CN100359128C - Inhibiting wellbore deformation during in situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation (122) is described. The method may include providing' heat from one or more heaters (128) to at least a portion of the formation. At least one heater may be located in at least one wellbore (120) in the formation. At least one wellbore may be sized, at least in part, based on a determination of formation expansion caused by heating of the formation so that formation expansion caused by heating of the formation is not sufficient to cause substantial deformation of one or more heaters in the sized wellbores. The ratio of the outside diameter of a heater to the inside diameter of a wellbore may be less than about 0.75. In certain embodiments, heat may be allowed to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation. In some embodiments, a mixture may be produced from the formation.

Description

The method that in hydrocarbon containing formation being carried out heat treatment process on the spot, stops hole-size elongation

Technical field

Present invention relates in general to a kind of being used for from the method and system of hydrocarbon containing formation exploration of hydrocarbons thing, hydrogen and/or other product.Some embodiment of the present invention relates to the scheme that stops the heater well to deform in hydrocarbon containing formation being carried out processing procedure (in situ treatment) on the spot.

Background technology

From subterranean strata (for example sedimentary rock) adopt hydrocarbon be often used as the energy, raw material and the consumer goods.For consideration to several respects factor, people have proposed much can more effectively exploit, handle and/or utilize the method for the obtainable hydrocarbon energy, Consideration wherein is: the obtainable hydro carbons energy is exhausted day by day, and adopt the overall quality level of hydrocarbon in continuous decline.Processing method can be used to exploit out hydrocarbons from subterranean strata on the spot.The chemistry of the hydrocarbons in the subterranean strata and/or physical property may need to change, so that hydrocarbons can more easily extraction from subterranean strata.Chemistry and change physically can comprise situ reaction, and this situ reaction can form the fluid that can be exploited out, and component, solubility, density, phase and/or the viscosity of hydrocarbons in the stratum are changed.Fluid can be (but being not limited to) gas, liquid, emulsion, stream slurry and/or the solid granulates stream that has similar flow behavior with liquid stream.

In people's such as No. 2923535 United States Patent (USP) authorizing Ljungstrom and Van Meurs No. 4886118 United States Patent (USP), the patent application that oil shale formation is heated has been described.Can heat the kerogen pyrolysis that makes in the oil shale formation to oil shale formation.Heating also can make the stratum produce the crack, so that increase the permeability on stratum.The increase of permeability makes formation fluid can flow in the producing well, and in producing well, fluid is extracted away from oil shale formation.In disclosed certain methods by Ljungstrom, for example oxygen containing gaseous medium is introduced in permeable rock stratum, preferably, also utilize a preheating step that heat is provided simultaneously, to cause burning.

Method for destructive distillation to hydrocarbon containing formation can be divided into two kinds of main types basically: (ground) destructive distillation on the ground and underground (on the spot) destructive distillation.Ground cracking process to hydrocarbon containing formation generally will relate to mining and make up the canister that can tolerate high temperature.The quality of the crude oil that this cracking process is produced is relatively poor usually, thereby need increase into the grade of original raising crude oil.Owing to will carry out digging, transportation, processing and/or disposal by the destructive distillation material, on the ground so cracking process also can be brought adverse effect to environment and water source.Many United States Patent (USP)s all disclose and have related to the oil shale technical scheme of cracking process on the ground.By way of example, at present feasible ground distillation process comprise directly, indirect and/or combined type heating means.

Cracking process generally includes such scheme on the spot: underground hydrocarbon containing formation is carried out destructive distillation, and need not to utilize digging operation that hydrocarbon-containing formation is shifted out from underground.Generally need carry out certain digging operation through the method on the spot of changing, so that in some destructive distillation chambers of underground formation.A kind of modification example of cracking process comprises the method for being developed by Occidental Petroleum on the spot, this method comprises following operation: about 20% oil shale digging in the stratum is come out, and with broken remaining oil shale of explosion method, so that fill the zone of being excavated out, and utilize gravity smooth combustion (gravity stable combustion) to come combusting oil shale, in gravity smooth combustion, cause burning from the top of dry distillation area.Other remodeling example of cracking process comprises " rubble in site recovery " method developed by LawrenceLivermore laboratory (" LLL ") (Rubble InSitu Extraction[RISE]) and the radio frequency method of being developed with LLL by the academy (" IITRI ") of the Illinois Institute of Technology on the spot, these two kinds of methods will relate to such operation: pick is holed and the horizontal lane of digging, so that the radio-frequency antenna array is installed in oil shale formation.

Because hydrocarbon containing formation may not have permeability basically, so it will be difficult making hydrocarbon containing formation (for example injecting between well and the producing well) have permeability.A lot of methods are devoted to injection well and producing well are coupled together, and these methods comprise: waterpower crushing method, these class methods for example are the methods that is proposed by Dow Chemical company and Laramie Energy research center; Electric power crushing method (for example method that proposes by Laramie Energy research center); The acid-hatching of young eggs (for example method that works out by Dow Chemical company) to the lime cave; To permeable nahcolite zone steam in jection so that the method for dissociation of nahcolite (for example method that proposes by the Shell Oil Company and Equity oil company); Utilize chemical explosion to carry out broken method (for example method of developing by Talley Energy Systems); Utilize nuclear explosion to carry out broken method (for example method of developing by Project Bronco); And the assembled scheme of these methods.But the operation cost of a lot of schemes is higher in these methods, and lacks enough injectabilities.

Authorize Dougan and introduced a kind of example of method for destructive distillation on the spot by being transferred the possession of in No. 3241611 United States Patent (USP) of Equity oil company.For example, Dougan has disclosed a kind of like this method, and it has adopted such measure: utilize natural gas to carry to the stratum and decompose kerogenic heat.Natural gas after the heating can be used as the solvent that kerogen is carried out thermal decomposition.Natural gas after the heating carries out solvent-gas to oil shale and proposes effect by seeing through the hole in the oil shale.Upwards flow through recovery well with catabolite steam and gas and enter into product exploitation pipeline as the natural gas fluid of carrier, and enter and flow through and be arranged on condenser on this pipeline, in this condenser, analyte steam generation condensation, only stay the natural gas carrier fluid heater of flowing through, and flow into the injection well that in oil page or leaf sedimentary rock, gets out.

That summarizes as mentioned is such, and people have carried out a large amount of effort and come the method and system of recovery of hydrocarbons, hydrogen and/or other product from hydrocarbon containing formation economically.But, still have hydrocarbon, hydrogen and/or other product in a lot of hydrocarbon containing formations to be exploited economically at present.Thereby, still need exploitation method and system are improved, so that can from various hydrocarbon containing formations, exploit out hydro carbons, hydrogen and/or other product.

