01 Vinegar Harold J Subsurface connection methods for subsurface heaters
US20070133961A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-06-14 Fairbanks Michael D Methods and systems for producing fluid from an in situ conversion process
US8224165B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2012-07-17 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heater utilizing non-ferromagnetic conductor
US20070045266A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-03-01 Sandberg Chester L In situ conversion process utilizing a closed loop heating system
US20070133960A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-06-14 Vinegar Harold J In situ conversion process systems utilizing wellbores in at least two regions of a formation
US20070108200A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-05-17 Mckinzie Billy J Ii Low temperature barrier wellbores formed using water flushing
US7575053B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2009-08-18 Shell Oil Company Low temperature monitoring system for subsurface barriers
US7575052B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2009-08-18 Shell Oil Company In situ conversion process utilizing a closed loop heating system
US7435037B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2008-10-14 Shell Oil Company Low temperature barriers with heat interceptor wells for in situ processes
US20070119098A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-05-31 Zaida Diaz Treatment of gas from an in situ conversion process
US8233782B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2012-07-31 Shell Oil Company Grouped exposed metal heaters
US8230927B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2012-07-31 Shell Oil Company Methods and systems for producing fluid from an in situ conversion process
US20070108201A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-05-17 Vinegar Harold J Insulated conductor temperature limited heater for subsurface heating coupled in a three-phase wye configuration
US7584789B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-09-08 Shell Oil Company Methods of cracking a crude product to produce additional crude products
US7581589B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-09-01 Shell Oil Company Methods of producing alkylated hydrocarbons from an in situ heat treatment process liquid
US8151880B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2012-04-10 Shell Oil Company Methods of making transportation fuel
US7591310B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-09-22 Shell Oil Company Methods of hydrotreating a liquid stream to remove clogging compounds
US20110168394A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2011-07-14 Shell Oil Company Methods of producing alkylated hydrocarbons from an in situ heat treatment process liquid
US7635025B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-12-22 Shell Oil Company Cogeneration systems and processes for treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US7549470B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-06-23 Shell Oil Company Solution mining and heating by oxidation for treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US7556095B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-07-07 Shell Oil Company Solution mining dawsonite from hydrocarbon containing formations with a chelating agent
US7559367B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-07-14 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heater with a conduit substantially electrically isolated from the formation
US20070095537A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-05-03 Vinegar Harold J Solution mining dawsonite from hydrocarbon containing formations with a chelating agent
US8606091B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2013-12-10 Shell Oil Company Subsurface heaters with low sulfidation rates
US7562706B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-07-21 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for producing hydrocarbons from tar sands formations
US7556096B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-07-07 Shell Oil Company Varying heating in dawsonite zones in hydrocarbon containing formations
US7559368B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-07-14 Shell Oil Company Solution mining systems and methods for treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US20090159277A1 (en) * 2006-02-27 2009-06-25 Grant Hocking Enhanced Hydrocarbon Recovery by in Situ Combustion of Oil Sand Formations
US7683296B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2010-03-23 Shell Oil Company Adjusting alloy compositions for selected properties in temperature limited heaters
US20080017380A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-01-24 Vinegar Harold J Non-ferromagnetic overburden casing
US8083813B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2011-12-27 Shell Oil Company Methods of producing transportation fuel
US20100272595A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2010-10-28 Shell Oil Company High strength alloys
US8192682B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2012-06-05 Shell Oil Company High strength alloys
US7673786B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2010-03-09 Shell Oil Company Welding shield for coupling heaters
US7635023B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-12-22 Shell Oil Company Time sequenced heating of multiple layers in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7631689B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-12-15 Shell Oil Company Sulfur barrier for use with in situ processes for treating formations
US7597147B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-10-06 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heaters using phase transformation of ferromagnetic material
US7610962B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-11-03 Shell Oil Company Sour gas injection for use with in situ heat treatment
US7604052B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-10-20 Shell Oil Company Compositions produced using an in situ heat treatment process
US20070284108A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2007-12-13 Roes Augustinus W M Compositions produced using an in situ heat treatment process
