US1634236A - Method of and apparatus for recovering oil - Google Patents

Method of and apparatus for recovering oil Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US1634236A
US1634236A US14448A US1444825A US1634236A US 1634236 A US1634236 A US 1634236A US 14448 A US14448 A US 14448A US 1444825 A US1444825 A US 1444825A US 1634236 A US1634236 A US 1634236A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
oil
sand
stratum
bearing
tunnel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US14448A
Inventor
Ranney Leo
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Standard Development Co
Original Assignee
Standard Development Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Standard Development Co filed Critical Standard Development Co
Priority to US14448A priority Critical patent/US1634236A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US1634236A publication Critical patent/US1634236A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21CMINING OR QUARRYING
    • E21C41/00Methods of underground or surface mining; Layouts therefor
    • E21C41/16Methods of underground mining; Layouts therefor
    • E21C41/24Methods of underground mining; Layouts therefor for oil-bearing deposits

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method and system for recovering oil from the earth by a mining operation and is an improvement upon the subject matter of my prior applications Serial No. 683,703, filed December 31, 1923, formethod of recovering 011, and Serial-No. 711,596, filed May 7, 1924, for apparatus for recovering 011.
  • Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a system embodying the invention
  • Fig. 2 is a similar detail view of another arrangement
  • Fig. 3 is a detail view of a conduit
  • Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fi 1 and showing an arrangement for ut1- lizing heat
  • Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 55, Fig. 4
  • Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view, illustrating another feature of the invention and having particular reference to the arrangement of oil-collecting conduits
  • Fig. 7r' is a vertical section through a dralnage tube
  • Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation, somewhat diagrammatic, illustrating another arrangement of conduits.
  • the oil sand is reached by simple mining methods, including the sinking of a shaft 1 and the tunneling or opening of galleries or rooms 2 in various directions along the oil' sand in a region contiguous thereto or at approximately the level thereof.
  • Such galleries may be at a depth of several thousand feet and only a relatively short distancea few feet above or below the oil-bearing sand 3. They are so dug and arranged as to expose or render accessible to the workmen as great an area as possible of the underlying or overlying oil-bearing sand and therefore.
  • An offending stratum may be a layer of material in streaks separated by parting or cleavage planes affording avenues of escape along said planes, a layer of coarse or porous material above, below, or in the oil-bearing sand, or a layer of material containing any channel or avenue through which water, air, gas or the like may enter the conducting system or through which the oil to be recovered may escape. Care is taken to seal off all such offending strata.
  • the system adapts itself for simultaneously tapping or draining, through each one of any number of holes or conduits, two or more distinct oiLbearin strata separated by a porous or leaky o endin stratum.
  • the gafi lies just above the cap rock 10, below which is the oil-bearing sand.
  • This oil-bearing sand may be assumed to include two good oil-producing strata 3, 3", the upper stratum 3 being bounded below by an impervious layer of parting rock 11 below which is the leaky or porous offending stratum l2, and possibly a thin streak 11 of shale, lying above the oil-bearing stratum 3".
  • the bed rock 11 and ofi'ending stratum 12 pinch ofi" to the right the upper oil-bearing stratum 3
  • the offending stratum 12 will afford an avenue of escape for oil, gas or air permitted to enter it, or might permit water to reach the collecting system.
  • the collecting pipe or nipple 4 therefore, extends oil-bearing sand 3", the bed rock 11, the shale 11, the olfending stratum 12 and into the oil-bearing sand 3* to a level where it is desired to collect the oil.
  • the hole may extend beyond the end of the conduit or pipe to any desired distance, as indicated at 13.
  • the pipe or conduit is sealed from the cap rock 10 to prevent escape of oil or gas into the tunnel, and is also sealed from the bed rock 11 and porous streak 12, by a packing or packings 14, which maybe of any suitable form to seal the joint and close off any communication between the conducting system and the ofi'endingt stratum.
  • the sealing plug or packing may be of tar or bituminous material, lead wool, asphalt, or other materials, and may be introduced into position in any desired manner. In the instance described it is desirable to tap or drain the upper layer 3 of oil-producm sand.
  • the pipe may be provi ed with perforations 15 afi'ording communication from the stratum 3 to the conducting system and in this case the lower packing or strata 11, 12 is first inserted and is terminated at the level of the bed rock 11. before the upper packing is inserted.
  • One of the essential features of a proper collecting pipe or conduit for this system is a wall that is impervious where it passes through any ofiending stratum.
  • the pipe or conduit must be so arranged in the strata that its wall or the packing around its wall prevents communication along the outside of the conduit betweensuccessive strata. In this way communication between offending strata and both the useful strata and the conducting system is avoided.
  • the cap rock is an impervious non-porous material, such as igneous rock
  • a mere hole through the rock is a sealed impervious conduit.
  • Fig. 1 I have shown the collect: ing nipple or conduit as a ipe extending from themain 5 clear to t 0 oil bearing sand, nevertheless this pipe or conduit may be of other forms.
  • the conduit itself may be formed by or in the sealing plug.
  • a full size hole may be bored or drilled from the tunnel to the desired level.
  • oil-bearing in the oil-bearing
  • munication is afforded from the oil-bearin sand to the collecting system and the we of the plug becomes a conduit sealed from the stratum.
  • Fig. 1 shows penetration of the oil-bearing sand from galleries or rooms located above the sand, but in all of the various examples herein described, the sand may be tapped from tunnels, rooms, or galleries below it.
  • Fig. 2 shows penetration of the oil-bearing sand from galleries or rooms located above the sand, but in all of the various examples herein described, the sand may be tapped from tunnels, rooms, or galleries below it.
  • Fig. 2 shows penetration of the oil-bearing sand from galleries or rooms located above the sand, but in all of the various examples herein described, the sand may be tapped from tunnels, rooms, or galleries below it.
  • Fig. 2 shows penetration of the oil-bearing sand from galleries or rooms located above the sand, but in all of the various examples herein described, the sand may be tapped from tunnels, rooms, or galleries below it.
  • Fig. 2 shows penetration of the oil-bearing sand from galleries
  • the im portant thing is the location of the tunnels, rooms, and galleries at a level so near the oil-bearing sand as to reduce the cost of drilling each hole separately from the sur face.
  • a cap rock or bed rock five feet or so thick and streaked or striated with porous material or cross fissured may be the best of reasons for placing the floor or roof of the tunnel, as the case may be, a material distance above suchcap rock or below such bed rock.
  • cap rock is frequently of undulating or wavy character and nevertheless the'tunnel roof or floor should be level, or
  • Figs. 4 and 5 an important phase of the present invention is illustrated; that is, the formation of drainage areas of wide extent within the oil-bearing .sand. It is has heretofore been proposed to excavate mine galleries or tunnels through the oil-bean ing sand. Oil drains into the galleries and is collected. Owing to the presence of inflammable vapors and gases, this method of oil mining is extremely hazardous. Ao-v cording to my invention, the galleries are sealed from the oil and gas-producing strata, as previously described.
  • I apply heat to form a zone from which oil is removed, leaving the zone free to receive oil from adjacentoutlying regions of the sand. As the heating is continued, the zone becomes progressively larger. Ordinarily, a number of relatively closely spaced heating elements are provided so that the various zones of heat overlap to form a continuous passage or hot sand tunnel.
  • some or each of the pipes, conduits, or wells from the tunnel into the oil sand are also used for subjecting the oil sand to a heating eflect, such as by heat-radiating return bends 20 connected to a steam supply pipe or other source of heat 21 and to discharge pipe 22.
  • a heating eflect such as by heat-radiating return bends 20 connected to a steam supply pipe or other source of heat 21 and to discharge pipe 22.
  • steam may also be introduced directly into the sand through the branch supply line 23'.
  • the heat effect at each hole in time extends outwardly until by proper spacing of the holes the heat zones of neighboring holes overlap, as indicated by theshaded zone A, Figs. 4 and 5.
  • This zone of the oil-bearing sand is all heated and therefore soon gives up its oil, leaving its pores open and available as a. collector or reservoir for the remaining oil in neighboring cooler or unheated sand.
  • the effect gradually works its way outward, so that an ever increasing area of oil-bearing sand is opened to attack.
  • Two or more of the hot sand tunnels may readily be operated conjointly, preferably with the combined effects of both suction and pressure therein, not only to stimulate and increase oil production, but also for extending the effective area of the hot sand said hot sand tunnels having its branch collecting pipe or main 5 from which the oil collecting nipples 4 extend into the oil bearing sand.
  • Heat is applied at the several nipples by the steam plpes 20 from the steam supply pipe 21, so that both hot sand tunnels are constantly heated.
  • an air or gas pump 30 such as a steam-operated pump with valve-controlled connections 31 to the oil collecting mains 5 in the two galleries, said mains being also provided with valves 32 enabling each main to be shut off from the general collecting system.
  • the valve arrangement will. be such as to enable the suction side of the pump 30 to be connected to either one of the branch pipes 5 and its discharge end to the other of said branch pipes 5.
  • the heated gas in one hot sand tun nel may be withdrawn therefrom and discharged into the other hot sand tunnel, subjectmg the one to suction and the other to pressure.
  • lVhile heating is ordinarily the most efficient method for forming unexcavated drainage tunnels or areas of facilitated fiow, various other procedures may be adopted.
  • FIG. 7 one means for doing this is shown.
  • Reference numerals 33 and 34 denote the cap rock and the bed rock (lower cap rock) respectively.
  • the cap rock and the oil sand are drilled to provide holes or wells 36 of a small diameter. Only one of these is shown, but it will be understood that a large number are provided so that the drainage zones about them will overlap.
  • a tube 37 is arranged in each hole 36 and each tubeadjacent its upper end is sealed exteriorly by a packing 38. The interior of the tube from the bottom of the hole and the face of the sand is substantially free of liquid from the top of the hole to the bottom.
  • the present system is also advantageous in its possibility of enabling the field operationsto be readily controlled and regulated in the most efficient manner.
  • the line or zone of attack upon a given area of the field may be made to gradually decrease, whereas in ordinary surface well practice the effect upon the field at the bottom of eachwell extends out-- wardly in a gradually widening circle and with less eflicient effect as the distance from the well increases.
  • the galleries 2 in grid-like form, somewhat tributing mains 5 along said galleries the oil-collecting nipples or conduits 4 leading from said mains 5 into the oil sand may be so. spaced at intervals alon the galleries as to surround the area B.
  • my mining system may be varied rather Widely to meet particular conditions.
  • reversals of the air or gas pump will occur at intervals depending upon the desirability of rapidor Any portion of the collecting system, or the system as a whole, may be slower production and may be as frequent as one or two hours when a rapid supply of oil is desired and at less frequent intervals when rapidity of collection is not 1mportant. Reversals will also be more infrequent as the hot sand tunnels increase in size.
  • Apparatus for recovering oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery including an oil-collect ing conduit extending from the gallery to the oil-bearing stratum and sealing material interposed between the conduit and the stratum it traverses to prevent communication between the stratum and the gallery, except through the conduit.
  • Apparatus for recovering oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery including a number of oil collecting nipples extending from the gallery toward said stratum, impervious material between each nipple and at least a portion of the region it traverses, said material sealing the exterior of the nipple with respect to the gallery, an opening extending into the oil-bearing stratum from the terminus of each nipple, whereby an extended area of drainage into each nipple is formed, and a pipe system having a valve-controlled connection with each nipple.