Summary of the invention

In one embodiment, a kind of method that is used for hydrocarbon containing formation is handled can comprise operation: from least one the part heat supply to the stratum of one or more heaters.Be provided with at least one heater at least one well in the stratum.Determine by ground layer for heating being made the swell increment of its generation, at least on part, design based on the size of the stratum swell increment of being determined at least one well, the stratum swell increment deficiency that is produced produces significant deformation so that be arranged in one or more heaters of the well of this process size design so that the stratum is heated.Ratio between heater external diameter and the well internal diameter can be less than about 0.75.In some embodiments, allow heat to pass to the part stratum from one or more heaters.In some embodiments, can from the stratum, exploit out mixture.

Description of drawings

After the reference accompanying drawing had been read hereinafter to detailed description of the preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art can clearly realize that advantage of the present invention more, in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 has represented each stage that hydrocarbon containing formation is heated;

Schematic diagram among Fig. 2 has been represented an embodiment of a part in the conversion system on the spot, and this system is used for hydrocarbon containing formation is handled;

Fig. 3 has represented a kind of embodiment of heater, and this heater is arranged in a bore hole well (open wellbore), this well be in have one be rich in the layer hydrocarbon containing formation in;

Fig. 4 has represented a kind of embodiment of heater, and this heater is arranged in a bore hole well, and this well is in and has one and expand and to be rich in the hydrocarbon containing formation of layer;

Calculating chart among Fig. 5 has been represented well change in radius and the relation of bore hole well between heat time heating time;

Calculating chart among Fig. 6 has been represented well change in radius and the relation of bore hole well between heat time heating time;

Fig. 7 has represented a kind of embodiment of heater, and this heater is arranged in the bore hole well of a hydrocarbon containing formation, and the well of expanding part is rich in layer near one;

Fig. 8 has represented to be arranged in a kind of embodiment of the heater of a bore hole well, wherein, is provided with a bushing pipe in the well;

Fig. 9 has represented to be arranged in a kind of embodiment of the heater of a bore hole well, wherein, is provided with a bushing pipe in the well, and expands and replacing bushing pipe in the stratum;

Figure 10 has represented the relation between maximum stress and hole dimension and the abundance, and this relation is used in the calculating that the bore hole well is heated;

Vertical view among Figure 11 has represented to be used for a kind of embodiment of the array of heater that hydrocarbon containing formation is heated;

Vertical view among Figure 12 has represented to be used for a kind of embodiment of the array of heater that hydrocarbon containing formation is heated;

Figure 13 has represented collapse relation between flat intensity and residue down-hole diameter and the bushing pipe external diameter of radial stresses and bushing pipe; And

Figure 14 has represented collapse relation between flat intensity and the ratio of radial stresses and conduit, and this ratio is the ratio between conduit external diameter and the initial borehole diameter of hydrocarbon containing formation.

The specific embodiment

Although can make multiple change and replacement form to the present invention, accompanying drawing has been represented some concrete embodiments of the present invention illustratively, and in the text it at length is described.Accompanying drawing may be a disproportion.But; be to be understood that: accompanying drawing and detailed description are not used for the present invention is defined as particular forms disclosed; but in contrast; the present invention will cover all modification, equivalent and replacement scheme; as long as it drops in design philosophy of the present invention and the protection domain, scope of the present invention is limited by the accompanying Claim book.

Following description basically at be to be used for system and method that hydrocarbon containing formation is handled.These stratum are processed into can higher hydrocarbon products, hydrogen and the other products of output quality.

" hydrocarbon " is defined as the material that its molecule mainly is made up of carbon atom and hydrogen atom basically.Hydrocarbon also can comprise other element, for example includes, but is not limited to halogen, metallic element, nitrogen, oxygen and/or sulphur.Hydrocarbon can be (but being not limited to) kerogen, pitch, pyrobitumen, crude oil, natural minerals is cured and asphaltite.Hydrocarbon may be located on or near in the mineral substrate in the earth.Mineral substrate can include, but is not limited to sedimentary rock, layer of sand, silicilyte, carbonate, kieselguhr and other porous media." hydrocarbon fluid " is meant the fluid that contains hydro carbons.Can comprise, carry secretly or be entrained in some non-hydrocarbons fluid (hydrogen " H for example in the hydrocarbon fluid ₂", nitrogen " N ₂", carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, water and ammonia) in.

One " stratum " can comprise one or more hydrocarbon bearing formations, one or more non-hydrocarbon bearing formation, overlying rock and/or underlying stratum." overlying rock " and/or " underlying stratum " comprises the impermeable materials that one or more are dissimilar.For example, overlying rock and/or underlying stratum can comprise rock, shale, mud stone or moisture/tight carbonate (promptly not the impermeability carbonate of hydrocarbonaceous).In some embodiment of conversion process on the spot, overlying rock and/or underlying stratum comprise one or more layers hydrocarbon bearing formation, the permeability of these hydrocarbon bearing formations is relatively poor relatively, and it can not be subjected to Temperature Influence in conversion processing process on the spot, thereby significant the variation takes place in the characteristic of hydrocarbon bearing formation in overlying rock and/or the underlying stratum.For example, may comprise shale and mud stone in the underlying stratum.In some cases, overlying rock and/or underlying stratum can have permeability slightly.

" kerogen " is meant solid-state, undissolvable hydrocarbon, and it is changed by natural aging effect (for example lithification), and it mainly comprises carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and element sulphur.Can contain kerogen in the hydrocarbon containing formation." pitch " is the hydrocarbons of a kind of non-crystal solid or viscosity, its basically solubilized in carbon disulfide." crude oil " is meant the fluid that wherein contains the condensable hydrocarbon mixture.

Term " formation fluid " and " production fluid " are meant the fluid of extraction from hydrocarbon containing formation, and it comprises hydro carbons and water (steam) after pyrolyzation fluid, forming gas, liquidation are handled.Term " liquidation fluid " is meant some fluids in the stratum, and it is owing to heat treatment being carried out on the stratum and can being flowed.Formation fluid comprises hydrocarbon fluid and non-hydrocarbons fluid.

" carbon number " is meant the number of carbon atom in the molecular formula.Can comprise various hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon fluid with different carbon numbers.Can hydrocarbon fluid be described according to the distribution of carbon number.Can utilize true boiling point (TBP) distribution and/or gas-liquid chromatography to determine the distribution of carbon number and/or carbon number.

" thermal source " is meant any mainly by conduction of heat and/or the radiant heat transfer system at least one part transfer heat on stratum.For example, thermal source can comprise electric heater-for example be insulated conductor, the elongate articles of processing and/or be arranged on conductor in the pipeline.Thermal source also comprise by in the outside, stratum or internal-combustion fuel produce the thermal source of heat, such thermal source for example is face of land combustion furnace, downhole gas burner, the distributed burner of nonflame and NATURAL DISTRIBUTION formula burner.Thermal source also comprises such heater: its near and/or around the heating place the zone heat is provided, for example be heater well.