US7912358B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2011-03-22 Shell Oil Company Alternate energy source usage for in situ heat treatment processes
US7866385B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2011-01-11 Shell Oil Company Power systems utilizing the heat of produced formation fluid
US7785427B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2010-08-31 Shell Oil Company High strength alloys
US7533719B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-05-19 Shell Oil Company Wellhead with non-ferromagnetic materials
US7793722B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2010-09-14 Shell Oil Company Non-ferromagnetic overburden casing
US8857506B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2014-10-14 Shell Oil Company Alternate energy source usage methods for in situ heat treatment processes
US20070289733A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2007-12-20 Hinson Richard A Wellhead with non-ferromagnetic materials
US7677314B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-03-16 Shell Oil Company Method of condensing vaporized water in situ to treat tar sands formations
US7730947B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-06-08 Shell Oil Company Creating fluid injectivity in tar sands formations
US7631690B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2009-12-15 Shell Oil Company Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a spiral startup staged sequence
US7635024B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2009-12-22 Shell Oil Company Heating tar sands formations to visbreaking temperatures
US7644765B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-01-12 Shell Oil Company Heating tar sands formations while controlling pressure
US20100276141A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2010-11-04 Shell Oil Company Creating fluid injectivity in tar sands formations
US20080236831A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-10-02 Chia-Fu Hsu Condensing vaporized water in situ to treat tar sands formations
US7673681B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-03-09 Shell Oil Company Treating tar sands formations with karsted zones
US7677310B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-03-16 Shell Oil Company Creating and maintaining a gas cap in tar sands formations
US7841401B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-11-30 Shell Oil Company Gas injection to inhibit migration during an in situ heat treatment process
US8191630B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2012-06-05 Shell Oil Company Creating fluid injectivity in tar sands formations
US7845411B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-12-07 Shell Oil Company In situ heat treatment process utilizing a closed loop heating system
US7681647B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-03-23 Shell Oil Company Method of producing drive fluid in situ in tar sands formations
US8555971B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2013-10-15 Shell Oil Company Treating tar sands formations with dolomite
US7703513B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-04-27 Shell Oil Company Wax barrier for use with in situ processes for treating formations
US7717171B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-05-18 Shell Oil Company Moving hydrocarbons through portions of tar sands formations with a fluid
US7730946B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-06-08 Shell Oil Company Treating tar sands formations with dolomite
US7540324B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2009-06-02 Shell Oil Company Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a checkerboard pattern staged process
US7562707B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2009-07-21 Shell Oil Company Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a line drive staged process
US7730945B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-06-08 Shell Oil Company Using geothermal energy to heat a portion of a formation for an in situ heat treatment process
US8662175B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2014-03-04 Shell Oil Company Varying properties of in situ heat treatment of a tar sands formation based on assessed viscosities
US7798220B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2010-09-21 Shell Oil Company In situ heat treatment of a tar sands formation after drive process treatment
US7931086B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2011-04-26 Shell Oil Company Heating systems for heating subsurface formations
US7950453B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2011-05-31 Shell Oil Company Downhole burner systems and methods for heating subsurface formations
US8327681B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2012-12-11 Shell Oil Company Wellbore manufacturing processes for in situ heat treatment processes
US9181780B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2015-11-10 Shell Oil Company Controlling and assessing pressure conditions during treatment of tar sands formations
US20090090158A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-04-09 Ian Alexander Davidson Wellbore manufacturing processes for in situ heat treatment processes
US7832484B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2010-11-16 Shell Oil Company Molten salt as a heat transfer fluid for heating a subsurface formation
US7841408B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2010-11-30 Shell Oil Company In situ heat treatment from multiple layers of a tar sands formation
US8042610B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2011-10-25 Shell Oil Company Parallel heater system for subsurface formations
US8791396B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2014-07-29 Shell Oil Company Floating insulated conductors for heating subsurface formations
US7849922B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2010-12-14 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from residually heated sections in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7841425B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2010-11-30 Shell Oil Company Drilling subsurface wellbores with cutting structures
US8381815B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2013-02-26 Shell Oil Company Production from multiple zones of a tar sands formation
