US2714930A - Apparatus for preventing paraffin deposition - Google Patents

Apparatus for preventing paraffin deposition Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US2714930A
US2714930A US199813A US19981350A US2714930A US 2714930 A US2714930 A US 2714930A US 199813 A US199813 A US 199813A US 19981350 A US19981350 A US 19981350A US 2714930 A US2714930 A US 2714930A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
tubing
cable
weighting member
well
electrically conductive
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
US199813A
Inventor
Clayton A Carpenter
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.)
Union Oil Company of California
Original Assignee
Union Oil Company of California
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 Union Oil Company of California filed Critical Union Oil Company of California
Priority to US199813A priority Critical patent/US2714930A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2714930A publication Critical patent/US2714930A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B36/00Heating, cooling, insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones
    • E21B36/04Heating, cooling, insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones using electrical heaters

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to apparatus for electrically heating a flowing oil stream within a well bore. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for electrically heating an upper portion of the column of oil flowing within the tubing of a flowing oil well.
  • the apparatus of this invention permits a flowing well to be fitted with heating equipment without any necessity whatsoever for shutting-in the well. Since it has been found that deposition of paraffin in the Well bore equipment is serious only in about the uppermost 1,000 feet or so of the equipment, the apparatus of this invention is specifically designed for heating only the uppermost portion of the fiowing oil column thereby conserving electrical energy.
  • this invention relates to a new apparatus for preventing paraffin deposition in the tubing of a well bore wherein only the upper portion of the tubing is subjected to heating.
  • Such apparatus comprises a weight suspended within the upper part of the tubing on a cornbination supporting cable and resistance wire. Attached to the weight, or in the vicinity thereof, is a contacting device for electrically contacting the inner surface of the tubing.
  • the weight and wire are inserted into the top of the tubing through any suitable sealing member for passing solid objects and wire into the tubing under seal.
  • sealing means may be a system of resilient rubber seals having a center opening which is expandible under force to permit entry of the object while maintaining a pressure seal.
  • the sealing means also provides electrical insulation between the body of the tubing and the resistance cable where the latter is not covered with electrical insulation.
  • the electrical circuit for the resistance cable is provided by attaching a current source to the resistance cable whence the current flows through the wire to the contacting member in the vicinity of the weighting member, thence to the tubing whence it flows upwardly through the tubing to a grounded connection or other conductor and returns to the current source.
  • Figure l shows a partial cross-sectional elevation view of the installation of the apparatus of this invention positioned Within a well bore.
  • Figure 2 shows the combination of a weighting member, a contacting member, and resistance cable such as is employed in Figure l.
  • Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional View of the resistance cable such as may be taken through the plane 3 3 of Figure 2, for example.
  • Figure 4 shows an alternative modification of the weighting member and contacting member.
  • Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the weighting member-contacting member modication shown in Figure 4 taken through a plane 5 5.
  • Figure 6 shows one modification of packing glandA member 28 of Figure l, which is adaptable for inserting the resistance cable and other members therethrough while maintaining a pressure seal between the upper and lower faces of the packing gland.
  • Figure 7 shows a modification of the invention for inserting parts of the apparatus of this invention into a high pressure well wherein the Well is not killed during the inserting.
  • well casing 11 extends downwardly from the earths surface 12 into bore hole 13 to the vicinity of the upper boundary of oil-bearing sand 14.
  • Well casing 11 is capped with tubing head 15.
  • Tubing 16 is suspended through the tubing head 15 downwardly within casing 11.
  • Tubing 16 terminates at its lower end in opening 17 which permits oil from oil pool 18 to flow into the tubing and force its way under pressure through the tubing to production line 19 whence it is withdrawn.
  • Gas production separating from oil pool 18 flows upwardly in the annular zone created by the well casing 11 and tubing 16 to the vicinity of earth surface 12 whence it is withdrawn through gas production line 20.
  • weighting member 25 contacting member 26 and resistance cable 27 are insertable through packing gland member 28 without necessity of killing the Well.
  • current source 30 passes electrical energy to transformer 31 whose secondary winding has been tapped at a series of points.
  • the one terminal of the secondary winding of transformer 31 is connected through conductor 32 to resistance cable 27 at its upper end.
  • Resistance cable 27 is supported by suitable means not shown,
  • Contact 33 is adapted to be connected in sequence to the series of tapped windings of transformer 31 and passes electrical energy therefrom through conductor r'ce 34 to a ground connection on tubing head 15 which is in turny electrically grounded to tubing 16.
  • Resistance cable 27 is electrically connected to contacting member 26 which in turn is electrically connected to tubing 16 by slidable contact therewith. A return path for the electrical energy to source 30 is thereby provided.
  • resistance cable 27 is electrically connected to stationary sleeve 40 by suitable means not shown.
  • Stationary sleeve is rigidly attached to weighting member 42 by securing member 41.
  • Attached to stationary sleeve 40 are two or more radially extending spring contacting bows 43 and 44.
  • Such bows comprise uninsulated electrical conductors, e. g., bare metal bow springs.
  • the lower ends of bows 43 and 44 are in turn anchored to slidable sleeve 45 which is free to slide coaxially over the outer surface of Weighting member 42.
  • the construction of bows 43 and 44 is such that their natural tension tends to pull slidable sleeve 45 upwardly toward stationary sleeve 40 with the resultant increase in the bowing of members 43 and 44.
  • the central core of the resistance cable is preferably a steel strand or core of suitable dimensions and characteristics to support the weighting member which may be in the range of 200 to 1000 lbs.
  • a plurality of conductors 51 for example copper wires, is stranded around, wound on, or supported by steel core 50.
  • copper conductors 51 are wrapped in doublestranded glass or other electrical insulation.
  • Conductors 51 are so constructed as to resist the flow of electricity therethrough, thereby generating heat which is transmitted to the surrounding oil.
  • conductors 51 are wrapped with suitable high temperature electrical insulation which permits transmission of heat therethrough and protects cable 27 from electrically contacting tubing 16 and thereby short-circuiting resistance cable 27.
  • contacting member 26 It is apparent that numerous modifications of electrical contacting means of the type employed in the petroleum lndustry, in electric logging operations and the like may be employed as contacting member 26.
  • One alternative modification of such means comprises a series of spines which are curved to permit theirentry into a circumscribing member of small diameter and which expand as the diameter of the circumscribing member is increased and contract as the diameter is decreased.
  • weighting member is supported by and electrically connected to resistance cable 61. Electrically and rigidly attached to weighting member 60 is sleeve 62 which in turn mounts flexible spines 63 and 64. Flexible spines 63, 64 and others not shown, expand to the inner wall of the tubing and make electrical contact therewith during variations in the level of weighting member 60.
  • weighting member 60 is surrounded by electrically connected rigid sleeve 62 to which are attached electrically conducting iiexible spines 63, 64, 65 and 66, respectively.
  • the flexible spines push outwardly against circumscribing tubing 67 and make electrical contact therewith.
  • tubing 16 of Figure 1 may be tted with a packing gland to permit entry of the resistance wire, etc.
  • packing gland 28 is fitted with a suitable retainer which holds resilient packing 71 in place.
  • the center of packing 71 is equipped with a small expandible opening 72 through which the equipment including the weighting member, the contacting means, and the resistance cable are inserted.
  • the expandible opening 72 is normally closed and seals the pressure within tubing 16.
  • packing gland 28 forms a tight seal about it so that there is little pressure loss therethrough.
  • the equipment may be inserted into the tubing through a specially created sealing zone.
  • Tubing 80 which corresponds to tubing 16 of Figure l, is capped with a gate type control valve 81.
  • Fitting 82 is screwed into valve 8l and sealing member S3 threads into fitting 82,
  • the sealing member is fitted with a packing gland S5 through which the resistance cable is passed and which maintains a pressure seal.
  • the contacting means and weighting assembly are squeezed into place, as shown, by compressing bows 43 and 44.
  • With the apparatus in place within sealing member 83 the latter is attached to fitting 82 above closed gate valve 81.
  • gate valve 81 is opened and the resistance cable is payed out by suitable means not shown to lower the contacting means and weighting member to the desired level.
  • the arrangement is then employed in substantially the same manner as was described in connection with Figure l.
  • the electrically resistant cable may suitably comprise about 1000 feet of No. 10 copper wire covered with a double glass wrap of electrical insulation wound about a steel core of suitable dimensions for supporting a 500 pound sinker bar or weighting member.
  • the weighting member is fitted with an electrical contacting mechanism of the type shown in Figure l and Figure 2.
  • About volts of electrical potential is supplied to cross the resistance cable and the tubing.
  • the generation of thermal power at this rate is sufficient to prevent parain deposition in a flowing well producing barrels of oil per day when the average ground level temperature is in the vicinity of 70 F.
  • alternating current inasmuch as such current is readily stepped up or down according to the changing requirements of the system.
  • alternating currents ranging from 50 to 2000 volts, and which have frequencies in the range of 25 to 400 cycles per second may be employed.
  • direct current it is preferable to employ voltages in the range of about 50 to 1000 volts.
  • the size and electrical properties of the stranded copper wire or other resistance cable should be such that the major portion, such as at least 50% and preferably 90% of the generation of thermal energy occurs within the resistance cable. Accordingly, it is desirable to use relatively large copper wire in order to maintain a high current flow therethrough. Under these conditions the thermal energy is to a large extent generated in the resistance cable.
  • the sinker bar or weighting means employed in this 'invention may be of any suitable shape or configuration and performs the task of weighting the resistance cable.
  • the weighting assembly in general performs three functions, viz. it provides a tension on the cable so that it is drawn taut, it provides support for the contacting mechanism which contacts the tubing, and it serves to center the resistance cable in the bore hole, particularly at its lower end, and minimizes wear and tear on the cable during raising and lowering.
  • the amount of heat generated in the resistance cable is generally determined by the characteristics of the oil being produced and the characteristics of the formation and the locale of the oil lield. Generally speaking, a temperature drop of only a few degrees Fahrenheit in the uppermost few thousand feet of tubing is suicient to cause an excessive accumulation of parain during continued operation of the well. In some cases the temperature of the formation is in the range of about 80 F. while the temperature in the oil pool may be in the range of about 70 F. and the atmospheric temperature around the well head may be as low as' 10 or 20 F. Under this type of situation it has been found preferable to supply an amount of heat to the oil in the last 500 or 1000 feet of ow which is sufcient to maintain the temperature in the range of about 70 F. and preferably not less than about 65 F.
  • crude oil may flow from the formation at a given temperature T1 and will cool as it ows through relatively cooler formations toward the earth surface due to evaporation of gases, heat transfer with the cooler surrounding earth strata in the upper layers, etc.
  • a wax and/or resin deposition begins when the oil cools below to a temperature T2 which is lower than T1. Progressive cooling below temperature T2 results in progressive deposits of wax and/ or resin.
  • the oil flow generally reaches temperature T2 only during the uppermost 1000 or so of the well tubing.
  • the heating of the oil flow by the process of this invention is so controlled that a temperature greater than the wax or resin deposition temperature T2 is maintained throughout the owing oil column and especially in the uppermost section of the flowing oil column.
  • Oils which are prone to deposit wax, resins, etc., upon cooling have been found to be identifiable by their physical properties.
  • the deposition is a function of the amount and the gravity of the residuum obtained after a Bureau of Mines Hempel distillation as described in The Analytical Distillation of Petroleum and its Products, U. S. Bur. Mines Bull. 207, pp. 4-19 (1922). It has been found that oils for which the value of the expression Per cent residuum A. P. I. gravity of residuum is less than 2.0, particularly less than 1.5, are prone to deposit solids.
  • the method and apparatus of the present invention effects beneficial results in dealing with oils which are prone to deposit solids as determined by either of the above methods.
  • the resistance cable may be so constructed that its electrical resistance is non-uniform and varies with respect to its length in order to vary the generation of thermal energy per unit distance so as to provide a constant temperature of the oil column owing therethrough independently of the level.
  • an electrically conductive well tubing positioned within a well; a cable extending within said tubing and supporting at its lower end an electrically conductive weighting member adapted to be lowered into and withdrawn from said tubing, said cable being substantially uniformly electrically resistant throughout its length and being maintained taut by the action of gravity on said weighting member; an electrically conductive upper sleeve rigidly attached to said weighting member; an electrically conductive lower sleeve free to slide along said weighting member; a plurality of electrically conductive radially extending spring bows disposed radially around said weighting member and attached at their upper ends to said upper sleeve and at their lower ends to said lower sleeve, said bows being adapted to frictionally engage the inner walls of said tubing; and means for applying an electric potential between said cable and said tubing.
  • an electrically conductive well tubing positioned within a well; a cable extending within said tubing and supporting at its lower end an electrically conductive weighting member adapted to be lowered into and withdrawn from said tubing, said cable comprising a center weight-supporting core, a substantially uniformly electrically resistant winding supported on the outer surface of said core, and means for electrically insulating said winding from said core, and said cable being maintained taut within said tubing by the force of gravity acting on said weighting member; a contacting member borne by said weighting member and adapted to provide electrical contact between said weighting member and said tubing; and means for applying an electrical potential between said cable and said tubing.