" heater " be meant any can be in well or the well near zone produce the system of heat.Heater can be but be not limited to electric heater, combustion furnace, with the stratum in the burner (for example NATURAL DISTRIBUTION formula burner) that reacts of material or output object and/or the combining form of these heaters." heat source unit " is meant the thermal source of some, and they have constituted a primitive (template), repeats these primitives and just can form an array of heat sources in the stratum.

Term " well " is meant by creeping in the stratum or pipeline being inserted in the stratum and the eyelet that forms in the stratum.It is circular that the cross section of well is essentially, and perhaps also can be other shape (for example circular, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, slit shape or Else Rule or irregular shape).In the linguistic context of this paper, if be meant perforate in the stratum, then term " well ", " wellhole " can be exchanged with term " well " and be used.

" pyrolysis " is meant owing to applying the situation that heat makes chemical bond rupture.For example, pyrolysis can comprise operation: only utilize heat that a kind of compound is changed into one or more other materials.Can cause pyrolysis to the ground layer for heating in certain zone.

" pyrolyzation fluid " or " pyrolysis product " is meant it mainly is fluid hydro carbons being carried out produce in the pyrolytic process.May be admixed together by the fluid that pyrolytic reaction produces with other fluid in the stratum.This mixture also can be counted as pyrolyzation fluid or pyrolysis product.In the linguistic context of this paper, " pyrolysis zone " is meant and reacted or react and form the stratum volume of pyrolyzation fluid.

" heat stack " is meant by the selection area of two or more thermals source to the stratum heat is provided, so that make the formation temperature of at least one position between each thermal source be subjected to the influence of each thermal source.

" fluid pressure " is meant the pressure that fluid produced in the stratum." lithostatic pressure " (being also sometimes referred to as the rock static stress) is meant the pressure that inside, stratum is produced by top rock weight, and it equals the weight of rock in the unit area." static pressure " is meant in the stratum by the water column applied pressure.

" condensable hydro carbons " is meant at condensable hydro carbons during at 25 ℃ under the barometric absolute pressure.Condensable hydro carbons can comprise that carbon number is greater than 4 hydrocarbon mixture." not condensable hydrocarbons class " is meant at hydrocarbon that can condensation under the barometric absolute pressure and under 25 ℃ of conditions.Can not comprise carbon number in the condensable hydrocarbons class less than 5 hydro carbons thing.

" heavy hydrocarbon " is meant the hydrocarbon fluid of viscosity.Heavy hydrocarbon can comprise full-bodied hydrocarbon fluid, for example heavy oil, tar and/or pitch.Sulphur, oxygen and the nitrogen that can comprise carbon, hydrogen and small concentration in the heavy hydrocarbons.The trace element that also can comprise other in the heavy hydrocarbon.Can come heavy hydrocarbon is classified according to API severe.The API severe of heavy hydrocarbon is generally less than 20 °.For example, the API severe of heavy oil generally is about 10-20 °, and the API severe of tar is generally less than 10 °.The viscosity of heavy hydrocarbon on 15 ℃ is generally greater than 100 centipoises.Heavy hydrocarbons also can comprise aromatic hydrocarbons or other complicated cyclic hydrocarbon.

Can handle hydro carbons in the stratum with the different product of the many kinds of output according to multiple mode.In some embodiments, can handle the stratum by stages.Fig. 1 has represented several stages that hydrocarbon containing formation is heated.A kind of exemplary relation between the formation fluid output (y axle, oil equivalent barrelage/ton) that Fig. 1 has also expressed hydrocarbon containing formation and the formation temperature (x axle, unit ℃).

In the heating process of phase I, remove the methane of absorption and evaporate the water.Heating to the stratum should make it pass through the stage 1 as quickly as possible.For example, at the initial stage to the hydrocarbon containing formation heating, the hydro carbons in the stratum falls adsorbed methane with desorption.The methane that desorption falls can be come out by exploitation from the stratum.If hydrocarbon containing formation is further heated, then the water in the hydrocarbon containing formation can be evaporated.In some hydrocarbon containing formation, water in the formation pore volume shared ratio between 10%-50%.In other stratum, shared part can be greater or lesser in the formation pore volume for water.Under the condition of the pressure of 70 bars absolute, in 160 ℃ to 285 ℃ scope, the water in the stratum is vaporized usually in about 6 bars absolute.In some embodiments, the water after the vaporization can make the humidity on stratum change and/or increase strata pressure.The change of humidity and/or the increase of pressure may influence pyrolytic reaction or other reaction in the stratum.In some embodiments, the water after the vaporization can be come out by exploitation from the stratum.In the other embodiment, vaporize water can be used to carry out in the stratum or outside the stratum gas and carry and/or distill.Water removed away from the stratum and increase the space that the voids volume on stratum can increase storage hydro carbons in the hole.

After stage 1 heating, can heat further the stratum, so that the temperature in the stratum (at least) reaches pyrolysis initial temperature (for example lower limit of temperature range shown in the stage 2 among the figure).In the whole process in stage 2, the hydro carbons in the stratum all is carried out pyrolysis.The scope of pyrolysis temperature can be with the difference of hydrocarbon types in the stratum difference.Pyrolysis temperature range can comprise the temperature between about 250 ℃ to 900 ℃.The pyrolysis temperature range that is used to form required product only accounts for a part in the total pyro lysis temperature temperature range.In some embodiments, the pyrolysis temperature range that is used to form required product comprises the temperature between about 250 ℃ to 400 ℃.If the temperature of hydrocarbon slowly rises and about 250 ℃-400 ℃ temperature range of process in the stratum, then when temperature reached 400 ℃, the production of pyrolysis product was sufficient basically.Utilize a plurality of thermals source that hydrocarbon containing formation is heated and can set up thermal gradient around thermal source, this thermal gradient can raise the temperature of hydro carbons in the stratum lentamente, comes through pyrolysis temperature range with this.

On the spot in the embodiment of conversion method, the temperature that be carried out the hydro carbons of pyrolysis is not to rise lentamente in about 250 ℃ to 400 ℃ whole temperature range at some.Hydro carbons in the stratum can be heated to a desirable temperature (for example about 325 ℃).The temperature that also can select other is as ideal temperature.The heat stack of many thermals source makes the temperature in the stratum comparatively fast and effectively reach temperature required.Can be to regulating to the energy of stratum input, so that the temperature in the stratum is remained on the required temperature substantially from thermal source.Hydro carbons can be remained essentially on the required temperature, till the pyrolytic reaction decline, the operation that can avoid thus producing required formation fluid from the stratum becomes uneconomical.The ground layer segment that pyrolysis takes place can comprise some zones like this: it is heated to pyrolysis temperature owing to receiving the heat that only transmits from a thermal source.