  • Apparatus for recovering oil from an oil sand to which access is gained by a mine gallery spaced from the sand by an im ervious stratum comprising a series 0 oil collecting nipples passing through said stratum, impervious sealing material between said nipples and stratum, said material sealing the exterior of the nipples with respect to the gallery, an opening extending into the oil sand from the terminus of -each nipple, whereby an extended area of drainage into the nipples is formed, and a collecting system into which the nipples discharge.
  • Apparatus for recovering oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery including a series of relatively closely spaced oil-collecting conduits extending from the gallery to the oil-bearing stratum, and means for applying heat to the oil-bearing stratum at closely spaced intervals, whereby the flow of oil 18 increased.
  • Apparatus for recovering oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery including a series of relatively closely spaced oil-collecting conduits extending from the gallery to the oil-bearing stratum, andv means for applying heat through said conduits to the oil-bearing stratum at such closely spaced intervals that the heated zones at the several points of application overlap and form a continuous heated area in the oil-bearing stratum, whereby the fiow of oil is increased.
  • Apparatus for recovering oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery including a series of relatively closely spaced oil-collecting conduits extending from the gallery to the oil-bearing stratum, means for applying heat to the oil-bearing stratum at such closely spaced intervals that the heated zones at the several points of application overlap and form a continuous heated area in the oil-bearing stratum, and means for sealing the conduit wallto close communication to the gallery except through said conduit and also to close communication between oil-bearing and offending strata.
  • Apparatus for recovering oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery including a series of relatively closely spaced oil-collecting conduits extending from the gallery to the oil-bearing stratum, means for applying heat through said conduits to the oil-bearing stratum at such closely spaced intervals that the heated zones at the several points of application overlap and form a continuous heated area in the oi1-bearing stratum, the evacuation of oil from such area producing an oil-collecting reservoir, and means for sealing the conduit wall to close communication to the gallery except through said conduit and also to close communication between oil-bearing and ofl'ending strata.
  • the method of recovering oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery comprising introducing at a plurality of closely spaced points in the stratum an amount of a flow-facilitating agent sufiicient to form a substantially con tinuous zone of facilitated flow, and withdrawing the oil from said zone, whereby the zone is left free to receive oil from other areas of the oil-bearing stratum.
  • the method of increasing production of oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery comprising forming a plurality of relatively closely spaced oil conduits from the gallery to the oil-bearing stratum, applying to the stratum at a plurality of relatively closely spaced points an amount of heat sufficient to form a substantially continuous heated zone and withdrawing the oil from said'heated zone, whereby the zone is left free to receive 011 from other areas of the oil-bearing stratum.
  • the method of operating an oil field comprising excavating a system of intersecting tunnels adjacent the 011-bearing sand but separated therefrom by a substantially impervious material, tapping the sand from the tunnels by a large number of relatively closely spaced openings having pipes sealed therein, but not extending to the ends of the openings, and withdrawing oil through said pipes, whereby a system of unexcavated drainage tunnels generally paralleling the excavated tunnels and separated therefrom by said substantially impervious material is formed in the sand.
  • the method of facilitating withdrawal of oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery comprising establishing in the stratum a relatively extensive zone of heat generally paralleling the gallery, discontinuing the heating, with drawing the oil from said zone whereby it is left free to receive oil from other areas of the oil-bearing stratum, again heating the zone to enlarge its extent, and successively repeating the withdrawal and heating.
  • the method of facilitating withdrawal of oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery comprising heating a relatively extensive zone of the stratum by means of hot gaseous fluid, ap-"" plying such suction to said zone as to remove the hot gaseous fluid therefrom and forcing the same into another zone oflthe stratum, and successively repeating this cycle I of operations, whereby the zones are alter-' nately subjected to suction and to ressure.
  • the combination with a tunnel located adjacent but outside an oil bearing stratum, of a pipe system in said tunnel and communicating at a plurality of points'with then-oil bearing stratum, means for applying heat to at least some of such points, and means for preventing access of fluid from the oil bearing stratum to the tunnel except through the pipe system.
  • the combination with a shaft and tunnels said tunnelsbeing located at approximately the level of the oil bearing sand, but spaced therefrom by an impervious stratum, of a 75 pipe line system extending through said tunnels and having branch collectors extending from the tunnels into the oil bearin sand, and heating means for each of said branch collectors, such heating means comprising members' to which steam is supplied, members being closed against the oil e
  • said heating means comprising members' to which steam is supplied, members being closed against the oil e

Description

* o Jwm 28 R927 L. RANNEY METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR nncovsnme 011.
Filed March 10, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 x wwwmmwwsww rm 1,6342 Juana 2 19270 L" RANNEY 36 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RECOVEBING OIL.
Filed March 10. 1925 3 Shets-Sheet 5 1'4 I Z0 0 3 I 6 i J W 6cm wags Patented June 28, 1927 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
LEO RANNEY, OF JACKSBOBO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD nnvnnorm'r PANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.
i METHOD OF AND APPAIRATUS FOB RECOYERING OIL.
Application filed March 10, 1925. Serial No. 14,448.
This invention relates to a method and system for recovering oil from the earth by a mining operation and is an improvement upon the subject matter of my prior applications Serial No. 683,703, filed December 31, 1923, formethod of recovering 011, and Serial-No. 711,596, filed May 7, 1924, for apparatus for recovering 011.
The invention will be understood from the following description, taken in connectlon with the accompanying drawmgs:
In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a system embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar detail view of another arrangement; Fig. 3 is a detail view of a conduit; Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fi 1 and showing an arrangement for ut1- lizing heat; Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 55, Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view, illustrating another feature of the invention and having particular reference to the arrangement of oil-collecting conduits; Fig. 7r'is a vertical section through a dralnage tube; and Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation, somewhat diagrammatic, illustrating another arrangement of conduits.
According to my system of mining for oil, as developed in the prior pending applications referred to, the oil sand is reached by simple mining methods, including the sinking of a shaft 1 and the tunneling or opening of galleries or rooms 2 in various directions along the oil' sand in a region contiguous thereto or at approximately the level thereof. Such galleries may be at a depth of several thousand feet and only a relatively short distancea few feet above or below the oil-bearing sand 3. They are so dug and arranged as to expose or render accessible to the workmen as great an area as possible of the underlying or overlying oil-bearing sand and therefore.
provide entrance to the-field by short and relatively inexpensive holes at any desired number of more or less closely spaced points. The cost of each such hole in comparison to the cost of drilling from the surface is obviously insignificant. Having tapped the field at any desired number of such holes the oil drained from the sand is led by a series of nipples 4 into a collecting system including the main pipes 5 leading to a sump or collecting vessel 6 from which the product of all of the nipples or wells may be elevated to the surface by the pump 7 discharging through a pipe 8 into a field pipe line or the surface reservoir 9.
Experience has shown that this system is most eificiently operated when proper provisions are made both for inevitably causing the oil in the sand to enter the conducting system and preventing undesirable materials or conditions, such as gas, water, or the pressure of air artificially introduced to the field, from substantially. influencing such conducting system. According to my invention this is accomplished by sealing or closing off the collecting system, and especially the conduits, nipples or pipes which enter the oil sand, from what may be termed -offending strata. An offending stratum may be a layer of material in streaks separated by parting or cleavage planes affording avenues of escape along said planes, a layer of coarse or porous material above, below, or in the oil-bearing sand, or a layer of material containing any channel or avenue through which water, air, gas or the like may enter the conducting system or through which the oil to be recovered may escape. Care is taken to seal off all such offending strata.
Nevertheless, the system adapts itself for simultaneously tapping or draining, through each one of any number of holes or conduits, two or more distinct oiLbearin strata separated by a porous or leaky o endin stratum. For example, in Fig. 1 the gafi lies just above the cap rock 10, below which is the oil-bearing sand. This oil-bearing sand, however, may be assumed to include two good oil-producing strata 3, 3", the upper stratum 3 being bounded below by an impervious layer of parting rock 11 below which is the leaky or porous offending stratum l2, and possibly a thin streak 11 of shale, lying above the oil-bearing stratum 3". As shown, the bed rock 11 and ofi'ending stratum 12 pinch ofi" to the right the upper oil-bearing stratum 3 Obviously, the offending stratum 12 will afford an avenue of escape for oil, gas or air permitted to enter it, or might permit water to reach the collecting system. The collecting pipe or nipple 4, therefore, extends oil-bearing sand 3", the bed rock 11, the shale 11, the olfending stratum 12 and into the oil-bearing sand 3* to a level where it is desired to collect the oil. The hole may extend beyond the end of the conduit or pipe to any desired distance, as indicated at 13.
The pipe or conduit is sealed from the cap rock 10 to prevent escape of oil or gas into the tunnel, and is also sealed from the bed rock 11 and porous streak 12, by a packing or packings 14, which maybe of any suitable form to seal the joint and close off any communication between the conducting system and the ofi'endingt stratum. The sealing plug or packing may be of tar or bituminous material, lead wool, asphalt, or other materials, and may be introduced into position in any desired manner. In the instance described it is desirable to tap or drain the upper layer 3 of oil-producm sand. The pipe, therefore, may be provi ed with perforations 15 afi'ording communication from the stratum 3 to the conducting system and in this case the lower packing or strata 11, 12 is first inserted and is terminated at the level of the bed rock 11. before the upper packing is inserted.
It should also be noted that in many cases the perforations 15, Fig. 1, will be unnecessary and may be omitted and the conduit will be open to the oil sand only at its end. ln all such cases, whether the tunnel is above or below the oil sand the oil will drain to the conduit by gravity or the expulsive effect of hydrostatic pressure, or the pressure of gas,
air or the like. There is no liability of the wall of a shot hole, such as are used in surface well systems. being closed or choked by-paratlin congealed either by external air circulated over it or by draining the hole dry and uncovering its wall.
Sometimes it happens that the pressure of air or other gas introduced into a field to assist in driving out the oil and thereby stimulate production finds a ready avenue of quick escape along the wall of the nipple and into the conducting system. In such cases it is beneficial to continue the sealing plug clear to the end of the pipe, as shown at 16.
One of the essential features of a proper collecting pipe or conduit for this system is a wall that is impervious where it passes through any ofiending stratum. The pipe or conduit must be so arranged in the strata that its wall or the packing around its wall prevents communication along the outside of the conduit betweensuccessive strata. In this way communication between offending strata and both the useful strata and the conducting system is avoided. In some cases, as where the cap rock is an impervious non-porous material, such as igneous rock, a mere hole through the rock is a sealed impervious conduit.
While in Fig. 1 I have shown the collect: ing nipple or conduit as a ipe extending from themain 5 clear to t 0 oil bearing sand, nevertheless this pipe or conduit may be of other forms. The conduit itself may be formed by or in the sealing plug. For
example, and as shown in Fig. 3, a full size hole may be bored or drilled from the tunnel to the desired level. in the oil-bearing,
munication is afforded from the oil-bearin sand to the collecting system and the we of the plug becomes a conduit sealed from the stratum.