Description

C. A. CARPENTER APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING PARAFFIN DEPOSITION Aug. 9, 1955 Filed Deo. 8, 1950 United States Patent() APPARATUS FR PREVENTING PARAFFIN DEPOSITION Clayton A. Carpenter, Wilmington, Calif., assignor to Union Oil Company of California, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application December 8, 1950, Serial No. 199,813
2 Claims. (Cl. 166-60) This invention relates generally to apparatus for electrically heating a flowing oil stream within a well bore. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for electrically heating an upper portion of the column of oil flowing within the tubing of a flowing oil well.
Numerous methods have been employed in the prior art for heating oil wells such as by electrical means, heat transfer agents and the like. A considerable number of such inventions pertain to preventing paraffin deposition in the well bore equipment. In general, the employment of such methods and apparatus necessitates a general shutdown or killing of the well. Killing the well is highly undesirable since during the interval in which oil flow is shut in, the water in the flowing oil Within the formation becomes rather firmly attached to the formation in the vicinity thereby causing water logging and other difficulties.
The apparatus of this invention permits a flowing well to be fitted with heating equipment without any necessity whatsoever for shutting-in the well. Since it has been found that deposition of paraffin in the Well bore equipment is serious only in about the uppermost 1,000 feet or so of the equipment, the apparatus of this invention is specifically designed for heating only the uppermost portion of the fiowing oil column thereby conserving electrical energy.
It is therefore an object of this invention to heat a flowing oil column within the tubing from the earth surface to a short distance therebelow, for example 1,000 feet.
It is another object of this invention to provide an electrical resistance apparatus for heating an oil column within the tubing of the well bore whereby there is obtained a maximum transfer of heat to the flowing oil.
It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus which is readily insertable into the tubing of a fiowing oil well without necessity of killing the well.
It is another object of this invention to employ a single cable to support a combination electrical contact to the tubing and weighting member and also to provide a resistance in the electrical circuit for the generation and transmission of thermal energy.
Other objects and advantages of this invention Will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds.
Briefly, this invention relates to a new apparatus for preventing paraffin deposition in the tubing of a well bore wherein only the upper portion of the tubing is subjected to heating. Such apparatus comprises a weight suspended within the upper part of the tubing on a cornbination supporting cable and resistance wire. Attached to the weight, or in the vicinity thereof, is a contacting device for electrically contacting the inner surface of the tubing. The weight and wire are inserted into the top of the tubing through any suitable sealing member for passing solid objects and wire into the tubing under seal. Such sealing means may be a system of resilient rubber seals having a center opening which is expandible under force to permit entry of the object while maintaining a pressure seal. The sealing means also provides electrical insulation between the body of the tubing and the resistance cable where the latter is not covered with electrical insulation. The electrical circuit for the resistance cable is provided by attaching a current source to the resistance cable whence the current flows through the wire to the contacting member in the vicinity of the weighting member, thence to the tubing whence it flows upwardly through the tubing to a grounded connection or other conductor and returns to the current source.
It is a particularly advantageous feature of the apparatus of this invention in that it employs a minimum of bulky equipment and lends itself to ready installation in the conventional flowing well. Furthermore, the insertion of the Weighting member, the contacting member, and the resistance cable through a sealing means eliminates any requirement of shutting-in the well during the installation.
Figure l shows a partial cross-sectional elevation view of the installation of the apparatus of this invention positioned Within a well bore.
Figure 2 shows the combination of a weighting member, a contacting member, and resistance cable such as is employed in Figure l.
Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional View of the resistance cable such as may be taken through the plane 3 3 of Figure 2, for example.
Figure 4 shows an alternative modification of the weighting member and contacting member.
Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the weighting member-contacting member modication shown in Figure 4 taken through a plane 5 5.
Figure 6 shows one modification of packing glandA member 28 of Figure l, which is adaptable for inserting the resistance cable and other members therethrough while maintaining a pressure seal between the upper and lower faces of the packing gland.
Figure 7 shows a modification of the invention for inserting parts of the apparatus of this invention into a high pressure well wherein the Well is not killed during the inserting.
Referring now to Figure l, well casing 11 extends downwardly from the earths surface 12 into bore hole 13 to the vicinity of the upper boundary of oil-bearing sand 14. Well casing 11 is capped with tubing head 15. Tubing 16 is suspended through the tubing head 15 downwardly within casing 11. Tubing 16 terminates at its lower end in opening 17 which permits oil from oil pool 18 to flow into the tubing and force its way under pressure through the tubing to production line 19 whence it is withdrawn. Gas production separating from oil pool 18 flows upwardly in the annular zone created by the well casing 11 and tubing 16 to the vicinity of earth surface 12 whence it is withdrawn through gas production line 20.
In Figure 1 weighting member 25, contacting member 26 and resistance cable 27 are insertable through packing gland member 28 without necessity of killing the Well.
At the earth surface, current source 30 passes electrical energy to transformer 31 whose secondary winding has been tapped at a series of points. The one terminal of the secondary winding of transformer 31 is connected through conductor 32 to resistance cable 27 at its upper end. Resistance cable 27 is supported by suitable means not shown, Contact 33 is adapted to be connected in sequence to the series of tapped windings of transformer 31 and passes electrical energy therefrom through conductor r'ce 34 to a ground connection on tubing head 15 which is in turny electrically grounded to tubing 16.
Electrical energy from source 30 is thusly transmittable to resistance cable 27. Resistance cable 27 is electrically connected to contacting member 26 which in turn is electrically connected to tubing 16 by slidable contact therewith. A return path for the electrical energy to source 30 is thereby provided.
Referring now more particularly to Figure 2, resistance cable 27 is electrically connected to stationary sleeve 40 by suitable means not shown. Stationary sleeve is rigidly attached to weighting member 42 by securing member 41. Attached to stationary sleeve 40 are two or more radially extending spring contacting bows 43 and 44. Such bows comprise uninsulated electrical conductors, e. g., bare metal bow springs. The lower ends of bows 43 and 44 are in turn anchored to slidable sleeve 45 which is free to slide coaxially over the outer surface of Weighting member 42. The construction of bows 43 and 44 is such that their natural tension tends to pull slidable sleeve 45 upwardly toward stationary sleeve 40 with the resultant increase in the bowing of members 43 and 44.
In the arrangement described in Figure 2 it is apparent that the normal tendency of bows 43 and 44 when confined within a tubing of suitable relative dimension is to fill the confines of the zone of confinement and expand their outer section to touch the circumscribing tubing face. Accordingly, slidable sleeve 45 `moves upwardly and downwardly as the requirements of bows 43 and 44 change in accordance with changes in the diameter of the circumscribing environment.
Referring now to Figure 3, which shows a modiiication of the resistance cable 27 taken through the plane 3-3 of Figure 2, the central core of the resistance cable is preferably a steel strand or core of suitable dimensions and characteristics to support the weighting member which may be in the range of 200 to 1000 lbs. A plurality of conductors 51, for example copper wires, is stranded around, wound on, or supported by steel core 50. Preferably copper conductors 51 are wrapped in doublestranded glass or other electrical insulation. Conductors 51 are so constructed as to resist the flow of electricity therethrough, thereby generating heat which is transmitted to the surrounding oil. In the preferred modification, conductors 51 are wrapped with suitable high temperature electrical insulation which permits transmission of heat therethrough and protects cable 27 from electrically contacting tubing 16 and thereby short-circuiting resistance cable 27.
It is apparent that numerous modifications of electrical contacting means of the type employed in the petroleum lndustry, in electric logging operations and the like may be employed as contacting member 26. One alternative modification of such means comprises a series of spines which are curved to permit theirentry into a circumscribing member of small diameter and which expand as the diameter of the circumscribing member is increased and contract as the diameter is decreased.
Referring now to Figure 4, weighting member is supported by and electrically connected to resistance cable 61. Electrically and rigidly attached to weighting member 60 is sleeve 62 which in turn mounts flexible spines 63 and 64. Flexible spines 63, 64 and others not shown, expand to the inner wall of the tubing and make electrical contact therewith during variations in the level of weighting member 60.