The formation fluid that comprises pyrolyzation fluid can be come out by exploitation from the stratum.Pyrolyzation fluid can include, but is not limited to: the mixture of hydrocarbon, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, nitrogen, water and these materials.Along with the rising of formation temperature, the condensable hydro carbons that is pooled in the formation production fluid is tending towards increasing.On very high temperature, most of product of producing from the stratum is methane and/or hydrogen.Passed through whole pyrolysis range if hydrocarbon containing formation is heated to, then in the process of the convergence pyrolysis range upper limit, a spot of hydrogen can only be produced in the stratum.After all obtainable hydrogen were collected, the situation of output small volume of fluid product from the stratum can appear usually.

After hydro carbons is carried out pyrolysis, can there be a large amount of carbon and a certain amount of hydrogen in the stratum.The overwhelming majority of residue carbon exploits from the stratum with the form of forming gas in the stratum.In Fig. 1, in the heating process of phase III, produce forming gas.Stage 3 can comprise operation: hydrocarbon containing formation is heated to the temperature that is enough to produce forming gas.For example, in about 400 ℃ to 1200 ℃ temperature range, can produce forming gas.When the fluid that can produce forming gas was introduced in the stratum, the temperature on stratum had just determined the constituent of the forming gas that produces in the stratum.Be introduced in its temperature and be enough to produce in the stratum of forming gas if can produce the fluid of forming gas, then in this stratum, will produce forming gas.Can utilize one or more producing wells that the forming gas that produces is gone out clearly from the stratum.In the process that produces forming gas, can a large amount of forming gas of output.

In the whole process of pyrolysis and generation forming gas, the total energy content of the fluid of exploiting out from hydrocarbon containing formation may keep comparatively constantly.In the lower pyrolytic process of formation temperature, the overwhelming majority of produced fluid is the very high condensable hydrocarbons of energy content.Yet under higher pyrolysis temperature, formation fluid seldom can comprise condensable hydrocarbons.The fluid that exploitation is come out from the stratum more is uncondensable formation fluid.In the process that produces main noncondensable formation fluid, the energy content in the produced fluid of unit volume will slightly reduce.In the process that produces forming gas, the energy content in the output forming gas of unit volume reduces significantly than the energy content of pyrolyzation fluid.But under a lot of actual conditions, the volume of the forming gas of producing will have greatly increased, and can compensate the decline of energy content thus.

Each hydrocarbon bearing formation in the stratum can have a potential formation fluid production capacity or an abundance.Also there is variation in the abundance of hydrocarbon bearing formation in same hydrocarbon bearing formation, and the abundance between the different hydrocarbon bearing formations also is different in the stratum.Abundance depends on several factors, and these factors comprise: the formation condition of hydrocarbon bearing formation; Hydrocarbon content in the layer; And/or the component of hydro carbons in the layer.Can estimate the abundance of hydrocarbon bearing formation according to multiple mode.The analytic approach of for example can expense having a rest is measured abundance.Taking the analytic approach of having a rest is a kind of method of standard, and its measure of taking is: the sample of hydrocarbon bearing formation is heated to about 500 ℃ in one hour, collects the product of output from the sample that is heated, and the quantity of definite institute output product.Can utilize such as getting core or any other sampling method come to take out hydrocarbon bearing formation from hydrocarbon containing formation sample.

Conversion method can be used to handle its hydrocarbon bearing formation thickness approximately greater than the stratum of 10m on the spot.Thermal source can be arranged in thick stratum, thereby the heat that different heat sources is sent stacks up effectively, so that ground layer for heating is arrived required temperature.Also can handle at hydrocarbon bearing formation thickness less than the stratum of 10m with conversion method on the spot.In the stratum of thin hydrocarbon bearing formation being carried out some embodiment of conversion processing on the spot, thermal source is inserted in the hydrocarbon bearing formation or near it along the length direction (for example utilizing level or directional drilling measure) of hydrocarbon bearing formation.One or more thin hydrocarbon bearing formations are lost to the heat of upper layers or below layer and can be offset by the quantity and/or the quality of stratum institute produced fluid.

Fig. 2 has schematically shown the embodiment of the part of conversion system on the spot that is used for hydrocarbon containing formation is handled.Can at least one part of hydrocarbon containing formation, thermal source 108 be set.Thermal source 108 for example can comprise some electric heaters (it for example is insulated conductor), be arranged on heater, face of land combustion furnace, the distributed burner of nonflame and/or the NATURAL DISTRIBUTION formula burner of the conductor in the pipeline.Thermal source 108 also can comprise the heater of other type.Thermal source 108 provides heat at least one part of hydrocarbon containing formation.Can pass through 108 energy supplies of feed-line 110 heat source.Dissimilar according to the one or more thermals source that are used to heat the stratum, feed-line 110 can have different structures.The feed-line 110 of thermal source transmits electric energy to electric heater, to burner transfer the fuel then, perhaps also can carry the heat-exchange fluid that circulates in the stratum.

Producing well 112 is used to formation fluid is removed away from the stratum.The formation fluid that producing well 112 is produced is sent in the treatment facility 116 through collecting pipe 114.Formation fluid also can come out from thermal source 108 exploitations.For example, can be by thermal source 108 produced fluids, with near the pressure on the stratum control thermal source.Be sent to collecting pipe 114 from the fluid of thermal source 108 extraction through some pipelines or pipeline, perhaps, the fluid of extraction also can be by the road or pipeline directly send treatment facility 116 to.Treatment facility 116 can comprise separative element, reaction member, purifier units, fuel cell, turbine, holding vessel tower and other system and the unit that are used for the formation fluid of output is handled.

Be used for to comprise barrier wells 118 (barrierwell) to the conversion system on the spot that hydro carbons is handled.Barrier wells is used for forming a barrier around treatment region.But this barrier block fluid flow is gone into and/or is flowed out treatment region.Barrier wells can be (but being not limited to) catch pit (relief well), prisoner Ji Jing (capture well), inject well, grout wells or freezing well.In some embodiments, barrier wells 118 can be a catch pit.Catch pit can be removed aqueous water and/or stop aqueous water to enter into will to be heated or certain part of just heated hydrocarbon containing formation.A plurality of wells can be arranged on all or part of be heated the stratum around.In embodiment shown in Figure 2, catch pit only is represented as along a side of thermal source 108 and extends, but usually the catch pit ring round all maybe will being used of being used, be used to heat the thermal source 108 on stratum.