Fig. 1 shows penetration of the oil-bearing sand from galleries or rooms located above the sand, but in all of the various examples herein described, the sand may be tapped from tunnels, rooms, or galleries below it. This is illustrated in Fig. 2 and is described also in my prior pending applications referred to. Indeed, the same mine may include some rooms or galleries above the oil sand and other rooms or galleries below it. Again, it is not necessary that the floor of the gallery shall actually be a caprockabove the oil sand, nor, when working from below need the roof of the tunnel be the bed rock below the oil sand. The im portant thing is the location of the tunnels, rooms, and galleries at a level so near the oil-bearing sand as to reduce the cost of drilling each hole separately from the sur face. Considerations of economy in the cost of tunneling, especially a differential between the costs of drilling in soft and hard rock, may dictate forming the tunnel at a level an appreciable distance from the cap rock or bed rock, say even up to 25 or 50 feet. If a soft stratum easily tunneled is near the oil-bearing sand it may be cheaper to tunnel in such stratum and pierce the individual strata at each well. A cap rock or bed rock five feet or so thick and streaked or striated with porous material or cross fissured may be the best of reasons for placing the floor or roof of the tunnel, as the case may be, a material distance above suchcap rock or below such bed rock.
Again, the cap rock is frequently of undulating or wavy character and nevertheless the'tunnel roof or floor should be level, or
on a fairly even inclination where there is a off from the conducting system and from producing stratav by interposing the plugs or packin s 14 between the conduit and the inner sur ace of the hole through such offending strata, as before described.
In Figs. 4 and 5 an important phase of the present invention is illustrated; that is, the formation of drainage areas of wide extent within the oil-bearing .sand. It is has heretofore been proposed to excavate mine galleries or tunnels through the oil-bean ing sand. Oil drains into the galleries and is collected. Owing to the presence of inflammable vapors and gases, this method of oil mining is extremely hazardous. Ao-v cording to my invention, the galleries are sealed from the oil and gas-producing strata, as previously described. Although avoiding the dangers of earlier tunneling operations for recovering oil, I have found that it is possible with my system to obtain the drainage effect of a tunnel excavated through the sand, and in many cases a drainage effect of much greater magnitude than has heretofore been attained, without the actual removal of any sand. I provide ,what may be termed an unexcavated drainage tunnel or area of facilitated-flow of oil.
In a preferred method of obtaining this result I apply heat to form a zone from which oil is removed, leaving the zone free to receive oil from adjacentoutlying regions of the sand. As the heating is continued, the zone becomes progressively larger. Ordinarily, a number of relatively closely spaced heating elements are provided so that the various zones of heat overlap to form a continuous passage or hot sand tunnel.
Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, some or each of the pipes, conduits, or wells from the tunnel into the oil sand are also used for subjecting the oil sand to a heating eflect, such as by heat-radiating return bends 20 connected to a steam supply pipe or other source of heat 21 and to discharge pipe 22. If desired, steam may also be introduced directly into the sand through the branch supply line 23'. However heated, whether by conduction or by contact of the steam with the sand, the heat effect at each hole in time extends outwardly until by proper spacing of the holes the heat zones of neighboring holes overlap, as indicated by theshaded zone A, Figs. 4 and 5. This zone of the oil-bearing sand is all heated and therefore soon gives up its oil, leaving its pores open and available as a. collector or reservoir for the remaining oil in neighboring cooler or unheated sand. The effect gradually works its way outward, so that an ever increasing area of oil-bearing sand is opened to attack.
Two or more of the hot sand tunnels may readily be operated conjointly, preferably with the combined effects of both suction and pressure therein, not only to stimulate and increase oil production, but also for extending the effective area of the hot sand said hot sand tunnels having its branch collecting pipe or main 5 from which the oil collecting nipples 4 extend into the oil bearing sand. Heat is applied at the several nipples by the steam plpes 20 from the steam supply pipe 21, so that both hot sand tunnels are constantly heated. In the shaft, or a gallery or room connected therewith, is located an air or gas pump 30, such as a steam-operated pump with valve-controlled connections 31 to the oil collecting mains 5 in the two galleries, said mains being also provided with valves 32 enabling each main to be shut off from the general collecting system. The valve arrangement will. be such as to enable the suction side of the pump 30 to be connected to either one of the branch pipes 5 and its discharge end to the other of said branch pipes 5. As a consequence, the heated gas in one hot sand tun nel may be withdrawn therefrom and discharged into the other hot sand tunnel, subjectmg the one to suction and the other to pressure. In that tunnel where suction is effective, oil flow will be stimulated or increased, whereas in the other tunnel where pressure is effective, the hot gas will flow outwardly and convey the heat through said tunnel to a greater distance from the wells than would be possible by heat-conduction through the sand itself. By -alternating the connections of the air pump to the two tunnels in the manner described the flow of oil is increased, and the hot sand tunnels are extended.
lVhile heating is ordinarily the most efficient method for forming unexcavated drainage tunnels or areas of facilitated fiow, various other procedures may be adopted. As illustrative, I shall describe a drainage. system involving the pumping of oil from the sand to provide an evacuated area into which further oil may flow. To accomplish this, holes are drilled at relatively small distances apart, so that the drained area of sand around each hole connects with the drained area around the adjacent holes. Further means are provided to keep the exposed surface of the sand substantially free from oil.
In Fig. 7 one means for doing this is shown. Reference numerals 33 and 34 denote the cap rock and the bed rock (lower cap rock) respectively. The oil sandis designated 35. The cap rock and the oil sand are drilled to provide holes or wells 36 of a small diameter. Only one of these is shown, but it will be understood that a large number are provided so that the drainage zones about them will overlap. A tube 37 is arranged in each hole 36 and each tubeadjacent its upper end is sealed exteriorly by a packing 38. The interior of the tube from the bottom of the hole and the face of the sand is substantially free of liquid from the top of the hole to the bottom. The
space between the tube and the wall of the hole is ordinarily occup1ed by gas under some pressure. which serves to prevent oil from collecting about the outside of the tube. Gravity, therefore, has full opportunity to act and creates a space evacuated of oil around each tube. In a short time these evacuated spaces meet and a drainage tunnel is formed. Suction or pressure, of course, will expedite the flow.
If the tunnel in which the collecting system. is located is below the level of the oilbearing sand, gravity alone may be depended upon to withdraw the oil from the holes. The formation of an unexcavated drainage tunnel in this case is otherwise similar to that just described. In both these cases and in similar situations, I provide one or more excavated tunnels sealed from oil and gasproducing strata, so that the operators may safely work in them, and lying more or less in a plane parallel to that of'the unexcavated drainage tunnel or tunnels. The cooperative use of these two kinds of tunnels is unique so far as I am aware, and has very important advantages.
The present system is also advantageous in its possibility of enabling the field operationsto be readily controlled and regulated in the most efficient manner. For example, in this system the line or zone of attack upon a given area of the field may be made to gradually decrease, whereas in ordinary surface well practice the effect upon the field at the bottom of eachwell extends out-- wardly in a gradually widening circle and with less eflicient effect as the distance from the well increases. As shown in Fig. 8, it is possible with the present system to arrange: the galleries 2 in grid-like form, somewhat tributing mains 5 along said galleries the oil-collecting nipples or conduits 4 leading from said mains 5 into the oil sand may be so. spaced at intervals alon the galleries as to surround the area B. 6f course, the oil-collecting effect at each of the several nipples extends outwardly from said nipple, but where a series of nipples surrounds a given tract the ever-increasing extent of the field of attack of the several nipples gradually moves the line of attack upon the oil field toward the center of the area B, as indicated by the dotted lines C. Efficiency of the system in withdrawing oil therefore tends to increase rather than diminish, as opposed to surface well practice.
It is also possible with my system to so control the field as to minimize coning effects, either of gas above the oil or of water beneath it. Referring for illustration to the coning effect of water, it is a well-known fact that water moves more easily through an oil sand than does oil. .When wells of relatively large diameter (6 inches or more) are drilled, the sand directly below the bottom of the well is rapidly drained of oil and may become filled with water, instead of with oil from adjacent sand. When such a water channel has become established, more and more water generally comes into the hole, gradually forming a cone-shaped area saturated with water. Eventually, this area may reach the top of the sand and prevent the further production of oil from the well.
I have found that the coning effect becomes less and less apparent as .the diameter of the well or hole is decreased. While it is impractical to drill surface wells of very small diameter, the collecting conduits provided in my system of operation may readily be made as small as desired. Owing to the distribution of a, multiplicity of small conduits throughout the field, it is possible to control the advance or recession of water, gas or other fiuids by proper arrangement of valves.
the well to allow the cbne to reoede.
When steam is used for heating or for motor purposes all exposed steam pipes will be jacketed with asbestos or the like to save heat and reduce condensation.
The operation of my mining system may be varied rather Widely to meet particular conditions. For example, when the system shown in Fig. 8 is employed, reversals of the air or gas pump will occur at intervals depending upon the desirability of rapidor Any portion of the collecting system, or the system as a whole, may be slower production and may be as frequent as one or two hours when a rapid supply of oil is desired and at less frequent intervals when rapidity of collection is not 1mportant. Reversals will also be more infrequent as the hot sand tunnels increase in size.
Various changes and alternative arrangements may be made within the scope of the a pended claims, in which I intend to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior art permits.
I claim:
1. Apparatus for recovering oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery, including an oil-collect ing conduit extending from the gallery to the oil-bearing stratum and sealing material interposed between the conduit and the stratum it traverses to prevent communication between the stratum and the gallery, except through the conduit.
2. Apparatus for recovering oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery, and including a number of oil collecting nipples extending from the gallery toward said stratum, impervious material between each nipple and at least a portion of the region it traverses, said material sealing the exterior of the nipple with respect to the gallery, an opening extending into the oil-bearing stratum from the terminus of each nipple, whereby an extended area of drainage into each nipple is formed, and a pipe system having a valve-controlled connection with each nipple.
3. Apparatus for recovering oil from an oil sand to which access is gained by a mine gallery spaced from the sand by an im ervious stratum, and comprising a series 0 oil collecting nipples passing through said stratum, impervious sealing material between said nipples and stratum, said material sealing the exterior of the nipples with respect to the gallery, an opening extending into the oil sand from the terminus of -each nipple, whereby an extended area of drainage into the nipples is formed, and a collecting system into which the nipples discharge.
4. Apparatus for recovering oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery, including a series of relatively closely spaced oil-collecting conduits extending from the gallery to the oil-bearing stratum, and means for applying heat to the oil-bearing stratum at closely spaced intervals, whereby the flow of oil 18 increased.
5. Apparatus for recovering oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery, including a series of relatively closely spaced oil-collecting conduits extending from the gallery to the oil-bearing stratum, andv means for applying heat through said conduits to the oil-bearing stratum at such closely spaced intervals that the heated zones at the several points of application overlap and form a continuous heated area in the oil-bearing stratum, whereby the fiow of oil is increased.
6. Apparatus for recovering oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery, including a series of relatively closely spaced oil-collecting conduits extending from the gallery to the oil-bearing stratum, means for applying heat to the oil-bearing stratum at such closely spaced intervals that the heated zones at the several points of application overlap and form a continuous heated area in the oil-bearing stratum, and means for sealing the conduit wallto close communication to the gallery except through said conduit and also to close communication between oil-bearing and offending strata.
7. Apparatus for recovering oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery, including a series of relatively closely spaced oil-collecting conduits extending from the gallery to the oil-bearing stratum, means for applying heat through said conduits to the oil-bearing stratum at such closely spaced intervals that the heated zones at the several points of application overlap and form a continuous heated area in the oi1-bearing stratum, the evacuation of oil from such area producing an oil-collecting reservoir, and means for sealing the conduit wall to close communication to the gallery except through said conduit and also to close communication between oil-bearing and ofl'ending strata.