Referring now to Figure 5, which carries the same numerical reference characters as Figure 4 and is a crosssectional view through plane S-S of Figure 4, weighting member 60 is surrounded by electrically connected rigid sleeve 62 to which are attached electrically conducting iiexible spines 63, 64, 65 and 66, respectively. The flexible spines push outwardly against circumscribing tubing 67 and make electrical contact therewith.
Referring now more particularly to Figure 6, tubing 16 of Figure 1 may be tted with a packing gland to permit entry of the resistance wire, etc. In Figure 6 packing gland 28 is fitted with a suitable retainer which holds resilient packing 71 in place. The center of packing 71 is equipped with a small expandible opening 72 through which the equipment including the weighting member, the contacting means, and the resistance cable are inserted. The expandible opening 72 is normally closed and seals the pressure within tubing 16. When the equipment is inserted, packing gland 28 forms a tight seal about it so that there is little pressure loss therethrough.
Referring now more particularly to Figure 7, the equipment may be inserted into the tubing through a specially created sealing zone. Tubing 80, which corresponds to tubing 16 of Figure l, is capped with a gate type control valve 81. Fitting 82 is screwed into valve 8l and sealing member S3 threads into fitting 82, In using this modiiication, the sealing member is fitted with a packing gland S5 through which the resistance cable is passed and which maintains a pressure seal. While the sealing member is detached from fitting 82, the contacting means and weighting assembly are squeezed into place, as shown, by compressing bows 43 and 44. With the apparatus in place within sealing member 83, the latter is attached to fitting 82 above closed gate valve 81. When sealing member 83 is secured, gate valve 81 is opened and the resistance cable is payed out by suitable means not shown to lower the contacting means and weighting member to the desired level. The arrangement is then employed in substantially the same manner as was described in connection with Figure l.
The electrically resistant cable may suitably comprise about 1000 feet of No. 10 copper wire covered with a double glass wrap of electrical insulation wound about a steel core of suitable dimensions for supporting a 500 pound sinker bar or weighting member. The weighting member is fitted with an electrical contacting mechanism of the type shown in Figure l and Figure 2. About volts of electrical potential is supplied to cross the resistance cable and the tubing. There is a current ow of about 91 amperes with the result that about 10 kilowatts of electrical power are converted to thermal energy. The generation of thermal power at this rate is sufficient to prevent parain deposition in a flowing well producing barrels of oil per day when the average ground level temperature is in the vicinity of 70 F.
In the application of this invention it is preferable to use alternating current inasmuch as such current is readily stepped up or down according to the changing requirements of the system. Thus alternating currents ranging from 50 to 2000 volts, and which have frequencies in the range of 25 to 400 cycles per second may be employed. When direct current is employed, it is preferable to employ voltages in the range of about 50 to 1000 volts.
The size and electrical properties of the stranded copper wire or other resistance cable should be such that the major portion, such as at least 50% and preferably 90% of the generation of thermal energy occurs within the resistance cable. Accordingly, it is desirable to use relatively large copper wire in order to maintain a high current flow therethrough. Under these conditions the thermal energy is to a large extent generated in the resistance cable.
The sinker bar or weighting means employed in this 'invention may be of any suitable shape or configuration and performs the task of weighting the resistance cable. The weighting assembly in general performs three functions, viz. it provides a tension on the cable so that it is drawn taut, it provides support for the contacting mechanism which contacts the tubing, and it serves to center the resistance cable in the bore hole, particularly at its lower end, and minimizes wear and tear on the cable during raising and lowering.
It should also be noted that by the method of 'this invention .the slack or tension created by expansion and contraction of the resistance cable arising from temperature fluctuations is continuously compensated for by the raising and lowering of the weighting member which maintains a constant tension on the cable.
With regard to the amount of heat generated in the resistance cable, such amount is generally determined by the characteristics of the oil being produced and the characteristics of the formation and the locale of the oil lield. Generally speaking, a temperature drop of only a few degrees Fahrenheit in the uppermost few thousand feet of tubing is suicient to cause an excessive accumulation of parain during continued operation of the well. In some cases the temperature of the formation is in the range of about 80 F. while the temperature in the oil pool may be in the range of about 70 F. and the atmospheric temperature around the well head may be as low as' 10 or 20 F. Under this type of situation it has been found preferable to supply an amount of heat to the oil in the last 500 or 1000 feet of ow which is sufcient to maintain the temperature in the range of about 70 F. and preferably not less than about 65 F.
Generally speaking, crude oil may flow from the formation at a given temperature T1 and will cool as it ows through relatively cooler formations toward the earth surface due to evaporation of gases, heat transfer with the cooler surrounding earth strata in the upper layers, etc.
With wax bearing oils and particularly with the limited class of oils described hereinafter, a wax and/or resin deposition begins when the oil cools below to a temperature T2 which is lower than T1. Progressive cooling below temperature T2 results in progressive deposits of wax and/ or resin. The oil flow generally reaches temperature T2 only during the uppermost 1000 or so of the well tubing. The heating of the oil flow by the process of this invention is so controlled that a temperature greater than the wax or resin deposition temperature T2 is maintained throughout the owing oil column and especially in the uppermost section of the flowing oil column.
Oils which are prone to deposit wax, resins, etc., upon cooling have been found to be identifiable by their physical properties. The deposition is a function of the amount and the gravity of the residuum obtained after a Bureau of Mines Hempel distillation as described in The Analytical Distillation of Petroleum and its Products, U. S. Bur. Mines Bull. 207, pp. 4-19 (1922). It has been found that oils for which the value of the expression Per cent residuum A. P. I. gravity of residuum is less than 2.0, particularly less than 1.5, are prone to deposit solids.
The tendency of an oil to deposit solids determined by the value of the expression:
(Cloud point in F of key fraction 2) (A. P. I. Gr. of the residuum) Per cent residuum is greater than 30, particularly greater than 50, are prone to deposit solids.
The method and apparatus of the present invention effects beneficial results in dealing with oils which are prone to deposit solids as determined by either of the above methods.
Where the heat radiation from the tubing and oil flow therethrough is non-uniform with respect to distance near the earth surface, the resistance cable may be so constructed that its electrical resistance is non-uniform and varies with respect to its length in order to vary the generation of thermal energy per unit distance so as to provide a constant temperature of the oil column owing therethrough independently of the level.
The foregoing disclosure of this invention is not to be considered as limiting since many variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.
I claim:
1. In combination, an electrically conductive well tubing positioned within a well; a cable extending within said tubing and supporting at its lower end an electrically conductive weighting member adapted to be lowered into and withdrawn from said tubing, said cable being substantially uniformly electrically resistant throughout its length and being maintained taut by the action of gravity on said weighting member; an electrically conductive upper sleeve rigidly attached to said weighting member; an electrically conductive lower sleeve free to slide along said weighting member; a plurality of electrically conductive radially extending spring bows disposed radially around said weighting member and attached at their upper ends to said upper sleeve and at their lower ends to said lower sleeve, said bows being adapted to frictionally engage the inner walls of said tubing; and means for applying an electric potential between said cable and said tubing.
2. In combination, an electrically conductive well tubing positioned within a well; a cable extending within said tubing and supporting at its lower end an electrically conductive weighting member adapted to be lowered into and withdrawn from said tubing, said cable comprising a center weight-supporting core, a substantially uniformly electrically resistant winding supported on the outer surface of said core, and means for electrically insulating said winding from said core, and said cable being maintained taut within said tubing by the force of gravity acting on said weighting member; a contacting member borne by said weighting member and adapted to provide electrical contact between said weighting member and said tubing; and means for applying an electrical potential between said cable and said tubing.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,327,269 Christians Jan. 6, 1920 1,546,467 Bennett July 21, 1925 1,646,599 Schaefer Oct. 25, 1927 1,715,592 Christians Jan. 4, 1929 1,764,213 Knox June 17, 1930 1,776,997 Downey Sept. 30, 1930 1,970,295 Fitzpatrick Aug. 14, 1934 2,244,256 Looman June 3, 1941 2,660,249 Jakosky Nov. 24, 1953