As shown in Figure 2, except thermal source 108, generally in this part of hydrocarbon containing formation, also be provided with one or more producing wells 112.Can formation fluid be exploited out from producing well 112.In some embodiments, can comprise a thermal source in the producing well 112.Thermal source can heat the ground layer segment of producing well place or close producing well, and allows vapor phase to discharge from formation fluid.Thereby can reduce or eliminate the requirement of the liquid in the producing well being carried out the high temperature pumping.Avoid or suppress significantly to reduce production costs to the high temperature pumping of liquid.In producing well place heating or utilize the producing well heating will bring following effect: (1) prevents that produced fluid from condensation and/or backflow taking place when flowing in the producing well of overlying rock; (2) heat that increases the stratum is imported; And/or (3) increase the permeability on stratum, producing well place or near stratum.In some embodiment of conversion method on the spot, flow to the heat of the heat of producing well far fewer than the thermal source of supplying with the heating stratum.

Some embodiment of conversion method can comprise such measure on the spot: by the first transfer heat of one or more thermals source to hydrocarbon containing formation.Can exploit out formation fluid from this first.Remain in the stratum below the hydrocarbon pyrolysis temperature by temperature, make this part stratum keep not pyrolysis state the second ground layer segment.In some embodiments, second portion stratum or its overwhelming majority are keeping the state that is not heated.

The second portion of pyrolysis can not be close to the first stratum that is subjected to pyrolytic reaction yet.The second portion stratum provides the structural strength on stratum.The second portion stratum can be between first and third part.Can from the third part stratum, exploit out formation fluid.Processed stratum can have certain array pattern, and this array pattern is similar to candy strip or checkerboard pattern, and this pattern has the pyrolysis part and the non-pyrolysis part of arranged alternate.In some embodiment of conversion method on the spot, can in stratum, keep some and not be subjected to the bar district of pyrolysis processing through conversion processing on the spot.

In the stratum, be subjected to non-pyrolysis ground layer segment in the pyrolysis processing section to can be the stratum structural strength is provided.This structural strength can stop sinking of stratum.Suppress sinking of stratum and can reduce or solve the depression problem, these problems for example are: face of land Level Change and/or because the stratum becomes densification makes flowability and the permeability reduction of fluid in the stratum.

In some embodiment of conversion method on the spot, can heat a part of hydrocarbon containing formation according to about 0.1 ℃/day to 50 ℃/day rate of heat addition.As alternative, also can heat a part of hydrocarbon containing formation according to about 0.1 ℃/day to 10 ℃/day rate of heat addition.For example, firing rate can be exploited out most of hydro carbons from the stratum in about 0.1 ℃/day to 10 ℃/day scope.In addition, in most of interval of pyrolysis temperature range, can hydrocarbon containing formation be heated according to the rate of heat addition less than 0.7 ℃/day.This pyrolysis temperature range can comprise the temperature range described in the above-mentioned embodiment.For example, can be greater than striding across 50%, 75% or 90% of this temperature range required time according to this rate of heat addition to the time that is heated part execution heating.

Subsurface pressure in the hydrocarbon containing formation may be corresponding to the pressure that produces fluid in the stratum.To the hydro carbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation heat can be by utilizing pyrolysis produced fluid.The fluid of institute's output can be vaporized in the stratum.Vaporization and pyrolytic reaction can increase the pressure in the stratum.Help to increase the fluid of pressure in the stratum and include, but is not limited to the water that is vaporized in the fluid of institute's output in the pyrolytic process and the heating process.Along with the temperature of selection area in the heated formation part constantly raises, because the evaporating capacity of the output of fluid and water increases, the pressure in the selection area also will increase.The speed of fluid being removed out fluid from the stratum is just controlled and can be controlled the pressure in the stratum.

In some embodiments, the pressure in a certain selection area of the heated portion of hydrocarbon containing formation will change based on some factors, these factors for example are the degree of depth, in the distance of thermal source, hydrocarbon containing formation hydrocarbon abundance and/or apart from the distance of producing well.Can be in several different places (for example at the producing well place or near producing well place, thermal source place or near the thermal source place or at the monitor well place) determine the pressure in the stratum.

Can make hydrocarbon containing formation hydrocarbon containing formation is heated to pyrolysis temperature range before reaching very big permeability.Relatively poor permeability can stop the fluid of output in the pyrolysis zone of stratum to move in the producing well when initial.Along with heat begins from thermal source to the hydrocarbon containing formation transmission, near the fluid pressure the thermal source in the hydrocarbon containing formation will increase.The fluid pressure cause of increased may be: produced fluid in to the stratum in the small part hydro carbons carries out the process of pyrolysis.Can discharge, monitor, change and/or control the fluid pressure of increase by means of thermal source.For example, thermal source can have a valve, and its permission is emitted segment fluid flow from the stratum.In some embodiment of thermal source, thermal source can comprise bore hole well structure, and it can prevent that pressure from causing damage to thermal source.

In some embodiment of conversion method on the spot, although may not have the path that leads to producing well or other pressure reduction place in the stratum, the pressure that allows to be produced by the pyrolyzation fluid of output in the stratum or other fluid expansion constantly increases.Fluid pressure rises to lithostatic pressure.When fluid pressure approaches lithostatic pressure, in the hydrocarbon containing formation crack will appear.For example can form the crack from the thermal source to the producing well.The partial pressure in the layer segment of this place will be alleviated in the crack that is produced in the heated portion.

In a kind of embodiment of conversion method on the spot, in carrying out pyrolytic process, the pressure in a part of hydrocarbon containing formation in the selection area can increase to a certain selected pressure.Should selected pressure can be in the scope of 72 bars absolute in about 2 bars absolute, perhaps in some embodiments, in 2 bars absolute between 36 bars absolute.As alternative, selected pressure can be in about 2 bars absolute in the scope of 18 bars absolute.In some embodiment of conversion method on the spot, but its pressure is at the stratum output most hydrocarbon fluid of about 2 bars absolute in the 18 bars absolute scopes.In pyrolytic process, pressure can change or change.Can change and/or control the component of institute's output formation fluid, condensable fluid with respect to the percentage that can not condensed fluid and/or the API severe of institute's produced fluid by changing pressure.For example, reduce pressure and will cause that condensable components increases in the produced fluid.The alkene that can comprise more percentage in the condensable fluid component.

In some embodiment of conversion method on the spot, in the heated portion on stratum, because produced fluid and increased pressure can obtain to keep.Increased pressure can stop the stratum taking place to sink in the conversion process on the spot in the maintenance stratum.In pyrolytic process, the increase of strata pressure can promote the generation of high-quality product.The increase of strata pressure will help output vapor phase fluid in the stratum.The production of vapor phase will allow to dwindle the size that is used for collecting pipe that produced fluid is transferred out from the stratum.The increase of strata pressure will alleviate or eliminate following demand: on the ground formation fluid is compressed, so that the fluid in the collecting pipe is transported to treatment facility.

