In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected ratio of heat sources to production wells

• Main Authors: ZHANG ETUAN, VINEGAR HAROLD J, RYAN ROBERT CHARLES, BERCHENKO ILYA EMIL, DE ROUFFIGNAC ERIC PIERRE, KARANIKAS JOHN MICHAEL, WELLINGTON SCOTT LEE, FOWLER THOMAS DAVID, STEGEMEIER GEORGE LEO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 01.11.2005
• Edition: 7
• 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

A coal formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. The mixture may be produced from the formation through a plurality of production wells. A selected number of heat sources may be positioned in the formation for each production well.