Claims (1)

1. IN COMBINATION, AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE WELL TUBING POSITIONED WITHIN A WELL; A CABLE EXTENDING WITHIN SAID TUBING AND SUPPORTING AT ITS LOWER END AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE WEIGHTING MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE LOWERED INTO AND WITHDRAWN FROM SAID TUBING, SAID CABLE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORMLY ELECTRICALLY RESISTANT THROUGH ITS LENGTH AND BEING MAINTAINED TAUT BY THE ACTION OF GRAVITY ON SAID WEIGHTING MEMBER; AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE UPPER SLEEVE RIGIDLY ATTACHED TO SAID WEIGHTING MEMBER; AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE LOWER SLEEVE FREE TO SLIDE ALONG SAID WEIGHTING MEMBER; A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE RADIALLY EXTENDING SPRING BOWS DISPOSED RADIALLY AROUND SAID WEIGHTING MEMBER AND ATTACHED AT THEIR UPPER ENDS TO SAID UPPER SLEEVE AND AT THEIR LOWER ENDS TO SAID LOWER SLEEVE, SAID BOWS BEING ADAPTED TO FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE THE INNER WALLS OF TUBING; AND MEANS FOR APPLYING AN ELECTRIC POTENTIAL BETWEEN SAID CABLE AND SAID TUBING.
US199813A 1950-12-08 1950-12-08 Apparatus for preventing paraffin deposition Expired - Lifetime US2714930A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US199813A US2714930A (en) 1950-12-08 1950-12-08 Apparatus for preventing paraffin deposition

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US199813A US2714930A (en) 1950-12-08 1950-12-08 Apparatus for preventing paraffin deposition

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2714930A true US2714930A (en) 1955-08-09

Family

ID=22739135

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US199813A Expired - Lifetime US2714930A (en) 1950-12-08 1950-12-08 Apparatus for preventing paraffin deposition

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US2714930A (en)

