In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation to increase permeability of the formation

1. Field of the Invention A method for treating a relatively low permeability formation containing heavy hydrocarbons in situ may include providing heat from one or more heat sources to a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat sources to a selected section of the...

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Main Authors de Rouffignac, Eric Pierre, Berchenko, Ilya Emil, Fowler, Thomas David, Ryan, Robert Charles, Shahin, Jr., Gordon Thomas, Stegemeier, George Leo, Vinegar, Harold J, Wellington, Scott Lee, Zhang, Etuan
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 31.08.2004
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Summary:1. Field of the Invention A method for treating a relatively low permeability formation containing heavy hydrocarbons in situ may include providing heat from one or more heat sources to a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat sources to a selected section of the formation. The transferred heat may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons within the selected section. A mixture of hydrocarbons may be produced from the selected section. In some embodiments, the permeability of a portion of the formation may be increased relative to an initial permeability of the portion.