US 6,981,548 B2 | ||
In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation | ||
Scott Lee Wellington, Bellaire, Tex. (US); Steven Dexter Crane, Richardson, Tex. (US); Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Houston, Tex. (US); John Michael Karanikas, Houston, Tex. (US); Kevin Albert Maher, Bellaire, Tex. (US); Margaret Ann Messier, Calgary (Canada); Bruce Edmunds Roberts, Calgary (Canada); Meliha Deniz Sumnu-Dindoruk, Houston, Tex. (US); and Harold J. Vinegar, Houston, Tex. (US) | ||
Assigned to Shell Oil Company, Houston, Tex. (US) | ||
Filed on Apr. 24, 2002, as Appl. No. 10/128,703. | ||
Claims priority of provisional application 60/286156, filed on Apr. 24, 2001. | ||
Claims priority of provisional application 60/338789, filed on Oct. 24, 2001. | ||
Prior Publication US 2003/0098149 A1, May 29, 2003 | ||
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
Int. Cl. E21B 43/24 (2006.01); E21B 43/30 (2006.01) |
U.S. Cl. 166—245 | 73 Claims |
1. A method for treating a relatively permeable formation in situ, comprising:
providing heat from one or more heaters to a first section of the formation such that the heat provided to the first section
pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons in the first section;
providing heat from one or more heaters to a second section of the formation such that the heat provided to the second section
pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons in the second section;
inducing at least a portion of the hydrocarbons from the second section to flow into the first section; and
producing a mixture from the first section, wherein the produced mixture comprises at least some pyrolyzed hydrocarbons from
the second section.
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