US8459359B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2013-06-11 Shell Oil Company Treating nahcolite containing formations and saline zones
US20090056696A1 (en) * 2007-07-20 2009-03-05 Abdul Wahid Munshi Flameless combustion heater
US20090053660A1 (en) * 2007-07-20 2009-02-26 Thomas Mikus Flameless combustion heater
US8196658B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-06-12 Shell Oil Company Irregular spacing of heat sources for treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US8272455B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-09-25 Shell Oil Company Methods for forming wellbores in heated formations
US8146661B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-04-03 Shell Oil Company Cryogenic treatment of gas
US8146669B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-04-03 Shell Oil Company Multi-step heater deployment in a subsurface formation
US8113272B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-02-14 Shell Oil Company Three-phase heaters with common overburden sections for heating subsurface formations
US7866386B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2011-01-11 Shell Oil Company In situ oxidation of subsurface formations
US20090200022A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-13 Jose Luis Bravo Cryogenic treatment of gas
US8162059B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-04-24 Shell Oil Company Induction heaters used to heat subsurface formations
US20090194286A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-06 Stanley Leroy Mason Multi-step heater deployment in a subsurface formation
US8011451B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2011-09-06 Shell Oil Company Ranging methods for developing wellbores in subsurface formations
US20090200290A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-13 Paul Gregory Cardinal Variable voltage load tap changing transformer
US8536497B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2013-09-17 Shell Oil Company Methods for forming long subsurface heaters
US7866388B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2011-01-11 Shell Oil Company High temperature methods for forming oxidizer fuel
US20090194333A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-06 Macdonald Duncan Ranging methods for developing wellbores in subsurface formations
US8276661B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-10-02 Shell Oil Company Heating subsurface formations by oxidizing fuel on a fuel carrier
US8240774B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-08-14 Shell Oil Company Solution mining and in situ treatment of nahcolite beds
US20090272536A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2009-11-05 David Booth Burns Heater connections in mines and tunnels for use in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US8177305B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2012-05-15 Shell Oil Company Heater connections in mines and tunnels for use in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US8636323B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2014-01-28 Shell Oil Company Mines and tunnels for use in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US8562078B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2013-10-22 Shell Oil Company Hydrocarbon production from mines and tunnels used in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US20100071903A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2010-03-25 Shell Oil Company Mines and tunnels for use in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US20090272526A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2009-11-05 David Booth Burns Electrical current flow between tunnels for use in heating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US8151907B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2012-04-10 Shell Oil Company Dual motor systems and non-rotating sensors for use in developing wellbores in subsurface formations
US9528322B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2016-12-27 Shell Oil Company Dual motor systems and non-rotating sensors for use in developing wellbores in subsurface formations
US8162405B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2012-04-24 Shell Oil Company Using tunnels for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US8172335B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2012-05-08 Shell Oil Company Electrical current flow between tunnels for use in heating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US8752904B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2014-06-17 Shell Oil Company Heated fluid flow in mines and tunnels used in heating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US9051829B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2015-06-09 Shell Oil Company Perforated electrical conductors for treating subsurface formations
US8267185B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2012-09-18 Shell Oil Company Circulated heated transfer fluid systems used to treat a subsurface formation
US8220539B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2012-07-17 Shell Oil Company Controlling hydrogen pressure in self-regulating nuclear reactors used to treat a subsurface formation
US8353347B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2013-01-15 Shell Oil Company Deployment of insulated conductors for treating subsurface formations
US9129728B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2015-09-08 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods of forming subsurface wellbores
US8281861B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2012-10-09 Shell Oil Company Circulated heated transfer fluid heating of subsurface hydrocarbon formations
US8256512B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2012-09-04 Shell Oil Company Movable heaters for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US8261832B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2012-09-11 Shell Oil Company Heating subsurface formations with fluids
US20100147521A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-06-17 Xueying Xie Perforated electrical conductors for treating subsurface formations
US20100147522A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-06-17 Xueying Xie Systems and methods for treating a subsurface formation with electrical conductors
