US 7,320,364 B2 | ||
Inhibiting reflux in a heated well of an in situ conversion system | ||
Michael David Fairbanks, Katy, Tex. (US) | ||
Assigned to Shell Oil Company, Houston, Tex. (US) | ||
Filed on Apr. 22, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/113,346. | ||
Claims priority of provisional application 60/565077, filed on Apr. 23, 2004. | ||
Prior Publication US 2005/0269095 A1, Dec. 08, 2005 | ||
Int. Cl. E21B 36/04 (2006.01); E21B 43/12 (2006.01); E21B 43/24 (2006.01); E21B 43/34 (2006.01) |
U.S. Cl. 166—302 [166/60; 166/62; 166/105; 166/106; 166/265; 166/371; 166/372] | 19 Claims |
1. A method for treating a subsurface formation, comprising:
using heaters to form a heated portion of the subsurface formation;
passing formation fluid in a vapor phase from the heated portion into a production conduit through a riser;
using the production conduit to direct vapor phase formation fluid towards a surface of the subsurface formation;
forming condensate of a portion of the vapor phase formation fluid in the production conduit; and
diverting downward condensate flow by the riser to a desired location in the production conduit to inhibit the condensate
from entering the heated portion of the formation.
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