8. The method of increasing production of oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which ac cess is gained by a mine gallery, comprising collecting the oil through conduits cxtend-' ing from the gallery to the oil-bearing stratum and applying heat to the stratum at a plurality of closely spaced points, whereby the flow of oil is increased.
9. The method of recovering oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery, comprising introducing at a plurality of closely spaced points in the stratum an amount of a flow-facilitating agent sufiicient to form a substantially con tinuous zone of facilitated flow, and withdrawing the oil from said zone, whereby the zone is left free to receive oil from other areas of the oil-bearing stratum.
10. The method of increasing production of oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery, comprising forming a plurality of relatively closely spaced oil conduits from the gallery to the oil-bearing stratum, applying to the stratum at a plurality of relatively closely spaced points an amount of heat sufficient to form a substantially continuous heated zone and withdrawing the oil from said'heated zone, whereby the zone is left free to receive 011 from other areas of the oil-bearing stratum.
11. The method of operatin an oil field, comprising excavating a tunne adjacent the oil-bearing sand but separatedtherefrom by a substantially impervious area, tapping the sand from the tunnel by a number of relatively closed spaced openings havin plpes sealed therein, but not extending to t e ends of the openings, and withdrawing oil through said pipes, whereby an .unexcavated drainage tunnel generally paralleling the excavated tunnel is formed in the sand. it
12. The method of operating an oil field, comprising excavating a system of intersecting tunnels adjacent the 011-bearing sand but separated therefrom by a substantially impervious material, tapping the sand from the tunnels by a large number of relatively closely spaced openings having pipes sealed therein, but not extending to the ends of the openings, and withdrawing oil through said pipes, whereby a system of unexcavated drainage tunnels generally paralleling the excavated tunnels and separated therefrom by said substantially impervious material is formed in the sand.
13. The method of facilitating withdrawal of oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery, comprising establishing in the stratum a relatively extensive zone of heat generally paralleling the gallery, discontinuing the heating, with drawing the oil from said zone whereby it is left free to receive oil from other areas of the oil-bearing stratum, again heating the zone to enlarge its extent, and successively repeating the withdrawal and heating.
14. The method of facilitating withdrawal of oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery, comprising heating a relatively extensive zone of the stratum by means of hot gaseous fluid introations.
15. The method of facilitating withdrawal of oil from an oil-bearing stratum to which access is gained by a mine gallery, comprising heating a relatively extensive zone of the stratum by means of hot gaseous fluid, ap-"" plying such suction to said zone as to remove the hot gaseous fluid therefrom and forcing the same into another zone oflthe stratum, and successively repeating this cycle I of operations, whereby the zones are alter-' nately subjected to suction and to ressure.
16. In the recovery of oil from t e earth, the combination with a tunnel located adjacent but outside an oil bearing stratum, of a pipe system in said tunnel and communicating at a plurality of points'with then-oil bearing stratum, means for applying heat to at least some of such points, and means for preventing access of fluid from the oil bearing stratum to the tunnel except through the pipe system.
17 In the recovery of oil from the earth, the combination with a shaft and tunnels, said tunnelsbeing located at approximately the level of the oil bearing sand, but spaced therefrom by an impervious stratum, of a 75 pipe line system extending through said tunnels and having branch collectors extending from the tunnels into the oil bearin sand, and heating means for each of said branch collectors, such heating means comprising members' to which steam is supplied, members being closed against the oil e In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.
LEO RANNEY.
US14448A 1925-03-10 1925-03-10 Method of and apparatus for recovering oil Expired - Lifetime US1634236A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US14448A US1634236A (en) 1925-03-10 1925-03-10 Method of and apparatus for recovering oil

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US14448A US1634236A (en) 1925-03-10 1925-03-10 Method of and apparatus for recovering oil

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US1634236A true US1634236A (en) 1927-06-28

Family

ID=21765536

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US14448A Expired - Lifetime US1634236A (en) 1925-03-10 1925-03-10 Method of and apparatus for recovering oil

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US1634236A (en)

Cited By (61)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2928248A (en) * 1953-05-11 1960-03-15 Phillips Petroleum Co Piping for underground storage systems
US3917344A (en) * 1974-08-22 1975-11-04 Atlantic Richfield Co In situ retorting system
US3994340A (en) * 1975-10-30 1976-11-30 Chevron Research Company Method of recovering viscous petroleum from tar sand
US3994341A (en) * 1975-10-30 1976-11-30 Chevron Research Company Recovering viscous petroleum from thick tar sand
US4037658A (en) * 1975-10-30 1977-07-26 Chevron Research Company Method of recovering viscous petroleum from an underground formation
FR2410727A1 (en) * 1977-12-05 1979-06-29 Pechorsky Gi Neftyan Thermo-extn. of petroleum from wells - using steam and hot water to reduce viscosity and transfer petroleum through shafts across direction of easily permeable zones
US4165903A (en) * 1978-02-06 1979-08-28 Cobbs James H Mine enhanced hydrocarbon recovery technique
FR2420025A1 (en) * 1978-03-16 1979-10-12 Neftegazovy Inst Petroleum prodn. by hot fluid injection from mine system - with controlled injection and prodn. periods
FR2420024A1 (en) * 1978-03-16 1979-10-12 Neftegazovy N Iss I Petroleum prodn. by hot fluid injection from mine system - with sealed injection galleries
FR2436253A1 (en) * 1978-09-12 1980-04-11 Pechornipineft Oil recovery by thermal mining - and having underground workings with intake and development wells and an overall mine ventilation system
US5215149A (en) * 1991-12-16 1993-06-01 Mobil Oil Corporation Single horizontal well conduction assisted steam drive process for removing viscous hydrocarbonaceous fluids
WO2001081239A2 (en) * 2000-04-24 2001-11-01 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US20030066642A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2003-04-10 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a coal formation producing a mixture with oxygenated hydrocarbons
US20030080604A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-01 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing and inhibiting migration of fluids into or out of an in situ oil shale formation
US20030079877A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-01 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation in a reducing environment
US20030098605A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-29 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation
US6588504B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-07-08 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to produce nitrogen and/or sulfur containing formation fluids
US20030155111A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-08-21 Shell Oil Co In situ thermal processing of a tar sands formation
US20030173085A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-09-18 Vinegar Harold J. Upgrading and mining of coal
US20030173081A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-09-18 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of an oil reservoir formation
US20030196810A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-10-23 Vinegar Harold J. Treatment of a hydrocarbon containing formation after heating
US6698515B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-03-02 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using a relatively slow heating rate
US6715548B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-04-06 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce nitrogen containing formation fluids
US6715546B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-04-06 Shell Oil Company In situ production of synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon containing formation through a heat source wellbore
US20050269094A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Harris Christopher K Triaxial temperature limited heater
US7011154B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-03-14 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a kerogen and liquid hydrocarbon containing formation
US7073578B2 (en) 2002-10-24 2006-07-11 Shell Oil Company Staged and/or patterned heating during in situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7090013B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-08-15 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce heated fluids
US7096953B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-08-29 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using a movable heating element
US7104319B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-09-12 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a heavy oil diatomite formation
US7121342B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2006-10-17 Shell Oil Company Thermal processes for subsurface formations
US20060290197A1 (en) * 2005-06-10 2006-12-28 See Jackie R Oil extraction system and method
US7165615B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2007-01-23 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation using conductor-in-conduit heat sources with an electrically conductive material in the overburden
US20070045267A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-03-01 Vinegar Harold J Subsurface connection methods for subsurface heaters
US20070095536A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-05-03 Vinegar Harold J Cogeneration systems and processes for treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US20070108201A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-05-17 Vinegar Harold J Insulated conductor temperature limited heater for subsurface heating coupled in a three-phase wye configuration
US20080035346A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-02-14 Vijay Nair Methods of producing transportation fuel
US20080078552A1 (en) * 2006-09-29 2008-04-03 Osum Oil Sands Corp. Method of heating hydrocarbons
US20080128134A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-06-05 Ramesh Raju Mudunuri Producing drive fluid in situ in tar sands formations
US20080164020A1 (en) * 2007-01-04 2008-07-10 Rock Well Petroleum, Inc. Method of collecting crude oil and crude oil collection header apparatus
US20080169104A1 (en) * 2007-01-11 2008-07-17 Rock Well Petroleum, Inc. Method of collecting crude oil and crude oil collection header apparatus
US20080314640A1 (en) * 2007-06-20 2008-12-25 Greg Vandersnick Hydrocarbon recovery drill string apparatus, subterranean hydrocarbon recovery drilling methods, and subterranean hydrocarbon recovery methods
US20090071652A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-03-19 Vinegar Harold J In situ heat treatment from multiple layers of a tar sands formation
US20090084707A1 (en) * 2007-09-28 2009-04-02 Osum Oil Sands Corp. Method of upgrading bitumen and heavy oil
US20090100754A1 (en) * 2007-10-22 2009-04-23 Osum Oil Sands Corp. Method of removing carbon dioxide emissions from in-situ recovery of bitumen and heavy oil
US20090139716A1 (en) * 2007-12-03 2009-06-04 Osum Oil Sands Corp. Method of recovering bitumen from a tunnel or shaft with heating elements and recovery wells
US20090183872A1 (en) * 2008-01-23 2009-07-23 Trent Robert H Methods Of Recovering Hydrocarbons From Oil Shale And Sub-Surface Oil Shale Recovery Arrangements For Recovering Hydrocarbons From Oil Shale
US20090189617A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-07-30 David Burns Continuous subsurface heater temperature measurement
US20090194280A1 (en) * 2008-02-06 2009-08-06 Osum Oil Sands Corp. Method of controlling a recovery and upgrading operation in a reservoir
US20090260824A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2009-10-22 David Booth Burns Hydrocarbon production from mines and tunnels used in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US20090292571A1 (en) * 2008-05-20 2009-11-26 Osum Oil Sands Corp. Method of managing carbon reduction for hydrocarbon producers
US20100058771A1 (en) * 2008-07-07 2010-03-11 Osum Oil Sands Corp. Carbon removal from an integrated thermal recovery process
US20100089584A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-04-15 David Booth Burns Double insulated heaters for treating subsurface formations
US20100258290A1 (en) * 2009-04-10 2010-10-14 Ronald Marshall Bass Non-conducting heater casings
US8631866B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-01-21 Shell Oil Company Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations
US8701768B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-04-22 Shell Oil Company Methods for treating hydrocarbon formations
US8820406B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-09-02 Shell Oil Company Electrodes for electrical current flow heating of subsurface formations with conductive material in wellbore
US9016370B2 (en) 2011-04-08 2015-04-28 Shell Oil Company Partial solution mining of hydrocarbon containing layers prior to in situ heat treatment
US9033042B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2015-05-19 Shell Oil Company Forming bitumen barriers in subsurface hydrocarbon formations
US9309755B2 (en) 2011-10-07 2016-04-12 Shell Oil Company Thermal expansion accommodation for circulated fluid systems used to heat subsurface formations
US10047594B2 (en) 2012-01-23 2018-08-14 Genie Ip B.V. Heater pattern for in situ thermal processing of a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation

Cited By (468)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2928248A (en) * 1953-05-11 1960-03-15 Phillips Petroleum Co Piping for underground storage systems
US3917344A (en) * 1974-08-22 1975-11-04 Atlantic Richfield Co In situ retorting system
US3994340A (en) * 1975-10-30 1976-11-30 Chevron Research Company Method of recovering viscous petroleum from tar sand
US3994341A (en) * 1975-10-30 1976-11-30 Chevron Research Company Recovering viscous petroleum from thick tar sand
US4037658A (en) * 1975-10-30 1977-07-26 Chevron Research Company Method of recovering viscous petroleum from an underground formation
FR2410727A1 (en) * 1977-12-05 1979-06-29 Pechorsky Gi Neftyan Thermo-extn. of petroleum from wells - using steam and hot water to reduce viscosity and transfer petroleum through shafts across direction of easily permeable zones
US4165903A (en) * 1978-02-06 1979-08-28 Cobbs James H Mine enhanced hydrocarbon recovery technique
FR2420025A1 (en) * 1978-03-16 1979-10-12 Neftegazovy Inst Petroleum prodn. by hot fluid injection from mine system - with controlled injection and prodn. periods
FR2420024A1 (en) * 1978-03-16 1979-10-12 Neftegazovy N Iss I Petroleum prodn. by hot fluid injection from mine system - with sealed injection galleries
FR2436253A1 (en) * 1978-09-12 1980-04-11 Pechornipineft Oil recovery by thermal mining - and having underground workings with intake and development wells and an overall mine ventilation system
US5215149A (en) * 1991-12-16 1993-06-01 Mobil Oil Corporation Single horizontal well conduction assisted steam drive process for removing viscous hydrocarbonaceous fluids
US6994168B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-02-07 Scott Lee Wellington In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected hydrogen to carbon ratio
US6871707B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-03-29 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with carbon dioxide sequestration
GB2379469A (en) * 2000-04-24 2003-03-12 Shell Int Research In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US20030066642A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2003-04-10 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a coal formation producing a mixture with oxygenated hydrocarbons
WO2001081239A3 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-05-23 Shell Oil Co In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US8789586B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2014-07-29 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US8485252B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2013-07-16 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US6997255B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-02-14 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation in a reducing environment
US7096941B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-08-29 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with heat sources located at an edge of a coal layer
US7096953B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-08-29 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using a movable heating element
US7086468B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-08-08 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using heat sources positioned within open wellbores
US7036583B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-05-02 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to increase a porosity of the formation
US7017661B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-03-28 Shell Oil Company Production of synthesis gas from a coal formation