Increased pressure also can be produced the formation fluid of more formation fluid and/or improvement in the maintenance stratum.In some embodiment of conversion method on the spot, a big chunk of output from the stratum (for example major part) hydrocarbon fluid is the hydrocarbon of noncondensable.Optionally increase and/or keep pressure in the stratum to promote to produce in the stratum hydro carbons of short chain.In the stratum, produce short hydrocarbon and will make the more non-condensing hydro carbons of stratum output.Under elevated pressures from the stratum quality of the condensable hydro carbons of output than the quality good (for example API severe is higher) of the condensable hydro carbons of output under low pressure.

Can keep high pressure in the hydrocarbon containing formation heated portion to stop the formation fluid of output high carbon atom number (for example greater than about 25).In the stratum, the compound of some high carbon atom number can be entrained in the steam, and can be removed away with steam from the stratum.High pressure in the stratum will suppress to carry secretly in the steam high carbon atom and count compound and/or polycyclic hydrocarbon compounds.Pressure in the raising hydrocarbon containing formation can increase the boiling point of fluid in this part.Thereby in long time, high carbon number compound and/or polycyclic hydrocarbon compounds all can be stayed in the liquid phase in the stratum.The pyrolytic process that this long time can be compound provides the sufficiently long time, so that form the compound of low carbon atom number.

Surprisingly, the hydro carbons that keeps a large amount of qualities of high pressure energy output in the heated portion of stratum to improve.Higher pressure can stop the hydrocarbon of macromolecule to be vaporized.Stop the hydro carbons vaporization of macromolecule will cause the hydrocarbon of macromolecule to be stayed in the stratum.In the stratum, the hydro carbons of macromolecule can react with the hydro carbons of small-molecular weight and the hydro carbons of small-molecular weight is vaporized.Hydro carbons after the vaporization will be easier to earth penetrating and be transferred away.

It is owing to spontaneously produced in hydrocarbon containing formation due to hydrogen and hydrogen reacts that the reason of output small-molecular weight hydro carbons (increasing corresponding to the conveying capacity of vapor phase) is considered to part.For example, keeping increased pressure will force the hydrogen that produces in the pyrolytic process to become liquid phase (for example utilizing dissolution).The a certain temperature that this part is heated in the pyrolysis temperature range will make hydro carbons pyrolysis in the stratum, thereby produces the pyrolyzation fluid of liquid phase.The component of institute's output can comprise two key things and/or chemical group.Be in the H of liquid phase ₂Can reduce the double key number in institute's output pyrolyzation fluid, reduce the possibility that aggregates into or form long-chain compound by the pyrolyzation fluid of institute's output thus.In addition, hydrogen also can neutralize the group in the pyrolyzation fluid of institute's output.Thereby, be in the H of liquid phase attitude ₂With stop pyrogenous origin fluid to react to each other and/or with the stratum in other compound reaction.The hydrocarbon of short chain will become vapor phase, and can be come out by exploitation from the stratum.

Under the increased pressure condition, carry out on the spot conversion method and can from the stratum, exploit out the formation fluid product of vapor phase.The production of vapor phase will improve the recovery ratio to lightweight (quality is higher) pyrolyzation fluid.The production vapor phase will cause formation fluid after being exploited out by pyrolytic reaction, have only formation fluid seldom to be left in the stratum.The production vapor phase will make the producing well number of producing well number when adopting liquid phase or liquid/vapor phase form to produce in the stratum.Producing well number still less can significantly reduce and the relevant equipment cost of conversion method on the spot.

In one embodiment, a part of hydrocarbon containing formation is heated, so that improve H ₂Dividing potential drop.In some embodiments, H ₂The raising of dividing potential drop will comprise such situation: H ₂Branch be pressed in about 0.5 bars absolute in the scope of 7 bars absolute.As alternative, H ₂The raising of dividing potential drop scope will comprise such situation: H ₂Divide and be pressed in about 5 bars absolute in the scope between 7 bars absolute.By way of example, if H ₂Branch be pressed in about 5 bars absolute in the scope of 7 bars absolute, then can exploit out most of hydrocarbon fluid.At pyrolysis H ₂The dividing potential drop scope in, H ₂Dividing potential drop for example will change according to the temperature and pressure of stratum heated portion.

With H in the stratum ₂Dividing potential drop remain the API value that will improve the condensable hydro carbons fluid of institute's output greater than atmospheric pressure.The H that has kept increasing ₂Divide pressure energy that the API value of the condensable hydro carbons fluid of institute's output is brought up to greater than about 25 °, perhaps in some instances can be greater than 30 °.The H that has kept increasing in the hydrocarbon containing formation heated portion ₂Dividing potential drop will improve H ₂Concentration in heated portion.H ₂Can react with the pyrolyzed components in the hydro carbons.H ₂To reduce olefinic polymerization with the reaction of pyrolyzed components in the hydro carbons and become tar or other possibility crosslinked, that be difficult to upgrade product.Thereby, can prevent to produce the hydrocarbon fluid that hangs down API severe value.

Pressure and temperature in the control hydrocarbon containing formation will make the character of institute's output formation fluid controlled.For example, can change the component and the quality of the formation fluid of from the stratum, producing by changing average pressure and/or the average temperature in the heated formation part selection area.Can estimate the quality of fluid based on the characteristic of produced fluid, for example to be the percentage, ethene of alkene in (but being not limited to) API severe, the institute's output formation fluid to carbon number in the ratio of ratio, hydrogen atom and the carbon atom of ethane, the institute's output formation fluid have a rest greater than percentage, total yield output (gas and liquid), the total output of liquid and/or the expense that is expressed as of 25 hydro carbons characteristic wherein analyzes the liquid yield of percentage.

In a kind of embodiment of conversion method on the spot,, can increase the permeability of heated portion thus on the spot a part of hydrocarbon containing formation being heated on the temperature that is lower than the pyrolysis temperature upper limit.The increase of permeability is owing to formed due to the fire check in heated portion.Can utilize the thermal expansion on stratum and/or utilize the local pressure increase to produce thermal crack(ing, wherein, the increase of local pressure be since the stratum in liquid (for example water and/or hydro carbons) vaporize due to.Along with the rising of heated portion temperature, the water in the stratum is vaporized.The water that is vaporized can dissipation be gone out and/or be removed from the stratum from the stratum.Water is removed away the permeability that also can improve heated portion.In addition, the increase of heated portion permeability still is the result of stratum mass loss, and the mass loss on stratum is owing to produced pyrolyzation fluid in the stratum.Can utilize producing well that pyrolyzation fluid is cleared out of from the stratum.