Cited By (54)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3092514A (en) * 1959-05-25 1963-06-04 Petro Electronics Corp Method and apparatus for cleaning and thawing flow lines and the like
US4716960A (en) * 1986-07-14 1988-01-05 Production Technologies International, Inc. Method and system for introducing electric current into a well
US4911239A (en) * 1988-04-20 1990-03-27 Intra-Global Petroleum Reservers, Inc. Method and apparatus for removal of oil well paraffin
US6142707A (en) * 1996-03-26 2000-11-07 Shell Oil Company Direct electric pipeline heating
US6171025B1 (en) 1995-12-29 2001-01-09 Shell Oil Company Method for pipeline leak detection
US6179523B1 (en) 1995-12-29 2001-01-30 Shell Oil Company Method for pipeline installation
US6264401B1 (en) 1995-12-29 2001-07-24 Shell Oil Company Method for enhancing the flow of heavy crudes through subsea pipelines
US6315497B1 (en) 1995-12-29 2001-11-13 Shell Oil Company Joint for applying current across a pipe-in-pipe system
US20020029881A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-03-14 De Rouffignac Eric Pierre In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using conductor in conduit heat sources
US20030075318A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2003-04-24 Keedy Charles Robert In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using substantially parallel formed wellbores
US20030079877A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-01 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation in a reducing environment
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
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
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
US6632047B2 (en) * 2000-04-14 2003-10-14 Board Of Regents, The University Of Texas System Heater element for use in an in situ thermal desorption soil remediation system
US20030196810A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-10-23 Vinegar Harold J. Treatment of a hydrocarbon containing formation after heating
US6686745B2 (en) 2001-07-20 2004-02-03 Shell Oil Company Apparatus and method for electrical testing of electrically heated pipe-in-pipe pipeline
US6688900B2 (en) 2002-06-25 2004-02-10 Shell Oil Company Insulating joint for electrically heated pipeline
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
US6707012B2 (en) 2001-07-20 2004-03-16 Shell Oil Company Power supply for electrically heated subsea pipeline
US6714018B2 (en) 2001-07-20 2004-03-30 Shell Oil Company Method of commissioning and operating an electrically heated pipe-in-pipe subsea pipeline
US20040060693A1 (en) * 2001-07-20 2004-04-01 Bass Ronald Marshall Annulus for electrically heated pipe-in-pipe subsea pipeline
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
US6739803B2 (en) 2001-07-20 2004-05-25 Shell Oil Company Method of installation of electrically heated pipe-in-pipe subsea pipeline
US20040100273A1 (en) * 2002-11-08 2004-05-27 Liney David J. Testing electrical integrity of electrically heated subsea pipelines
US20050269313A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Vinegar Harold J Temperature limited heaters with high power factors
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
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
US20080128134A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-06-05 Ramesh Raju Mudunuri Producing drive fluid in situ in tar sands formations
US20090071652A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-03-19 Vinegar Harold J In situ heat treatment from multiple layers of a tar sands formation
US20090189617A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-07-30 David Burns Continuous subsurface heater temperature measurement
US20090260824A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2009-10-22 David Booth Burns Hydrocarbon production from mines and tunnels used in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
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

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1327269A (en) * 1919-06-09 1920-01-06 George W Christians Apparatus for use in sealing crevices in rock formations
US1546467A (en) * 1924-01-09 1925-07-21 Joseph F Bennett Oil or gas drilling mechanism
US1646599A (en) * 1925-04-30 1927-10-25 George A Schaefer Apparatus for removing fluid from wells
US1715592A (en) * 1926-09-11 1929-06-04 George W Christians Apparatus for sealing crevices in rock formations or the like
US1764213A (en) * 1927-02-21 1930-06-17 Knox George Washington Conductor for oil-well heaters
US1776997A (en) * 1928-09-10 1930-09-30 Patrick V Downey Oil-well heater
US1970295A (en) * 1927-11-19 1934-08-14 Paraffin Heater Engineering Co Apparatus for treating well fluids
US2244256A (en) * 1939-12-16 1941-06-03 Electrical Treating Company Apparatus for clearing wells
US2660249A (en) * 1949-11-18 1953-11-24 John J Jakosky Means for heating oil wells

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1327269A (en) * 1919-06-09 1920-01-06 George W Christians Apparatus for use in sealing crevices in rock formations
US1546467A (en) * 1924-01-09 1925-07-21 Joseph F Bennett Oil or gas drilling mechanism
US1646599A (en) * 1925-04-30 1927-10-25 George A Schaefer Apparatus for removing fluid from wells
US1715592A (en) * 1926-09-11 1929-06-04 George W Christians Apparatus for sealing crevices in rock formations or the like
US1764213A (en) * 1927-02-21 1930-06-17 Knox George Washington Conductor for oil-well heaters
US1970295A (en) * 1927-11-19 1934-08-14 Paraffin Heater Engineering Co Apparatus for treating well fluids
US1776997A (en) * 1928-09-10 1930-09-30 Patrick V Downey Oil-well heater
US2244256A (en) * 1939-12-16 1941-06-03 Electrical Treating Company Apparatus for clearing wells
US2660249A (en) * 1949-11-18 1953-11-24 John J Jakosky Means for heating oil wells