US7011154B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-03-14 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a kerogen and liquid hydrocarbon containing formation
US6581684B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-06-24 Shell Oil Company In Situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce sulfur containing formation fluids
US8225866B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2012-07-24 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US6588504B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-07-08 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to produce nitrogen and/or sulfur containing formation fluids
US6588503B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-07-08 Shell Oil Company In Situ thermal processing of a coal formation to control product composition
US6994161B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-02-07 Kevin Albert Maher In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected moisture content
US6591907B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-07-15 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected vitrinite reflectance
US6591906B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-07-15 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected oxygen content
US6994160B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-02-07 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce hydrocarbons having a selected carbon number range
US6991031B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-01-31 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to convert a selected total organic carbon content into hydrocarbon products
US6973967B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-12-13 Shell Oil Company Situ thermal processing of a coal formation using pressure and/or temperature control
US20110088904A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2011-04-21 De Rouffignac Eric Pierre In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US20090101346A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2009-04-23 Shell Oil Company, Inc. In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7798221B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2010-09-21 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
WO2001081239A2 (en) * 2000-04-24 2001-11-01 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US6966372B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-11-22 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce oxygen containing formation fluids
US6959761B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-11-01 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected ratio of heat sources to production wells
US6953087B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-10-11 Shell Oil Company Thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to increase a permeability of the formation
US6948563B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-09-27 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected hydrogen content
US6923258B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-08-02 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processsing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce a mixture with a selected hydrogen content
US6607033B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-08-19 Shell Oil Company In Situ thermal processing of a coal formation to produce a condensate
US6913078B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-07-05 Shell Oil Company In Situ thermal processing of hydrocarbons within a relatively impermeable formation
US6609570B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-08-26 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation and ammonia production
US6910536B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-06-28 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a natural distributed combustor
US6902004B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-06-07 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a movable heating element
US6902003B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-06-07 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation having a selected total organic carbon content
US6896053B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-05-24 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using repeating triangular patterns of heat sources
US6889769B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-05-10 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected moisture content
US6880635B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-04-19 Shell Oil Company In situ production of synthesis gas from a coal formation, the synthesis gas having a selected H2 to CO ratio
US6877554B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-04-12 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using pressure and/or temperature control
US6866097B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-03-15 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to increase a permeability/porosity of the formation
US6820688B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-11-23 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of coal formation with a selected hydrogen content and/or selected H/C ratio
US6688387B1 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-02-10 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce a hydrocarbon condensate
US6698515B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-03-02 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using a relatively slow heating rate
US6805195B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-10-19 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce hydrocarbon fluids and synthesis gas
US6702016B2 (en) * 2000-04-24 2004-03-09 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with heat sources located at an edge of a formation layer
US6708758B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-03-23 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation leaving one or more selected unprocessed areas
US6712136B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-03-30 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a selected production well spacing
US6712137B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-03-30 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to pyrolyze a selected percentage of hydrocarbon material
US6712135B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-03-30 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation in reducing environment
US6715548B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-04-06 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce nitrogen containing formation fluids
US6715547B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-04-06 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to form a substantially uniform, high permeability formation
US6715546B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-04-06 Shell Oil Company In situ production of synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon containing formation through a heat source wellbore
US6715549B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-04-06 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected atomic oxygen to carbon ratio
US6719047B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-04-13 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation in a hydrogen-rich environment
US6722431B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-04-20 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of hydrocarbons within a relatively permeable formation
US6722430B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-04-20 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected oxygen content and/or selected O/C ratio
US6722429B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-04-20 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation leaving one or more selected unprocessed areas
US6725921B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-04-27 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation by controlling a pressure of the formation
US6725920B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-04-27 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to convert a selected amount of total organic carbon into hydrocarbon products
US6725928B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-04-27 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using a distributed combustor
US6729401B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-05-04 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation and ammonia production
US6729395B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-05-04 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected ratio of heat sources to production wells
US6729396B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-05-04 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to produce hydrocarbons having a selected carbon number range
US6729397B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-05-04 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected vitrinite reflectance
US6732796B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-05-11 Shell Oil Company In situ production of synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon containing formation, the synthesis gas having a selected H2 to CO ratio
US6732794B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-05-11 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce a mixture with a selected hydrogen content
US6732795B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-05-11 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to pyrolyze a selected percentage of hydrocarbon material
US6736215B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-05-18 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation, in situ production of synthesis gas, and carbon dioxide sequestration
US6739393B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-05-25 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation and tuning production
US6739394B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-05-25 Shell Oil Company Production of synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US6742588B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-06-01 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce formation fluids having a relatively low olefin content
US6742593B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-06-01 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using heat transfer from a heat transfer fluid to heat the formation
US6742589B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-06-01 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using repeating triangular patterns of heat sources
US6742587B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-06-01 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to form a substantially uniform, relatively high permeable formation
US6745832B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-06-08 Shell Oil Company Situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to control product composition
US6745831B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-06-08 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation by controlling a pressure of the formation
US6745837B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-06-08 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a controlled heating rate
US6749021B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-06-15 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using a controlled heating rate
US6752210B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-06-22 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using heat sources positioned within open wellbores
US6758268B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-07-06 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a relatively slow heating rate
US6761216B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-07-13 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to produce hydrocarbon fluids and synthesis gas
US6763886B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-07-20 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with carbon dioxide sequestration
US6769483B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-08-03 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using conductor in conduit heat sources
US6769485B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-08-03 Shell Oil Company In situ production of synthesis gas from a coal formation through a heat source wellbore
US6789625B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-09-14 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using exposed metal heat sources
GB2379469B (en) * 2000-04-24 2004-09-29 Shell Int Research In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US20030131995A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-17 De Rouffignac Eric Pierre In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation to increase permeability of the formation
US6877555B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-04-12 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation while inhibiting coking
US20040211554A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2004-10-28 Vinegar Harold J. Heat sources with conductive material for in situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation
US20030209348A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-11-13 Ward John Michael In situ thermal processing and remediation of an oil shale formation
US7225866B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2007-06-05 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a pattern of heat sources
US20030080604A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-01 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing and inhibiting migration of fluids into or out of an in situ oil shale formation
US20030079877A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-01 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation in a reducing environment
US20030098605A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-29 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation
US20030100451A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-29 Messier Margaret Ann In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with backproduction through a heater wellbore
US6880633B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-04-19 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce a desired product
US20030098149A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-29 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation using gas to increase mobility
US7096942B1 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-08-29 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation while controlling pressure
US20030102126A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-06-05 Sumnu-Dindoruk Meliha Deniz In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with controlled production rate
US20030173078A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-09-18 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce a condensate
US20030102124A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-06-05 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of a blending agent from a relatively permeable formation
US20030164239A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-09-04 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation in a reducing environment
US20030155111A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-08-21 Shell Oil Co In situ thermal processing of a tar sands formation
US6915850B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-07-12 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation having permeable and impermeable sections
US6918443B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-07-19 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce hydrocarbons having a selected carbon number range
US6918442B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-07-19 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation in a reducing environment
US6923257B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-08-02 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce a condensate
US20030148894A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-08-07 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a natural distributed combustor
US6929067B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-08-16 Shell Oil Company Heat sources with conductive material for in situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation
US7066254B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-06-27 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a tar sands formation
US6948562B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-09-27 Shell Oil Company Production of a blending agent using an in situ thermal process in a relatively permeable formation
US20030146002A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-08-07 Vinegar Harold J. Removable heat sources for in situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation
US6951247B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-10-04 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using horizontal heat sources
US20030141068A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-31 Pierre De Rouffignac Eric In situ thermal processing through an open wellbore in an oil shale formation
US20030141067A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-31 Rouffignac Eric Pierre De In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to increase permeability of the formation
US6964300B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-11-15 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with backproduction through a heater wellbore
US6966374B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-11-22 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation using gas to increase mobility
