IN SITU RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBONS FROM A KEROGEN-CONTAINING FORMATION

• Main Authors: WELLINGTON, SCOTT LEE, VINEGAR, HAROLD J, BERCHENKO, ILYA EMIL, SHAHIN, GORDON THOMAS, DE ROUFFIGNAC, ERIC, ZHANG, ETUAN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 08.07.2008
• Subjects: ADHESIVES; CHEMISTRY; DYES; EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FORELSEWHERE; METALLURGY; MINING; MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS; MISCELLANEOUS COMPOSITIONS; NATURAL RESINS; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS; PAINTS; POLISHES

The present invention provides a method for the in-situ pyrolysis of hydrocarbons in a subterranean kerogen-containing formation, comprising: providing heat to at least a portion of the kerogen-containing formation such that at least a part of the heated portion reaches the pyrolysis temperature of kerogen, yielding pyrolysis products; and collecting pyrolysis products from the subterranean formation; wherein the subterranean formation is selected to comprise kerogen with a vitrinite reflectance of 0.2 to 3.0 %. Further, the invention provides a method for synthesis gas production after the collection of pyrolysis products by allowing the kerogen-containing formation to react with a synthesis gas generating fluid.