Utilization is arranged in thermal source in the stratum and the permeability that can make the hydrocarbon containing formation heated portion is heated on the stratum becomes consistent basically.The permeability of basically identical can stop formation fluid the channelling phenomenon to occur in the stratum, and make heated formation basically all parts all producing.Selected part estimation (for example calculate or estimate) arbitrarily to the consistent basically stratum of permeability goes out a permeability, and this permeability is not more than coefficient 10 with the variation that the average estimation permeability of selection area is compared.

If a certain selection area is heated by conduction pattern in the hydrocarbon containing formation heated portion, then the permeability of this selection area will promptly increase.In some embodiments, the pyrolysis of carrying out at least one part place of hydrocarbon containing formation can increase the permeability in the heated portion selection area, and it is brought up to greater than 10 millidarcies, 100 millidarcies, 1 darcy, 10 darcies, 20 darcies or 50 darcies.Heated portion selection area permeability rises to about 100,1000,10000,100000 or above times.

In some embodiment of conversion method on the spot, the stack of one or more thermal source evolutions of heat (for example acting on overlapping) can make the heating to a hydrocarbon containing formation part reach even basically.In heating process, because the Temperature Distribution on stratum has certain gradient usually, so, the heating of " even substantially " just means: the temperature in most of zone is no more than 100 ℃ with respect to the variation of the estimation average temperature in the most of zone of selection area in the processed selection area (volume), wherein, in the gradient of temperature distributes, the highest near the temperature at thermal source place, and along with the distance of distance thermal source increases, temperature reduces gradually.

In one embodiment, in the stratum some hydro carbons is by pyrolysis at least the time till, just stop recovery of hydrocarbons from the stratum.Have at the output mixture under the situation of selected quality (for example API severe, density of hydrogen, aromatic content etc.), from the stratum, produce mixture.In some embodiments, Xuan Ding quality comprises: API severe at least should about 20 °, 30 ° or 40 °.The design that stops to exploit in the time of till some hydro carbons at least is by pyrolysis can increase the amount that heavy hydrocarbons is converted into light hydrocarbon.Forbid when initial, producing and to reduce the heavy hydrocarbons of from the stratum, exploiting out.The a large amount of heavy hydrocarbons of output will need expensive equipment and/or reduce the working life of production equipment.

If stop to exploit out hydro carbons from the stratum, then the pressure in the stratum increases with temperature with regard to being tending towards, and its reason is that thermal expansion and/or phase transformation can take place heavy hydrocarbons and other fluid (for example water) in the stratum.May the pressure in the stratum must be remained on one below the pressure selected, with the fracture that prevents undesirable production, overlying rock or underlying stratum and/or the hydrocarbon in the stratum by coking.Selected pressure can be the fluid pressure on rock stratum static pressure or stratum.For example, selected pressure can be about 150 bars absolute, and perhaps in some embodiments, selected pressure is about 35 bars absolute.Can control pressure in the stratum by production well yield in the control stratum.In some other embodiment, come release pressure to come strata pressure is controlled by utilizing the one or more relief wells in the stratum.Relief well can be thermal source or be inserted into barrier wells in the stratum.The formation fluid of discharging from the stratum through relief well can be fed to treatment facility.From the stratum, exploit out at least some hydro carbons and can prevent that strata pressure is elevated on the selected pressure.

In some hydrocarbon containing formation (for example Green River oil shale), there are one or more hydrocarbon bearing formations, they are characterised in that its abundance is significantly higher than other layer in the stratum.These are rich in layer relatively thin (about usually 0.2m is thick to 0.5m), and are spaced from each other in whole stratum.Be rich in the generally about 0.150L/kg of abundance or bigger of layer.These abundance that are rich in layer can be greater than about 0.170L/kg, about 0.190L/kg or 0.210L/kg.The abundance of other layer (be hydrocarbonaceous relatively poorer layer) is about 0.100L/kg or still less in the stratum, and their thickness will be thicker than usually and is rich in layer.For example can be and subsequently core is taken abundance and the position that each layer determined in the analytic approach of having a rest, density log or neutron well logging method or other logging method by means of coring operation.

Fig. 3 has represented a kind of embodiment of heater, and this heater is arranged in a bore hole well, this well be in have one be rich in the layer hydrocarbon containing formation in.Wellhole 120 can be arranged in hydrocarbon bearing formation 122.Hydrocarbon bearing formation 122 can comprise one or more layers 124 that are rich in.The abundance of relatively poor layer 126 is less than the abundance that is rich in layer 124 in the hydrocarbon bearing formation 122.Heater 128 can be disposed in the wellhole 120.In some embodiments, wellhole 120 can be bore hole or uncased well.

Be rich in the thermal conductivity of layer 124 when initial less than the stratum in the thermal conductivity of other layer.Generally speaking, be rich in layer 124 thermal conductivity and be lower than 1.5 to 3 times of poor layer 126 thermal conductivity.For example, be rich in the layer thermal conductivity be about 1.5 * 10 ^-3Cal/cmsec ℃, and the thermal conductivity of poor layer is about 3.5 * 10 in the stratum ^-3Cal/cmsec ℃.In addition, be rich in the coefficient of thermal expansion of the coefficient of thermal expansion of layer 124 greater than poor layer in the stratum.For example, in the oil shale content be 57 Gallons Per Tons (0.24L/kg) be rich in the layer coefficient of thermal expansion be about 2.2 * 10 ^-2%/℃, and the coefficient of thermal expansion that content is about the poor layer of 13 Gallons Per Tons (0.05L/kg) in the oil shale is about 0.63 * 10 ^-2%/℃.

Because it is low to be rich in the thermal conductivity of layer 124, so, the stratum around the wellhole 120 is being carried out in the process of heating, be rich in layer and can on heater, cause " focus ".The generation of these " focuses " be because: the thermal conductivity that is rich in layer is lower, and the heat that heater produced in the wellhole 120 can't 124 easily be delivered in the hydrocarbon bearing formation 122 through being rich in layer.Thereby in early days during the heating period, heat is tending towards staying near the borehole wall of wellhole 120 or its.

Expand into the suffered stress of material the well less than the suffered stress of formation material from being rich in layer 124.Thermal expansion and pyrolysis can make the hydrocarbons that expand in the well take place to rupture in addition and peel off.Thereby to expanding into after material in the well carries out pyrolysis, the thermal conductivity of dilatant will be lower than the thermal conductivity of thermal decomposition material in the stratum.Under low-stress, pyrolysis can make material rupture further and/or peel off, thereby causes the decline of thermal conductivity.Because the suffered stress of material is very low after expanding into pyrolysis in the well, cause the thermal conductivity of material very low (that is to say, different with material after the pyrolysis of still staying in the stratum, expand into the pyrolysis in the well after material no longer be subjected to so big stress).The release of stress be tending towards reducing expand and pyrolysis after the thermal conductivity of material.