US20030141066A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-31 Karanikas John Michael In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation while inhibiting coking
US6991036B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-01-31 Shell Oil Company Thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation
US7051807B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-05-30 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with quality control
US7735935B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2010-06-15 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation containing carbonate minerals
US20030142964A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-31 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a controlled heating rate
US20030136559A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-24 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing while controlling pressure in an oil shale formation
US20100270015A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2010-10-28 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation
US20030136558A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-24 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce a desired product
US20030131996A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-17 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation having permeable and impermeable sections
US7051811B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-05-30 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing through an open wellbore in an oil shale formation
US7040400B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-05-09 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation using an open wellbore
US7040399B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-05-09 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a controlled heating rate
US20030131994A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-17 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing and solution mining of an oil shale formation
US6981548B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-01-03 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation
US7040398B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-05-09 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation in a reducing environment
US6991033B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-01-31 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing while controlling pressure in an oil shale formation
US20030131993A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-17 Etuan Zhang In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation with a selected property
US7055600B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-06-06 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with controlled production rate
US7004247B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-02-28 Shell Oil Company Conductor-in-conduit heat sources for in situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation
US7013972B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-03-21 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a natural distributed combustor
US20030102130A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-06-05 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with quality control
US7004251B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-02-28 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing and remediation of an oil shale formation
US6994169B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-02-07 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation with a selected property
US20030130136A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-10 Rouffignac Eric Pierre De In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation using an open wellbore
US6997518B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-02-14 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing and solution mining of an oil shale formation
US20030116315A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-06-26 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation
US7032660B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-04-25 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing and inhibiting migration of fluids into or out of an in situ oil shale formation
US20040211557A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2004-10-28 Cole Anthony Thomas Conductor-in-conduit heat sources for in situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation
US20030111223A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-06-19 Rouffignac Eric Pierre De In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using horizontal heat sources
US6991032B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-01-31 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a pattern of heat sources
US20030102125A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-06-05 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation in a reducing environment
US8627887B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2014-01-14 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7090013B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-08-15 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce heated fluids
US20030205378A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-11-06 Wellington Scott Lee In situ recovery from lean and rich zones in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US20030201098A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-10-30 Karanikas John Michael In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation using one or more simulations
US7461691B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2008-12-09 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US20030173081A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-09-18 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of an oil reservoir formation
US7051808B1 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-05-30 Shell Oil Company Seismic monitoring of in situ conversion in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7165615B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2007-01-23 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation using conductor-in-conduit heat sources with an electrically conductive material in the overburden
US7156176B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2007-01-02 Shell Oil Company Installation and use of removable heaters in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7063145B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-06-20 Shell Oil Company Methods and systems for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ with an opening contacting the earth's surface at two locations
US6932155B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2005-08-23 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation via backproducing through a heater well
US7066257B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-06-27 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from lean and rich zones in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US20030196810A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-10-23 Vinegar Harold J. Treatment of a hydrocarbon containing formation after heating
US7077199B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-07-18 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil reservoir formation
US7077198B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-07-18 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation using barriers
US7086465B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-08-08 Shell Oil Company In situ production of a blending agent from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US20030173085A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-09-18 Vinegar Harold J. Upgrading and mining of coal
US20070209799A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2007-09-13 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US6969123B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2005-11-29 Shell Oil Company Upgrading and mining of coal
US20040040715A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2004-03-04 Wellington Scott Lee In situ production of a blending agent from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US6991045B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-01-31 Shell Oil Company Forming openings in a hydrocarbon containing formation using magnetic tracking
US7100994B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-09-05 Shell Oil Company Producing hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbon containing materials when treating a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7104319B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-09-12 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a heavy oil diatomite formation
US7114566B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-10-03 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a natural distributed combustor
US20030196801A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-10-23 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation via backproducing through a heater well
US20050092483A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2005-05-05 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a natural distributed combustor
US7128153B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-10-31 Shell Oil Company Treatment of a hydrocarbon containing formation after heating
US7121341B2 (en) 2002-10-24 2006-10-17 Shell Oil Company Conductor-in-conduit temperature limited heaters
US8238730B2 (en) 2002-10-24 2012-08-07 Shell Oil Company High voltage temperature limited heaters
US8224164B2 (en) 2002-10-24 2012-07-17 Shell Oil Company Insulated conductor temperature limited heaters
US7219734B2 (en) 2002-10-24 2007-05-22 Shell Oil Company Inhibiting wellbore deformation during in situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7073578B2 (en) 2002-10-24 2006-07-11 Shell Oil Company Staged and/or patterned heating during in situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation
US8224163B2 (en) 2002-10-24 2012-07-17 Shell Oil Company Variable frequency temperature limited heaters
US7121342B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2006-10-17 Shell Oil Company Thermal processes for subsurface formations
US7640980B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2010-01-05 Shell Oil Company Thermal processes for subsurface formations
US8579031B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2013-11-12 Shell Oil Company Thermal processes for subsurface formations
US7942203B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2011-05-17 Shell Oil Company Thermal processes for subsurface formations
US7360588B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2008-04-22 Shell Oil Company Thermal processes for subsurface formations
US7370704B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2008-05-13 Shell Oil Company Triaxial temperature limited heater
US20050269088A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Vinegar Harold J Inhibiting effects of sloughing in wellbores
US20050269094A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Harris Christopher K Triaxial temperature limited heater
US20050269089A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Sandberg Chester L Temperature limited heaters using modulated DC power
US20050269095A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Fairbanks Michael D Inhibiting reflux in a heated well of an in situ conversion system
US20050269090A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Vinegar Harold J Temperature limited heaters with thermally conductive fluid used to heat subsurface formations
US20050269093A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Sandberg Chester L Variable frequency temperature limited heaters
US20050269092A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Vinegar Harold J Vacuum pumping of conductor-in-conduit heaters
US20050269313A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Vinegar Harold J Temperature limited heaters with high power factors
US20050269091A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Guillermo Pastor-Sanz Reducing viscosity of oil for production from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7510000B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2009-03-31 Shell Oil Company Reducing viscosity of oil for production from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7490665B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2009-02-17 Shell Oil Company Variable frequency temperature limited heaters
US7481274B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2009-01-27 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heaters with relatively constant current
US20050269077A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Sandberg Chester L Start-up of temperature limited heaters using direct current (DC)
US7431076B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2008-10-07 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heaters using modulated DC power
US7424915B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2008-09-16 Shell Oil Company Vacuum pumping of conductor-in-conduit heaters
US20060005968A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2006-01-12 Vinegar Harold J Temperature limited heaters with relatively constant current
US8355623B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2013-01-15 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heaters with high power factors
US7320364B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2008-01-22 Shell Oil Company Inhibiting reflux in a heated well of an in situ conversion system
US20060289536A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2006-12-28 Vinegar Harold J Subsurface electrical heaters using nitride insulation
US7383877B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2008-06-10 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heaters with thermally conductive fluid used to heat subsurface formations
US7357180B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2008-04-15 Shell Oil Company Inhibiting effects of sloughing in wellbores
US7353872B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2008-04-08 Shell Oil Company Start-up of temperature limited heaters using direct current (DC)
US20070133961A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-06-14 Fairbanks Michael D Methods and systems for producing fluid from an in situ conversion process
US20070137857A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-06-21 Vinegar Harold J Low temperature monitoring system for subsurface barriers
US20070133960A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-06-14 Vinegar Harold J In situ conversion process systems utilizing wellbores in at least two regions of a formation
US20070108201A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-05-17 Vinegar Harold J Insulated conductor temperature limited heater for subsurface heating coupled in a three-phase wye configuration
US7546873B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2009-06-16 Shell Oil Company Low temperature barriers for use with in situ processes
US20070133959A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-06-14 Vinegar Harold J Grouped exposed metal heaters
US20070045268A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-03-01 Vinegar Harold J Varying properties along lengths of temperature limited heaters
US20070045265A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-03-01 Mckinzie Billy J Ii Low temperature barriers with heat interceptor wells for in situ processes
US7831134B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2010-11-09 Shell Oil Company Grouped exposed metal heaters
US20070045266A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-03-01 Sandberg Chester L In situ conversion process utilizing a closed loop heating system
US7527094B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2009-05-05 Shell Oil Company Double barrier system for an in situ conversion process
US20070045267A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-03-01 Vinegar Harold J Subsurface connection methods for subsurface heaters
US7831133B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2010-11-09 Shell Oil Company Insulated conductor temperature limited heater for subsurface heating coupled in a three-phase WYE configuration
US7860377B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2010-12-28 Shell Oil Company Subsurface connection methods for subsurface heaters
US7575052B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2009-08-18 Shell Oil Company In situ conversion process utilizing a closed loop heating system
US7942197B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2011-05-17 Shell Oil Company Methods and systems for producing fluid from an in situ conversion process
US7575053B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2009-08-18 Shell Oil Company Low temperature monitoring system for subsurface barriers
US7986869B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2011-07-26 Shell Oil Company Varying properties along lengths of temperature limited heaters
US8027571B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2011-09-27 Shell Oil Company In situ conversion process systems utilizing wellbores in at least two regions of a formation
US8070840B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2011-12-06 Shell Oil Company Treatment of gas from an in situ conversion process
US7500528B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2009-03-10 Shell Oil Company Low temperature barrier wellbores formed using water flushing
US8230927B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2012-07-31 Shell Oil Company Methods and systems for producing fluid from an in situ conversion process
US8233782B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2012-07-31 Shell Oil Company Grouped exposed metal heaters