Cited By (466)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3092514A (en) * 1959-05-25 1963-06-04 Petro Electronics Corp Method and apparatus for cleaning and thawing flow lines and the like
US4716960A (en) * 1986-07-14 1988-01-05 Production Technologies International, Inc. Method and system for introducing electric current into a well
US4911239A (en) * 1988-04-20 1990-03-27 Intra-Global Petroleum Reservers, Inc. Method and apparatus for removal of oil well paraffin
US6171025B1 (en) 1995-12-29 2001-01-09 Shell Oil Company Method for pipeline leak detection
US6179523B1 (en) 1995-12-29 2001-01-30 Shell Oil Company Method for pipeline installation
US6264401B1 (en) 1995-12-29 2001-07-24 Shell Oil Company Method for enhancing the flow of heavy crudes through subsea pipelines
US6315497B1 (en) 1995-12-29 2001-11-13 Shell Oil Company Joint for applying current across a pipe-in-pipe system
US6142707A (en) * 1996-03-26 2000-11-07 Shell Oil Company Direct electric pipeline heating
US6632047B2 (en) * 2000-04-14 2003-10-14 Board Of Regents, The University Of Texas System Heater element for use in an in situ thermal desorption soil remediation system
US7017661B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-03-28 Shell Oil Company Production of synthesis gas from a coal formation
US6763886B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-07-20 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with carbon dioxide sequestration
US20020034380A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-03-21 Maher Kevin Albert In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected moisture content
US20020036083A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-03-28 De Rouffignac Eric Pierre In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with heat sources located at an edge of a formation layer
US20020038705A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-04-04 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce a mixture with a selected hydrogen content
US20020040173A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-04-04 Rouffignac Eric Pierre De In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to pyrolyze a selected percentage of hydrocarbon material
US20020038710A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-04-04 Maher Kevin Albert In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation having a selected total organic carbon content
US20020038706A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-04-04 Etuan Zhang In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected vitrinite reflectance
US20020043367A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-04-18 Rouffignac Eric Pierre De In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to increase a permeability of the formation
US20020043365A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-04-18 Berchenko Ilya Emil In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected ratio of heat sources to production wells
US20020043405A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-04-18 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to produce hydrocarbons having a selected carbon number range
US20020046832A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-04-25 Etuan Zhang In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to convert a selected amount of total organic carbon into hydrocarbon products
US20020046837A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-04-25 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected oxygen content
US20020050357A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-05-02 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce formation fluids having a relatively low olefin content
US20020050356A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-05-02 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected oxygen content and/or selected O/C ratio
US20020053436A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-05-09 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to pyrolyze a selected percentage of hydrocarbon material
US20020057905A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-05-16 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce oxygen containing formation fluids
US20020062051A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-05-23 Wellington Scott L. In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected moisture content
US20020062959A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-05-30 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected atomic oxygen to carbon ratio
US20020084074A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-07-04 De Rouffignac Eric Pierre In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to increase a porosity of the formation
US20020096320A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-07-25 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a controlled heating rate
US20020104654A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-08-08 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to convert a selected total organic carbon content into hydrocarbon products
US20030006039A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2003-01-09 Etuan Zhang In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected vitrinite reflectance
US20030019626A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2003-01-30 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected hydrogen content and/or selected H/C ratio
US20030051872A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2003-03-20 De Rouffignac Eric Pierre In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with heat sources located at an edge of a coal layer
US20030075318A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2003-04-24 Keedy Charles Robert In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using substantially parallel formed wellbores
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
US20020029881A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-03-14 De Rouffignac Eric Pierre In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using conductor in conduit heat sources
US20110088904A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2011-04-21 De Rouffignac Eric Pierre In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US8225866B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2012-07-24 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
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
US8789586B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2014-07-29 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US6871707B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-03-29 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with carbon dioxide sequestration
US7096953B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-08-29 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using a movable heating element
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
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
US6588503B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-07-08 Shell Oil Company In Situ thermal processing of a coal formation to control product composition
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
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
US6591907B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-07-15 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected vitrinite reflectance
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
US20020033280A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-03-21 Schoeling Lanny Gene In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with carbon dioxide sequestration
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
US7011154B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-03-14 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a kerogen and liquid 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
US6994161B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-02-07 Kevin Albert Maher In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected moisture 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
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
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
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
US6607033B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-08-19 Shell Oil Company In Situ thermal processing of a coal formation to produce a condensate
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
US6609570B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-08-26 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation and ammonia production
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
US6913078B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-07-05 Shell Oil Company In Situ thermal processing of hydrocarbons within a relatively impermeable formation
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
US20020033256A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2002-03-21 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected hydrogen to carbon ratio
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
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
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
US20040015023A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2004-01-22 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce a hydrocarbon condensate
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
US6712135B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-03-30 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation in reducing environment
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
US6722431B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-04-20 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of hydrocarbons within a relatively permeable 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
US20040108111A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2004-06-10 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to increase a permeability/porosity of the formation
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
US7040397B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-05-09 Shell Oil Company Thermal processing of an oil shale formation to increase permeability of the 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
US20030079877A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-01 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation in a reducing environment
US7735935B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2010-06-15 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation containing carbonate minerals
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
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
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
US20100270015A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2010-10-28 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation
US20030102125A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-06-05 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation in a reducing environment
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
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
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
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
US20030098605A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-29 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation
US20030102130A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-06-05 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with quality control
US20030102124A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-06-05 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of a blending agent from a relatively permeable formation
US7096942B1 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-08-29 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation while controlling pressure
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
US20030116315A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-06-26 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation
US20030173078A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-09-18 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce a condensate
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
US6918442B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-07-19 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation in a reducing environment
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
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
US6923257B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-08-02 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce a condensate
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
US7055600B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-06-06 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with controlled production rate
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
US20030164239A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-09-04 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation in a reducing environment
US6951247B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-10-04 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using horizontal heat sources
US20030155111A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-08-21 Shell Oil Co In situ thermal processing of a tar sands formation
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
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
US6877555B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2005-04-12 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation while inhibiting coking
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
US7051807B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-05-30 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with quality control
US7051811B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-05-30 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing through an open wellbore in an oil shale formation
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
US7040400B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-05-09 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation using an open wellbore
US7040398B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-05-09 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation in a reducing environment
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
US20030131993A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-17 Etuan Zhang In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation with a selected property
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
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
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
US7004251B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-02-28 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing and remediation of an oil shale 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
US6981548B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-01-03 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation
US6997518B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-02-14 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing and solution mining of an oil shale formation
US6991036B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-01-31 Shell Oil Company Thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation
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
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
US6991033B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-01-31 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing while controlling pressure in an oil shale formation
US20030136559A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-24 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing while controlling pressure in an oil shale formation
US20030141066A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-07-31 Karanikas John Michael In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation while inhibiting coking
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
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
US6994169B2 (en) 2001-04-24 2006-02-07 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation with a selected property
US6686745B2 (en) 2001-07-20 2004-02-03 Shell Oil Company Apparatus and method for electrical testing of electrically heated pipe-in-pipe pipeline
US6739803B2 (en) 2001-07-20 2004-05-25 Shell Oil Company Method of installation of electrically heated pipe-in-pipe subsea pipeline
US20040060693A1 (en) * 2001-07-20 2004-04-01 Bass Ronald Marshall Annulus for electrically heated pipe-in-pipe subsea pipeline
US6714018B2 (en) 2001-07-20 2004-03-30 Shell Oil Company Method of commissioning and operating an electrically heated pipe-in-pipe subsea pipeline