US20100155070A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-06-24 Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria Roes Organonitrogen compounds used in treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US9022118B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2015-05-05 Shell Oil Company Double insulated heaters for treating subsurface formations
US8881806B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2014-11-11 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for treating a subsurface formation with electrical conductors
US20100224368A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-09-09 Stanley Leroy Mason Deployment of insulated conductors for treating subsurface formations
US8267170B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2012-09-18 Shell Oil Company Offset barrier wells in subsurface formations
US20100206570A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-08-19 Ernesto Rafael Fonseca Ocampos Circulated heated transfer fluid systems used to treat a subsurface formation
US8434555B2 (en) 2009-04-10 2013-05-07 Shell Oil Company Irregular pattern treatment of a subsurface formation
US20100258291A1 (en) * 2009-04-10 2010-10-14 Everett De St Remey Edward Heated liners for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US20100258290A1 (en) * 2009-04-10 2010-10-14 Ronald Marshall Bass Non-conducting heater casings
US20100258265A1 (en) * 2009-04-10 2010-10-14 John Michael Karanikas Recovering energy from a subsurface formation
US8327932B2 (en) 2009-04-10 2012-12-11 Shell Oil Company Recovering energy from a subsurface formation
US20100258309A1 (en) * 2009-04-10 2010-10-14 Oluropo Rufus Ayodele Heater assisted fluid treatment of a subsurface formation
US8448707B2 (en) 2009-04-10 2013-05-28 Shell Oil Company Non-conducting heater casings
US20110042084A1 (en) * 2009-04-10 2011-02-24 Robert Bos Irregular pattern treatment of a subsurface formation
US8851170B2 (en) 2009-04-10 2014-10-07 Shell Oil Company Heater assisted fluid treatment of a subsurface formation
US9127538B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2015-09-08 Shell Oil Company Methodologies for treatment of hydrocarbon formations using staged pyrolyzation
US8701768B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-04-22 Shell Oil Company Methods for treating hydrocarbon formations
US8739874B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-06-03 Shell Oil Company Methods for heating with slots in hydrocarbon formations
US9022109B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2015-05-05 Shell Oil Company Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations
US9399905B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2016-07-26 Shell Oil Company Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations
US9033042B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2015-05-19 Shell Oil Company Forming bitumen barriers in subsurface hydrocarbon formations
US8820406B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-09-02 Shell Oil Company Electrodes for electrical current flow heating of subsurface formations with conductive material in wellbore
US8701769B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-04-22 Shell Oil Company Methods for treating hydrocarbon formations based on geology
US8631866B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-01-21 Shell Oil Company Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations
US9127523B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2015-09-08 Shell Oil Company Barrier methods for use in subsurface hydrocarbon formations
US8833453B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-09-16 Shell Oil Company Electrodes for electrical current flow heating of subsurface formations with tapered copper thickness
US9016370B2 (en) 2011-04-08 2015-04-28 Shell Oil Company Partial solution mining of hydrocarbon containing layers prior to in situ heat treatment
US9309755B2 (en) 2011-10-07 2016-04-12 Shell Oil Company Thermal expansion accommodation for circulated fluid systems used to heat subsurface formations
US10047594B2 (en) 2012-01-23 2018-08-14 Genie Ip B.V. Heater pattern for in situ thermal processing of a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation
US20130333874A1 (en) * 2012-04-16 2013-12-19 Leonard Alan Bollingham Through Tubing gas lift mandrel

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US2819761A (en) Process of removing viscous oil from a well bore
US10024148B2 (en) Hydrocarbon recovery process exploiting multiple induced fractures
US3120264A (en) Recovery of oil by in situ combustion
US3513914A (en) Method for producing shale oil from an oil shale formation
US4550779A (en) Process for the recovery of hydrocarbons for mineral oil deposits
US2859818A (en) Method of recovering petroleum
US4296969A (en) Thermal recovery of viscous hydrocarbons using arrays of radially spaced horizontal wells
US3692111A (en) Stair-step thermal recovery of oil
US4489783A (en) Viscous oil recovery method
US5771973A (en) Single well vapor extraction process
US2897894A (en) Recovery of oil from subterranean reservoirs
US4362213A (en) Method of in situ oil extraction using hot solvent vapor injection
US5289881A (en) Horizontal well completion
US3221813A (en) Recovery of viscous petroleum materials
RU2295030C1 (en) Method for extracting layer-zone-wise heterogeneous formation of highly viscous oil or bitumen
US3542131A (en) Method of recovering hydrocarbons from oil shale
US3775073A (en) In situ gasification of coal by gas fracturing
RU2436943C1 (en) Procedure for extraction of high viscous oil from deviating hole by method of steam cyclic pumping into reservoir
US3358759A (en) Steam drive in an oil-bearing stratum adjacent a gas zone
US4042029A (en) Carbon-dioxide-assisted production from extensively fractured reservoirs
US4034812A (en) Method for recovering viscous petroleum from unconsolidated mineral formations
US2784787A (en) Method of suppressing water and gas coning in oil wells
US4227743A (en) Method of thermal-mine recovery of oil and fluent bitumens
US3040809A (en) Process for recovering viscous crude oil from unconsolidated formations
US3349849A (en) Thermoaugmentation of oil production from subterranean reservoirs