US8224165B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2012-07-17 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heater utilizing non-ferromagnetic conductor
US20070108200A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-05-17 Mckinzie Billy J Ii Low temperature barrier wellbores formed using water flushing
US20080217321A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2008-09-11 Vinegar Harold J Temperature limited heater utilizing non-ferromagnetic conductor
US20070144732A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-06-28 Kim Dong S Low temperature barriers for use with in situ processes
US20070137856A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-06-21 Mckinzie Billy J Double barrier system for an in situ conversion process
US7435037B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2008-10-14 Shell Oil Company Low temperature barriers with heat interceptor wells for in situ processes
US20070119098A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-05-31 Zaida Diaz Treatment of gas from an in situ conversion process
US20060290197A1 (en) * 2005-06-10 2006-12-28 See Jackie R Oil extraction system and method
US7556096B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-07-07 Shell Oil Company Varying heating in dawsonite zones in hydrocarbon containing formations
US20080107577A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2008-05-08 Vinegar Harold J Varying heating in dawsonite zones in hydrocarbon containing formations
US7584789B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-09-08 Shell Oil Company Methods of cracking a crude product to produce additional crude products
US7581589B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-09-01 Shell Oil Company Methods of producing alkylated hydrocarbons from an in situ heat treatment process liquid
US20070131419A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-06-14 Maria Roes Augustinus W Methods of producing alkylated hydrocarbons from an in situ heat treatment process liquid
US20090301724A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2009-12-10 Shell Oil Company Methods of producing alkylated hydrocarbons from an in situ heat treatment process liquid
US7635025B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-12-22 Shell Oil Company Cogeneration systems and processes for treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US20070127897A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-06-07 John Randy C Subsurface heaters with low sulfidation rates
US20070131420A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-06-14 Weijian Mo Methods of cracking a crude product to produce additional crude products
US7562706B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-07-21 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for producing hydrocarbons from tar sands formations
US20110168394A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2011-07-14 Shell Oil Company Methods of producing alkylated hydrocarbons from an in situ heat treatment process liquid
US20070125533A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-06-07 Minderhoud Johannes K Methods of hydrotreating a liquid stream to remove clogging compounds
US20070131427A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-06-14 Ruijian Li Systems and methods for producing hydrocarbons from tar sands formations
US7591310B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-09-22 Shell Oil Company Methods of hydrotreating a liquid stream to remove clogging compounds
US7559367B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-07-14 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heater with a conduit substantially electrically isolated from the formation
US7559368B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-07-14 Shell Oil Company Solution mining systems and methods for treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US20070221377A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-09-27 Vinegar Harold J Solution mining systems and methods for treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US20070131415A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-06-14 Vinegar Harold J Solution mining and heating by oxidation for treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US7556095B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-07-07 Shell Oil Company Solution mining dawsonite from hydrocarbon containing formations with a chelating agent
US8606091B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2013-12-10 Shell Oil Company Subsurface heaters with low sulfidation rates
US7549470B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-06-23 Shell Oil Company Solution mining and heating by oxidation for treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US20070095536A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-05-03 Vinegar Harold J Cogeneration systems and processes for treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US8151880B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2012-04-10 Shell Oil Company Methods of making transportation fuel
US20070131428A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-06-14 Willem Cornelis Den Boestert J Methods of filtering a liquid stream produced from an in situ heat treatment process
US7793722B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2010-09-14 Shell Oil Company Non-ferromagnetic overburden casing
US7673786B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2010-03-09 Shell Oil Company Welding shield for coupling heaters
US7533719B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-05-19 Shell Oil Company Wellhead with non-ferromagnetic materials
US20080035348A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-02-14 Vitek John M Temperature limited heaters using phase transformation of ferromagnetic material
US20080035346A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-02-14 Vijay Nair Methods of producing transportation fuel
US20080035705A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-02-14 Menotti James L Welding shield for coupling heaters
US7866385B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2011-01-11 Shell Oil Company Power systems utilizing the heat of produced formation fluid
US7912358B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2011-03-22 Shell Oil Company Alternate energy source usage for in situ heat treatment processes
US20080173449A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-07-24 Thomas David Fowler Sour gas injection for use with in situ heat treatment
US20080173450A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-07-24 Bernard Goldberg Time sequenced heating of multiple layers in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7785427B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2010-08-31 Shell Oil Company High strength alloys
US20080174115A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-07-24 Gene Richard Lambirth Power systems utilizing the heat of produced formation fluid
US7683296B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2010-03-23 Shell Oil Company Adjusting alloy compositions for selected properties in temperature limited heaters
US20100272595A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2010-10-28 Shell Oil Company High strength alloys
US20080035347A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-02-14 Brady Michael P Adjusting alloy compositions for selected properties in temperature limited heaters
US20080173444A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-07-24 Francis Marion Stone Alternate energy source usage for in situ heat treatment processes
US7635023B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-12-22 Shell Oil Company Time sequenced heating of multiple layers in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7631689B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-12-15 Shell Oil Company Sulfur barrier for use with in situ processes for treating formations
US20080173442A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-07-24 Vinegar Harold J Sulfur barrier for use with in situ processes for treating formations
US7610962B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-11-03 Shell Oil Company Sour gas injection for use with in situ heat treatment
US7604052B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-10-20 Shell Oil Company Compositions produced using an in situ heat treatment process
US7597147B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-10-06 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heaters using phase transformation of ferromagnetic material
US20080038144A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-02-14 Maziasz Phillip J High strength alloys
US8857506B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2014-10-14 Shell Oil Company Alternate energy source usage methods for in situ heat treatment processes
US8192682B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2012-06-05 Shell Oil Company High strength alloys
US8083813B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2011-12-27 Shell Oil Company Methods of producing transportation fuel
US20100224370A1 (en) * 2006-09-29 2010-09-09 Osum Oil Sands Corp Method of heating hydrocarbons
US20080078552A1 (en) * 2006-09-29 2008-04-03 Osum Oil Sands Corp. Method of heating hydrocarbons
US20080277113A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-11-13 George Leo Stegemeier Heating tar sands formations while controlling pressure
US7635024B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2009-12-22 Shell Oil Company Heating tar sands formations to visbreaking temperatures
US20080128134A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-06-05 Ramesh Raju Mudunuri Producing drive fluid in situ in tar sands formations
US7845411B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-12-07 Shell Oil Company In situ heat treatment process utilizing a closed loop heating system
US7841401B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-11-30 Shell Oil Company Gas injection to inhibit migration during an in situ heat treatment process
US20080135254A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-06-12 Vinegar Harold J In situ heat treatment process utilizing a closed loop heating system
US20080135253A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-06-12 Vinegar Harold J Treating tar sands formations with karsted zones
US20080135244A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-06-12 David Scott Miller Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a line drive staged process
US8555971B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2013-10-15 Shell Oil Company Treating tar sands formations with dolomite
US20100276141A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2010-11-04 Shell Oil Company Creating fluid injectivity in tar sands formations
US7631690B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2009-12-15 Shell Oil Company Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a spiral startup staged sequence
US20080142216A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-06-19 Vinegar Harold J Treating tar sands formations with dolomite
US7540324B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2009-06-02 Shell Oil Company Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a checkerboard pattern staged process
US7562707B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2009-07-21 Shell Oil Company Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a line drive staged process
US20090014181A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2009-01-15 Vinegar Harold J Creating and maintaining a gas cap in tar sands formations
US20080217015A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-09-11 Vinegar Harold J Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a spiral startup staged sequence
US7644765B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-01-12 Shell Oil Company Heating tar sands formations while controlling pressure
US7673681B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-03-09 Shell Oil Company Treating tar sands formations with karsted zones
US8191630B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2012-06-05 Shell Oil Company Creating fluid injectivity in tar sands formations
US20080142217A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-06-19 Roelof Pieterson Using geothermal energy to heat a portion of a formation for an in situ heat treatment process
US7677310B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-03-16 Shell Oil Company Creating and maintaining a gas cap in tar sands formations
US7677314B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-03-16 Shell Oil Company Method of condensing vaporized water in situ to treat tar sands formations
US7730945B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-06-08 Shell Oil Company Using geothermal energy to heat a portion of a formation for an in situ heat treatment process
US7681647B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-03-23 Shell Oil Company Method of producing drive fluid in situ in tar sands formations
US7717171B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-05-18 Shell Oil Company Moving hydrocarbons through portions of tar sands formations with a fluid
US7730947B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-06-08 Shell Oil Company Creating fluid injectivity in tar sands formations
US7730946B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-06-08 Shell Oil Company Treating tar sands formations with dolomite
US20090014180A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2009-01-15 George Leo Stegemeier Moving hydrocarbons through portions of tar sands formations with a fluid
US7703513B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-04-27 Shell Oil Company Wax barrier for use with in situ processes for treating formations
US20080185147A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-08-07 Vinegar Harold J Wax barrier for use with in situ processes for treating formations
US20080217003A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-09-11 Myron Ira Kuhlman Gas injection to inhibit migration during an in situ heat treatment process
US20080217004A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-09-11 De Rouffignac Eric Pierre Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a checkerboard pattern staged process
US7568527B2 (en) 2007-01-04 2009-08-04 Rock Well Petroleum, Inc. Method of collecting crude oil and crude oil collection header apparatus
US20080164020A1 (en) * 2007-01-04 2008-07-10 Rock Well Petroleum, Inc. Method of collecting crude oil and crude oil collection header apparatus
US20080169104A1 (en) * 2007-01-11 2008-07-17 Rock Well Petroleum, Inc. Method of collecting crude oil and crude oil collection header apparatus
US7543649B2 (en) 2007-01-11 2009-06-09 Rock Well Petroleum Inc. Method of collecting crude oil and crude oil collection header apparatus
US20090095479A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-04-16 John Michael Karanikas Production from multiple zones of a tar sands formation
US20090095478A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-04-16 John Michael Karanikas Varying properties of in situ heat treatment of a tar sands formation based on assessed viscosities
US20090095477A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-04-16 Scott Vinh Nguyen Heating systems for heating subsurface formations
US8381815B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2013-02-26 Shell Oil Company Production from multiple zones of a tar sands formation
US8459359B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2013-06-11 Shell Oil Company Treating nahcolite containing formations and saline zones
US20090321075A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-12-31 Christopher Kelvin Harris Parallel heater system for subsurface formations
US20090071652A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-03-19 Vinegar Harold J In situ heat treatment from multiple layers of a tar sands formation
US20090090509A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-04-09 Vinegar Harold J In situ recovery from residually heated sections in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US8042610B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2011-10-25 Shell Oil Company Parallel heater system for subsurface formations
US7950453B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2011-05-31 Shell Oil Company Downhole burner systems and methods for heating subsurface formations
US7798220B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2010-09-21 Shell Oil Company In situ heat treatment of a tar sands formation after drive process treatment
US20090078461A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-03-26 Arthur James Mansure Drilling subsurface wellbores with cutting structures
US20090084547A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-04-02 Walter Farman Farmayan Downhole burner systems and methods for heating subsurface formations
US8327681B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2012-12-11 Shell Oil Company Wellbore manufacturing processes for in situ heat treatment processes
US9181780B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2015-11-10 Shell Oil Company Controlling and assessing pressure conditions during treatment of tar sands formations
US20090095476A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-04-16 Scott Vinh Nguyen Molten salt as a heat transfer fluid for heating a subsurface formation
US20090095480A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-04-16 Vinegar Harold J In situ heat treatment of a tar sands formation after drive process treatment
US20090126929A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-05-21 Vinegar Harold J Treating nahcolite containing formations and saline zones
US7849922B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2010-12-14 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from residually heated sections in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US8791396B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2014-07-29 Shell Oil Company Floating insulated conductors for heating subsurface formations