US6707012B2 (en) 2001-07-20 2004-03-16 Shell Oil Company Power supply for electrically heated subsea pipeline
US20040040715A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2004-03-04 Wellington Scott Lee In situ production of a blending agent from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7128153B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-10-31 Shell Oil Company Treatment of a hydrocarbon containing formation after heating
US7156176B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2007-01-02 Shell Oil Company Installation and use of removable heaters in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7461691B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2008-12-09 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US20070209799A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2007-09-13 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery 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
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
US20030205378A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-11-06 Wellington Scott Lee In situ recovery from lean and rich zones in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US8627887B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2014-01-14 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
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
US20030201098A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-10-30 Karanikas John Michael In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation using one or more simulations
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
US7051808B1 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-05-30 Shell Oil Company Seismic monitoring of in situ conversion in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7077198B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-07-18 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation using barriers
US7077199B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-07-18 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of an oil reservoir formation
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
US7090013B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-08-15 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce heated fluids
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
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
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
US6688900B2 (en) 2002-06-25 2004-02-10 Shell Oil Company Insulating joint for electrically heated pipeline
US8224163B2 (en) 2002-10-24 2012-07-17 Shell Oil Company Variable frequency temperature limited heaters
US7121341B2 (en) 2002-10-24 2006-10-17 Shell Oil Company Conductor-in-conduit 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
US8224164B2 (en) 2002-10-24 2012-07-17 Shell Oil Company Insulated conductor temperature limited heaters
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
US8238730B2 (en) 2002-10-24 2012-08-07 Shell Oil Company High voltage temperature limited heaters
US6937030B2 (en) 2002-11-08 2005-08-30 Shell Oil Company Testing electrical integrity of electrically heated subsea pipelines
US20040100273A1 (en) * 2002-11-08 2004-05-27 Liney David J. Testing electrical integrity of electrically heated subsea pipelines
US7640980B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2010-01-05 Shell Oil Company Thermal processes for subsurface formations
US7942203B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2011-05-17 Shell Oil Company Thermal processes for subsurface formations
US8579031B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2013-11-12 Shell Oil Company Thermal processes for subsurface formations
US7121342B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2006-10-17 Shell Oil Company Thermal processes for subsurface formations
US7360588B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2008-04-22 Shell Oil Company Thermal processes for subsurface formations
US20050269093A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Sandberg Chester L Variable frequency temperature limited heaters
US7510000B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2009-03-31 Shell Oil Company Reducing viscosity of oil for production from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US8355623B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2013-01-15 Shell Oil Company 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
US7370704B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2008-05-13 Shell Oil Company Triaxial temperature limited heater
US20050269313A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Vinegar Harold J Temperature limited heaters with high power factors
US20050269090A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Vinegar Harold J Temperature limited heaters with thermally conductive fluid used to heat subsurface formations
US20050269077A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Sandberg Chester L Start-up of temperature limited heaters using direct current (DC)
US20050269092A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Vinegar Harold J Vacuum pumping of conductor-in-conduit heaters
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
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
US7490665B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2009-02-17 Shell Oil Company Variable frequency temperature limited heaters
US7320364B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2008-01-22 Shell Oil Company Inhibiting reflux in a heated well of an in situ conversion system
US7481274B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2009-01-27 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heaters with relatively constant current
US20050269095A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Fairbanks Michael D Inhibiting reflux in a heated well of an in situ conversion system
US7431076B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2008-10-07 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heaters using modulated DC power
US20050269088A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Vinegar Harold J Inhibiting effects of sloughing in wellbores
US7383877B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2008-06-10 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heaters with thermally conductive fluid used to heat subsurface formations
US20060289536A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2006-12-28 Vinegar Harold J Subsurface electrical heaters using nitride insulation
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)
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
US20070133961A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-06-14 Fairbanks Michael D Methods and systems for producing fluid from an in situ conversion process
US20070045265A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-03-01 Mckinzie Billy J Ii Low temperature barriers with heat interceptor wells for in situ processes
US7575053B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2009-08-18 Shell Oil Company Low temperature monitoring system for subsurface barriers
US7575052B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2009-08-18 Shell Oil Company In situ conversion process utilizing a closed loop heating system
US20070045266A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-03-01 Sandberg Chester L In situ conversion process utilizing a closed loop heating system
US20070045267A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-03-01 Vinegar Harold J Subsurface connection methods for subsurface heaters
US7860377B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2010-12-28 Shell Oil Company Subsurface connection methods for subsurface heaters
US20070108200A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-05-17 Mckinzie Billy J Ii Low temperature barrier wellbores formed using water flushing
US8233782B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2012-07-31 Shell Oil Company Grouped exposed metal heaters
US8230927B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2012-07-31 Shell Oil Company Methods and systems for producing fluid from an in situ conversion process
US7546873B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2009-06-16 Shell Oil Company Low temperature barriers for use with in situ processes
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
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
US20080217321A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2008-09-11 Vinegar Harold J Temperature limited heater utilizing non-ferromagnetic conductor
US7831134B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2010-11-09 Shell Oil Company Grouped exposed metal heaters
US20070119098A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-05-31 Zaida Diaz Treatment of gas from an in situ conversion process
US7527094B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2009-05-05 Shell Oil Company Double barrier system for an in situ conversion process
US20070137856A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-06-21 Mckinzie Billy J Double barrier system for an in situ conversion process
US8224165B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2012-07-17 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heater utilizing non-ferromagnetic conductor
US7435037B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2008-10-14 Shell Oil Company Low temperature barriers with heat interceptor wells for in situ processes
US7986869B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2011-07-26 Shell Oil Company Varying properties along lengths of temperature limited heaters
US7942197B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2011-05-17 Shell Oil Company Methods and systems for producing fluid from an in situ conversion process
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
US20070144732A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-06-28 Kim Dong S Low temperature barriers for use with in situ processes
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
US7500528B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2009-03-10 Shell Oil Company Low temperature barrier wellbores formed using water flushing
US7584789B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-09-08 Shell Oil Company Methods of cracking a crude product to produce additional crude products
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
US20070095536A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-05-03 Vinegar Harold J Cogeneration systems and processes for treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US7635025B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-12-22 Shell Oil Company 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
US20070131420A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-06-14 Weijian Mo Methods of cracking a crude product to produce additional crude products
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
US20070221377A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-09-27 Vinegar Harold J Solution mining systems and methods for treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US7581589B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-09-01 Shell Oil Company Methods of producing alkylated hydrocarbons from an in situ heat treatment process liquid
US20070127897A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-06-07 John Randy C Subsurface heaters with low sulfidation rates
US20070125533A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-06-07 Minderhoud Johannes K Methods of hydrotreating a liquid stream to remove clogging compounds
US8606091B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2013-12-10 Shell Oil Company Subsurface heaters with low sulfidation rates
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
US20080107577A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2008-05-08 Vinegar Harold J Varying heating in dawsonite zones in hydrocarbon containing formations
US7549470B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-06-23 Shell Oil Company 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
US7556096B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-07-07 Shell Oil Company Varying heating in dawsonite zones in hydrocarbon containing formations
US7559368B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-07-14 Shell Oil Company Solution mining systems and methods for treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US7559367B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-07-14 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heater with a conduit substantially electrically isolated from the formation
US7610962B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-11-03 Shell Oil Company Sour gas injection for use with in situ heat treatment
US20080035347A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-02-14 Brady Michael P Adjusting alloy compositions for selected properties in temperature limited heaters
US7866385B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2011-01-11 Shell Oil Company Power systems utilizing the heat of produced formation fluid
US20080173442A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-07-24 Vinegar Harold J Sulfur barrier for use with in situ processes for treating formations
US8857506B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2014-10-14 Shell Oil Company Alternate energy source usage methods 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
US20080173444A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-07-24 Francis Marion Stone Alternate energy source usage for in situ heat treatment processes
US7683296B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2010-03-23 Shell Oil Company Adjusting alloy compositions for selected properties in temperature limited heaters
US7631689B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-12-15 Shell Oil Company Sulfur barrier for use with in situ processes for treating formations
US7533719B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-05-19 Shell Oil Company Wellhead with non-ferromagnetic materials
US20080173450A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-07-24 Bernard Goldberg Time sequenced heating of multiple layers in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US20100272595A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2010-10-28 Shell Oil Company High strength alloys
US7912358B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2011-03-22 Shell Oil Company Alternate energy source usage for in situ heat treatment processes
US7793722B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2010-09-14 Shell Oil Company Non-ferromagnetic overburden casing
US20080035348A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-02-14 Vitek John M Temperature limited heaters using phase transformation of ferromagnetic material
US20080038144A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-02-14 Maziasz Phillip J High strength alloys
US7597147B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-10-06 Shell Oil Company Temperature limited heaters using phase transformation of ferromagnetic material
US7604052B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-10-20 Shell Oil Company Compositions produced using an in situ heat treatment process
US7673786B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2010-03-09 Shell Oil Company Welding shield for coupling heaters
US20080035705A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-02-14 Menotti James L Welding shield for coupling heaters
US20080174115A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-07-24 Gene Richard Lambirth Power systems utilizing the heat of produced formation fluid
US8192682B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2012-06-05 Shell Oil Company High strength alloys
US7785427B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2010-08-31 Shell Oil Company High strength alloys
US8083813B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2011-12-27 Shell Oil Company Methods of producing transportation fuel
US20080035346A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-02-14 Vijay Nair Methods of producing transportation fuel
US7635023B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2009-12-22 Shell Oil Company Time sequenced heating of multiple layers in a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7730946B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-06-08 Shell Oil Company Treating tar sands formations with dolomite
US20080142216A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-06-19 Vinegar Harold J Treating tar sands formations with dolomite
US7631690B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2009-12-15 Shell Oil Company Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a spiral startup staged sequence
US20080128134A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-06-05 Ramesh Raju Mudunuri Producing drive fluid in situ in tar sands formations
US20080135253A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-06-12 Vinegar Harold J Treating tar sands formations with karsted zones
US20080135254A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-06-12 Vinegar Harold J In situ heat treatment process utilizing a closed loop heating system
US7644765B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-01-12 Shell Oil Company Heating tar sands formations while controlling pressure
US8555971B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2013-10-15 Shell Oil Company Treating tar sands formations with dolomite
US7673681B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-03-09 Shell Oil Company Treating tar sands formations with karsted zones
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
US20080135244A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-06-12 David Scott Miller Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a line drive staged process
US7681647B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-03-23 Shell Oil Company Method of producing drive fluid in situ 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
US7635024B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2009-12-22 Shell Oil Company Heating tar sands formations to visbreaking temperatures
US20090014181A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2009-01-15 Vinegar Harold J Creating and maintaining a gas cap in tar sands formations
US7562707B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2009-07-21 Shell Oil Company Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a line drive staged process
US7703513B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-04-27 Shell Oil Company Wax barrier for use with in situ processes for treating formations
US7540324B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2009-06-02 Shell Oil Company Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a checkerboard pattern staged process
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
US20080185147A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-08-07 Vinegar Harold J Wax barrier for use with in situ processes for treating formations
US7717171B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-05-18 Shell Oil Company Moving hydrocarbons through portions of tar sands formations with a fluid
US20080217015A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-09-11 Vinegar Harold J Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a spiral startup staged sequence
US7730947B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2010-06-08 Shell Oil Company Creating fluid injectivity in 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
US20100276141A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2010-11-04 Shell Oil Company Creating fluid injectivity in tar sands formations
US20080217004A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-09-11 De Rouffignac Eric Pierre Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a checkerboard pattern staged process
US8191630B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2012-06-05 Shell Oil Company Creating fluid injectivity in tar sands formations
US20080217003A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-09-11 Myron Ira Kuhlman Gas injection to inhibit migration during an in situ heat treatment process
US20080277113A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-11-13 George Leo Stegemeier Heating tar sands formations while controlling pressure
US20090014180A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2009-01-15 George Leo Stegemeier Moving hydrocarbons through portions of tar sands formations with a fluid
US8791396B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2014-07-29 Shell Oil Company Floating insulated conductors 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
US20090071652A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-03-19 Vinegar Harold J In situ heat treatment from multiple layers of a tar sands formation
US20090078461A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-03-26 Arthur James Mansure Drilling subsurface wellbores with cutting structures
US8042610B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2011-10-25 Shell Oil Company Parallel heater system for subsurface formations
US20090084547A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-04-02 Walter Farman Farmayan Downhole burner systems and methods for heating subsurface formations
US20090090509A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-04-09 Vinegar Harold J In situ recovery from residually heated sections in a hydrocarbon containing formation
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
US20090095477A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-04-16 Scott Vinh Nguyen Heating systems for heating subsurface formations
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
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
US20090120646A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-05-14 Dong Sub Kim Electrically isolating insulated conductor heater
US7841408B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2010-11-30 Shell Oil Company In situ heat treatment from multiple layers of a tar sands formation
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
US9181780B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2015-11-10 Shell Oil Company Controlling and assessing pressure conditions during treatment of tar sands formations
US8327681B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2012-12-11 Shell Oil Company Wellbore manufacturing processes for in situ heat treatment processes
US7950453B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2011-05-31 Shell Oil Company Downhole burner systems and methods 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
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
US8381815B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2013-02-26 Shell Oil Company Production from multiple zones of a tar sands formation
US7931086B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2011-04-26 Shell Oil Company Heating systems for heating subsurface formations
US20090194329A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-06 Rosalvina Ramona Guimerans Methods for forming wellbores in heated formations
US8196658B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-06-12 Shell Oil Company Irregular spacing of heat sources for treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US7866386B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2011-01-11 Shell Oil Company In situ oxidation of subsurface formations
US7866388B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2011-01-11 Shell Oil Company High temperature methods for forming oxidizer fuel
US20090189617A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-07-30 David Burns Continuous subsurface heater temperature measurement
US8011451B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2011-09-06 Shell Oil Company Ranging methods for developing wellbores in subsurface formations
US20090194524A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-06 Dong Sub Kim Methods for forming long subsurface heaters
US20090194269A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-06 Vinegar Harold J Three-phase heaters with common overburden sections for heating subsurface formations
US20090194282A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-06 Gary Lee Beer In situ oxidation of subsurface formations
US20090194333A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-06 Macdonald Duncan Ranging methods for developing wellbores in subsurface formations
US8113272B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-02-14 Shell Oil Company Three-phase heaters with common overburden sections for heating subsurface formations
US8146661B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-04-03 Shell Oil Company Cryogenic treatment of gas
US8146669B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-04-03 Shell Oil Company Multi-step heater deployment in a subsurface formation
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
US8162059B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-04-24 Shell Oil Company Induction heaters used to heat subsurface formations
US20090200025A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-08-13 Jose Luis Bravo High temperature methods for forming oxidizer fuel
US8536497B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2013-09-17 Shell Oil Company Methods for forming long subsurface heaters
US8276661B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-10-02 Shell Oil Company Heating subsurface formations by oxidizing fuel on a fuel carrier
US8272455B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-09-25 Shell Oil Company Methods for forming wellbores in heated formations
US8240774B2 (en) 2007-10-19 2012-08-14 Shell Oil Company Solution mining and in situ treatment of nahcolite beds
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
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
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
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
US8636323B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2014-01-28 Shell Oil Company Mines and tunnels for use in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing 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
US8162405B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2012-04-24 Shell Oil Company Using tunnels for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing 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
US20090260824A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2009-10-22 David Booth Burns Hydrocarbon production from mines and tunnels used in 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
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
US20100071904A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2010-03-25 Shell Oil Company Hydrocarbon production from mines and tunnels used in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US20100147522A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-06-17 Xueying Xie Systems and methods for treating a subsurface formation with electrical conductors
US9022118B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2015-05-05 Shell Oil Company Double insulated heaters for treating subsurface formations
US8281861B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2012-10-09 Shell Oil Company Circulated heated transfer fluid heating of subsurface hydrocarbon formations
US8267170B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2012-09-18 Shell Oil Company Offset barrier wells in subsurface formations
US20100108379A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-05-06 David Alston Edbury Systems and methods of forming subsurface wellbores
US8267185B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2012-09-18 Shell Oil Company Circulated heated transfer fluid systems used to treat a subsurface formation
US8353347B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2013-01-15 Shell Oil Company Deployment of insulated conductors for treating subsurface formations
US9129728B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2015-09-08 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods of forming subsurface wellbores
US9051829B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2015-06-09 Shell Oil Company Perforated electrical conductors for treating subsurface formations
US20100108310A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-05-06 Thomas David Fowler Offset barrier wells in subsurface formations
US8261832B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2012-09-11 Shell Oil Company Heating subsurface formations with fluids
US8256512B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2012-09-04 Shell Oil Company Movable heaters for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US20100147521A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-06-17 Xueying Xie Perforated electrical conductors for treating subsurface formations
US20100089584A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-04-15 David Booth Burns Double insulated heaters for treating subsurface formations
US20100089586A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-04-15 John Andrew Stanecki Movable heaters for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US20100096137A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-04-22 Scott Vinh Nguyen Circulated heated transfer fluid heating of subsurface hydrocarbon formations
US20100206570A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-08-19 Ernesto Rafael Fonseca Ocampos Circulated heated transfer fluid systems used to treat a subsurface formation
US20100101783A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-04-29 Vinegar Harold J Using self-regulating nuclear reactors in treating a subsurface formation
US8881806B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2014-11-11 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for treating a subsurface formation with electrical conductors
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
US20100224368A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-09-09 Stanley Leroy Mason Deployment of insulated conductors for treating subsurface formations
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
US8448707B2 (en) 2009-04-10 2013-05-28 Shell Oil Company Non-conducting heater casings
US8327932B2 (en) 2009-04-10 2012-12-11 Shell Oil Company Recovering energy from a subsurface formation
US20100258291A1 (en) * 2009-04-10 2010-10-14 Everett De St Remey Edward Heated liners for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US20100258290A1 (en) * 2009-04-10 2010-10-14 Ronald Marshall Bass 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
US8434555B2 (en) 2009-04-10 2013-05-07 Shell Oil Company Irregular pattern treatment of 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
US8833453B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-09-16 Shell Oil Company Electrodes for electrical current flow heating of subsurface formations with tapered copper thickness
US9127538B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2015-09-08 Shell Oil Company Methodologies for treatment of hydrocarbon formations using staged pyrolyzation
US8739874B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-06-03 Shell Oil Company Methods for heating with slots in hydrocarbon formations
US8875788B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-11-04 Shell Oil Company Low temperature inductive heating of subsurface formations
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
US8701769B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-04-22 Shell Oil Company Methods for treating hydrocarbon formations based on geology
US8631866B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-01-21 Shell Oil Company Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface 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
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
US2714930A (en) Apparatus for preventing paraffin deposition
US2781851A (en) Well tubing heater system
US4716960A (en) Method and system for introducing electric current into a well
US4662437A (en) Electrically stimulated well production system with flexible tubing conductor
US3149672A (en) Method and apparatus for electrical heating of oil-bearing formations
US4570715A (en) Formation-tailored method and apparatus for uniformly heating long subterranean intervals at high temperature
US3207220A (en) Electric well heater
CA2152521C (en) Low flux leakage cables and cable terminations for a.c. electrical heating of oil deposits
US2660249A (en) Means for heating oil wells
US3137347A (en) In situ electrolinking of oil shale
US4730671A (en) Viscous oil recovery using high electrical conductive layers
US3133592A (en) Apparatus for the application of electrical energy to subsurface formations
US4484627A (en) Well completion for electrical power transmission
US6112808A (en) Method and apparatus for subterranean thermal conditioning
US3620300A (en) Method and apparatus for electrically heating a subsurface formation
EP0317719A1 (en) Heating systems for boreholes
US4911239A (en) Method and apparatus for removal of oil well paraffin
US2463590A (en) Weight-carrying cable
US3589442A (en) Well shock device
RU2569102C1 (en) Method for removal of deposits and prevention of their formation in oil well and device for its implementation
US4783585A (en) Downhole electric steam or hot water generator for oil wells
US3208521A (en) Recompletion of wells
US1970295A (en) Apparatus for treating well fluids
US2808110A (en) Oil well heater
US10822934B1 (en) Apparatus and method of focused in-situ electrical heating of hydrocarbon bearing formations