US20090120646A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-05-14 Dong Sub Kim Electrically isolating insulated conductor heater
US7931086B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2011-04-26 Shell Oil Company Heating systems for heating subsurface formations
US8662175B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2014-03-04 Shell Oil Company Varying properties of in situ heat treatment of a tar sands formation based on assessed viscosities
US7832484B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2010-11-16 Shell Oil Company Molten salt as a heat transfer fluid for heating a subsurface formation
US7841425B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2010-11-30 Shell Oil Company Drilling subsurface wellbores with cutting structures
US7841408B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2010-11-30 Shell Oil Company In situ heat treatment from multiple layers of a tar sands formation
US8307918B2 (en) 2007-06-20 2012-11-13 New Era Petroleum, Llc Hydrocarbon recovery drill string apparatus, subterranean hydrocarbon recovery drilling methods, and subterranean hydrocarbon recovery methods
US8534382B2 (en) 2007-06-20 2013-09-17 Nep Ip, Llc Hydrocarbon recovery drill string apparatus, subterranean hydrocarbon recovery drilling methods, and subterranean hydrocarbon recovery methods
US7823662B2 (en) 2007-06-20 2010-11-02 New Era Petroleum, Llc. Hydrocarbon recovery drill string apparatus, subterranean hydrocarbon recovery drilling methods, and subterranean hydrocarbon recovery methods
US8474551B2 (en) 2007-06-20 2013-07-02 Nep Ip, Llc Hydrocarbon recovery drill string apparatus, subterranean hydrocarbon recovery drilling methods, and subterranean hydrocarbon recovery methods
US20110011574A1 (en) * 2007-06-20 2011-01-20 New Era Petroleum LLC. Hydrocarbon Recovery Drill String Apparatus, Subterranean Hydrocarbon Recovery Drilling Methods, and Subterranean Hydrocarbon Recovery Methods
US20080314640A1 (en) * 2007-06-20 2008-12-25 Greg Vandersnick Hydrocarbon recovery drill string apparatus, subterranean hydrocarbon recovery drilling methods, and subterranean hydrocarbon recovery methods
US20090084707A1 (en) * 2007-09-28 2009-04-02 Osum Oil Sands Corp. Method of upgrading bitumen and heavy oil
US7866388B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2011-01-11 Shell Oil Company High temperature methods for forming oxidizer fuel
US8276661B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-10-02 Shell Oil Company Heating subsurface formations by oxidizing fuel on a fuel carrier
US7866386B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2011-01-11 Shell Oil Company In situ oxidation of subsurface formations
US8272455B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-09-25 Shell Oil Company Methods for forming wellbores in heated formations
US20090194282A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-06 Gary Lee Beer In situ oxidation of subsurface formations
US20090200025A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-13 Jose Luis Bravo High temperature methods for forming oxidizer fuel
US20090194524A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-06 Dong Sub Kim Methods for forming long subsurface heaters
US8240774B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-08-14 Shell Oil Company Solution mining and in situ treatment of nahcolite beds
US20090200031A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-13 David Scott Miller Irregular spacing of heat sources for treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US20090200854A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-13 Vinegar Harold J Solution mining and in situ treatment of nahcolite beds
US8011451B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2011-09-06 Shell Oil Company Ranging methods for developing wellbores in subsurface formations
US20090194269A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-06 Vinegar Harold J Three-phase heaters with common overburden sections for heating subsurface formations
US20090194333A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-06 Macdonald Duncan Ranging methods for developing wellbores in subsurface formations
US8536497B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2013-09-17 Shell Oil Company Methods for forming long subsurface heaters
US20090194329A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-06 Rosalvina Ramona Guimerans Methods for forming wellbores in heated formations
US8113272B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-02-14 Shell Oil Company Three-phase heaters with common overburden sections for heating subsurface formations
US8146669B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-04-03 Shell Oil Company Multi-step heater deployment in a subsurface formation
US8146661B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-04-03 Shell Oil Company Cryogenic treatment of gas
US8196658B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-06-12 Shell Oil Company Irregular spacing of heat sources for treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US20090189617A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-07-30 David Burns Continuous subsurface heater temperature measurement
US8162059B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-04-24 Shell Oil Company Induction heaters used to heat subsurface formations
US8167960B2 (en) 2007-10-22 2012-05-01 Osum Oil Sands Corp. Method of removing carbon dioxide emissions from in-situ recovery of bitumen and heavy oil
US20090100754A1 (en) * 2007-10-22 2009-04-23 Osum Oil Sands Corp. Method of removing carbon dioxide emissions from in-situ recovery of bitumen and heavy oil
US20090139716A1 (en) * 2007-12-03 2009-06-04 Osum Oil Sands Corp. Method of recovering bitumen from a tunnel or shaft with heating elements and recovery wells
US20090183872A1 (en) * 2008-01-23 2009-07-23 Trent Robert H Methods Of Recovering Hydrocarbons From Oil Shale And Sub-Surface Oil Shale Recovery Arrangements For Recovering Hydrocarbons From Oil Shale
US7832483B2 (en) 2008-01-23 2010-11-16 New Era Petroleum, Llc. Methods of recovering hydrocarbons from oil shale and sub-surface oil shale recovery arrangements for recovering hydrocarbons from oil shale
US8176982B2 (en) 2008-02-06 2012-05-15 Osum Oil Sands Corp. Method of controlling a recovery and upgrading operation in a reservoir
US20090194280A1 (en) * 2008-02-06 2009-08-06 Osum Oil Sands Corp. Method of controlling a recovery and upgrading operation in a reservoir
US8636323B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2014-01-28 Shell Oil Company Mines and tunnels for use in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US20090272535A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2009-11-05 David Booth Burns Using tunnels for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US20090272533A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2009-11-05 David Booth Burns Heated fluid flow in mines and tunnels used in heating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US9528322B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2016-12-27 Shell Oil Company Dual motor systems and non-rotating sensors for use in developing wellbores in subsurface formations
US8562078B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2013-10-22 Shell Oil Company Hydrocarbon production from mines and tunnels used in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US20090272578A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2009-11-05 Macdonald Duncan Charles Dual motor systems and non-rotating sensors for use in developing wellbores in subsurface formations
US8151907B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2012-04-10 Shell Oil Company Dual motor systems and non-rotating sensors for use in developing wellbores in subsurface formations
US8752904B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2014-06-17 Shell Oil Company Heated fluid flow in mines and tunnels used in heating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US8162405B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2012-04-24 Shell Oil Company Using tunnels for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US8172335B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2012-05-08 Shell Oil Company Electrical current flow between tunnels for use in heating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US20090260823A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2009-10-22 Robert George Prince-Wright Mines and tunnels for use in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US20090260824A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2009-10-22 David Booth Burns Hydrocarbon production from mines and tunnels used in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US8177305B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2012-05-15 Shell Oil Company Heater connections in mines and tunnels for use in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US20100071904A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2010-03-25 Shell Oil Company Hydrocarbon production from mines and tunnels used in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US8209192B2 (en) 2008-05-20 2012-06-26 Osum Oil Sands Corp. Method of managing carbon reduction for hydrocarbon producers
US20090292571A1 (en) * 2008-05-20 2009-11-26 Osum Oil Sands Corp. Method of managing carbon reduction for hydrocarbon producers
US20100058771A1 (en) * 2008-07-07 2010-03-11 Osum Oil Sands Corp. Carbon removal from an integrated thermal recovery process
US20100089584A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-04-15 David Booth Burns Double insulated heaters for treating subsurface formations
US20100096137A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-04-22 Scott Vinh Nguyen Circulated heated transfer fluid heating of subsurface hydrocarbon formations
US9022118B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2015-05-05 Shell Oil Company Double insulated heaters for treating subsurface formations
US8267170B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2012-09-18 Shell Oil Company Offset barrier wells in subsurface formations
US8353347B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2013-01-15 Shell Oil Company Deployment of insulated conductors for treating subsurface formations
US8267185B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2012-09-18 Shell Oil Company Circulated heated transfer fluid systems used to treat a subsurface formation
US8261832B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2012-09-11 Shell Oil Company Heating subsurface formations with fluids
US9051829B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2015-06-09 Shell Oil Company Perforated electrical conductors for treating subsurface formations
US8881806B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2014-11-11 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for treating a subsurface formation with electrical conductors
US8256512B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2012-09-04 Shell Oil Company Movable heaters for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US20100089586A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-04-15 John Andrew Stanecki Movable heaters for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US8281861B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2012-10-09 Shell Oil Company Circulated heated transfer fluid heating of subsurface hydrocarbon formations
US20100101784A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-04-29 Vinegar Harold J Controlling hydrogen pressure in self-regulating nuclear reactors used to treat a subsurface formation
US20100101794A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-04-29 Robert Charles Ryan Heating subsurface formations with fluids
US20100101783A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-04-29 Vinegar Harold J Using self-regulating nuclear reactors in treating a subsurface formation
US8220539B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2012-07-17 Shell Oil Company Controlling hydrogen pressure in self-regulating nuclear reactors used to treat a subsurface formation
US20100108310A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-05-06 Thomas David Fowler Offset barrier wells in subsurface formations
US20100108379A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-05-06 David Alston Edbury Systems and methods of forming subsurface wellbores
US20100147521A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-06-17 Xueying Xie Perforated electrical conductors for treating subsurface formations
US20100224368A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-09-09 Stanley Leroy Mason Deployment of insulated conductors for treating subsurface formations
US20100147522A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-06-17 Xueying Xie Systems and methods for treating a subsurface formation with electrical conductors
US20100206570A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-08-19 Ernesto Rafael Fonseca Ocampos Circulated heated transfer fluid systems used to treat a subsurface formation
US9129728B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2015-09-08 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods of forming subsurface wellbores
US8448707B2 (en) 2009-04-10 2013-05-28 Shell Oil Company Non-conducting heater casings
US20100258265A1 (en) * 2009-04-10 2010-10-14 John Michael Karanikas Recovering energy from a subsurface formation
US20110042084A1 (en) * 2009-04-10 2011-02-24 Robert Bos Irregular pattern treatment of a subsurface formation
US20100258290A1 (en) * 2009-04-10 2010-10-14 Ronald Marshall Bass Non-conducting heater casings
US20100258291A1 (en) * 2009-04-10 2010-10-14 Everett De St Remey Edward Heated liners for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US8434555B2 (en) 2009-04-10 2013-05-07 Shell Oil Company Irregular pattern treatment of a subsurface formation
US8327932B2 (en) 2009-04-10 2012-12-11 Shell Oil Company Recovering energy from a subsurface formation
US8851170B2 (en) 2009-04-10 2014-10-07 Shell Oil Company Heater assisted fluid treatment of a subsurface formation
US20100258309A1 (en) * 2009-04-10 2010-10-14 Oluropo Rufus Ayodele Heater assisted fluid treatment of a subsurface formation
US8701769B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-04-22 Shell Oil Company Methods for treating hydrocarbon formations based on geology
US8739874B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-06-03 Shell Oil Company Methods for heating with slots in hydrocarbon formations
US8631866B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-01-21 Shell Oil Company Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations
US8833453B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-09-16 Shell Oil Company Electrodes for electrical current flow heating of subsurface formations with tapered copper thickness
US9022109B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2015-05-05 Shell Oil Company Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations
US9033042B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2015-05-19 Shell Oil Company Forming bitumen barriers in subsurface hydrocarbon formations
US8820406B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-09-02 Shell Oil Company Electrodes for electrical current flow heating of subsurface formations with conductive material in wellbore
US8875788B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-11-04 Shell Oil Company Low temperature inductive heating of subsurface formations
US9127538B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2015-09-08 Shell Oil Company Methodologies for treatment of hydrocarbon formations using staged pyrolyzation
US9127523B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2015-09-08 Shell Oil Company Barrier methods for use in subsurface hydrocarbon formations
US8701768B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-04-22 Shell Oil Company Methods for treating hydrocarbon formations
US9399905B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2016-07-26 Shell Oil Company Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations
US9016370B2 (en) 2011-04-08 2015-04-28 Shell Oil Company Partial solution mining of hydrocarbon containing layers prior to in situ heat treatment
US9309755B2 (en) 2011-10-07 2016-04-12 Shell Oil Company Thermal expansion accommodation for circulated fluid systems used to heat subsurface formations
US10047594B2 (en) 2012-01-23 2018-08-14 Genie Ip B.V. Heater pattern for in situ thermal processing of a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US1634236A (en) Method of and apparatus for recovering oil
US1811560A (en) Method of and apparatus for recovering oil
US4463988A (en) Horizontal heated plane process
US7644769B2 (en) Method of collecting hydrocarbons using a barrier tunnel
US4160481A (en) Method for recovering subsurface earth substances
US4533182A (en) Process for production of oil and gas through horizontal drainholes from underground workings
US4595239A (en) Oil recovery mining apparatus
US3362751A (en) Method and system for recovering shale oil and gas
US2365591A (en) Method for producing oil from viscous deposits
US4099570A (en) Oil production processes and apparatus
US8287050B2 (en) Method of increasing reservoir permeability
US1722679A (en) Pressure method of working oil sands
US1960932A (en) Method of mining
US3221505A (en) Grouting method
US3302707A (en) Method for improving fluid recoveries from earthen formations
US4165903A (en) Mine enhanced hydrocarbon recovery technique
US2725106A (en) Oil production
MXPA05000550A (en) Wellbore plug system and method.
US1634235A (en) Method of and apparatus for recovering oil
MXPA05000551A (en) Wellbore sealing system and method.
US4595057A (en) Parallel string method for multiple string, thermal fluid injection
US4607888A (en) Method of recovering hydrocarbon using mining assisted methods
US4227743A (en) Method of thermal-mine recovery of oil and fluent bitumens
RU2330950C1 (en) Method of high vicous oil and bitumen deposits development
US3367419A (en) Oil recovery by steam injection and pressure reduction