124 formed " focus " afterwards being rich in layer because the heat at borehole wall place increases and to be rich in the coefficient of thermal expansion of layer higher, be rich in hydro carbons in the layer will be tending towards according to than other layer in the stratum faster expansion rate expand.The stratum expand into situation in the well will reduce transfer of radiant heat to the stratum.The reduction of transfer of radiant heat is that these reasons include, but is not limited to: material contacts with heater, thereby has stopped radiant heat transfer owing to several respects; And the radius that has reduced well, this will limit the surface area that radiant heat transmits.The reducing of radiant heat transfer will cause the radiant heat transfer performance to descend having higher heter temperature near the district.

Because it is very low and/or its coefficient of thermal expansion is very high to be rich in the thermal conductivity of layer, the expansion rate that is rich in layer 124 is far faster than the expansion rate of poor layer.If amplexiforming to the well driving fit heater, then the expansion of material will impose severe pressure to heater.Well driving fit or amplexiforming to driving fit heater basically and also can stop fluid between the different layers on stratum, to flow.In some embodiments, because well driving fit or amplexiforming to driving fit heater basically, so fluid is enclosed in the well.

Fig. 4 has represented a kind of embodiment of heater 128, its be arranged in one have an expansion be rich in layer 124 wellhole 120.As shown in Figure 4, in some embodiments, wellhole 120 can be owing to being rich in layer 124 expansion by packing (being the material sealing after annular space between the heater and the borehole wall will be inflated).With the annular space sealing meeting of wellhole with the fluid trap in the wellhole being rich between the layer after the expansion.The trap of fluid can make the pressure in the well be increased on the desirable limit.Under certain conditions, increased pressure can cause the fracture on stratum, perhaps causes breaking of heater well, and this will make fluid unexpectedly communicate with wellhole in the stratum.In some cases, increased pressure will be above the rock deformation pressure of heater.The material in the layer of being rich in that butt heater expands and also can cause the distortion of heater.The formed pressure of gas at trap interface place between material after the expansion and heater also can cause distortion.Because carry out heating, fracture and/or pyrolysis, the pressure of trap gas will increase.The distortion of heater may cause heater to quit work or lose efficacy.Thereby the distortion that need reduce to be rich in the expansion of material in the layer and/or stop heater in the well is so that heater can normally be worked.

In early days in the heating process (for example at first carry out the heating of 15 days or 30 days usually), be rich in layer and can produce a very big swell increment with 820 watts/meter heat injection rate.Generally speaking, the most of expansion occurs under near the about condition below 200 ℃ in well zone.For example, reaching under the about 200 ℃ situation, abundance is the hydrocarbon bearing formation of 0.189L/kg about 5cm that will expand, and this specifically depends on several respects factor, and these factors for example are (but being not limited to) rate of heat addition, reservoir stress and borehole diameter.At the commitment of facture on the spot, the method that the expansion of being rich in layer in the stratum is compensated is a focus.Before beginning that the stratum carried out heating, estimate or determine and carrying out in the heating process or the swell increment that occurs after the process the stratum.Thereby, can reserve certain surplus, to be rich in the thermal expansion of layer and/or poor layer in the compensation stratum.Can estimate the swell increment that produces by the stratum is heated based on several respects factor, these factors for example are (but being not limited to): to the measured value or the estimated value of each layer abundance in the stratum; The thermal conductivity of each layer in the stratum; The coefficient of thermal expansion of each layer in the stratum (for example thermal linear expansion coefficient); The desired temperature of each layer in reservoir stress and the stratum.

Fig. 5 has represented some analog results (utilizing a reservoir simulator [STARS] and a mechanical analogue device [ABAQUES] to obtain), what the figure shows is that the well radius concerns over time in a bore hole well, when the oil shale of 20 Gallons Per Tons (0.084L/kg) is carried out heating, wherein, curve 130 expression be the situation of calorific value when being 820 watts/meter, curve 132 expressions be the situation of calorific value when being 1150 watts/meter.As shown in Figure 5, when calorific value when 820 watts/meter are increased to 1150 watts/meter, the maximum swelling of the oil shale of 20 Gallons Per Tons is increased to 0.48cm from about 0.38cm.Fig. 6 has represented well radius and the result of calculation that concerns between heat time heating time, wherein, in a bore hole well, be that the oil shale of 50 Gallons Per Tons (0.21L/kg) is carried out heating to abundance, curve 134 has represented it is the situation of calorific value when being 820 watts/meter, curve 136 expressions be the situation of calorific value when being 1150 watts/meter.As shown in Figure 6, when calorific value when 820 watts/meter are increased to 1150 watts/meter, abundance is that the maximum swelling of the oil shale of 50 Gallons Per Tons is increased to 10cm from about 8.2cm.Thereby, the expansion on stratum depend in the abundance on stratum, the stratum each layer and to the calorific value on stratum.

In one embodiment, wellhole 120 has bigger diameter, after preventing being rich in layer 124 expansion the annular space packing is opened.The diameter of common wellhole is about 16.5cm.In some embodiments, the diameter of heater 128 is about 7.3cm.Thereby, be rich in the about 4.6cm of layer 124 expansion and just can block annular space.If the diameter of wellhole 120 is added to about 30cm, then annular space to be blocked the swell increment that just needs about 11.3cm.The diameter of wellhole 120 can be selected as allowing to be rich in layer 124 and have certain swell increment.In some embodiments, the diameter of wellhole 120 can be greater than about 20cm, 30cm or 40cm.Bigger well or wellhole can also increase the heat that passes to the stratum by radiation from heater.The radiant heat transfer mode is more effective aspect the heat in the wellhole is spread out of.Can estimate the expection swell increment that is rich in layer 124 according to the abundance of each layer.The diameter of wellhole 120 can be selected as like this: after expanding, be rich in layer the maximum swelling amount also can make and keep minimum gap between heater and the stratum.Keep the minimum clearance between heater and the stratum can prevent owing to material expand into the distortion that causes heater in the wellhole.In one embodiment, the smallest ideal gap after expanding is at least about 0.25cm, 0.5cm or 1cm between heater and the stratum.In some embodiments, minimum clearance can be at least about 1.25cm or at least about 1.5cm, also can reach about 3cm, 4cm or 5cm.

In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 7, wellhole 120 expansion can occur and approach to be rich in layer 124, thereby after being rich in layer expansion, can keep minimum gap between heater and the stratum.Can be by wellhole 120 be carried out a small amount of reaming so that its expansion approaches to be rich in layer.For example, the water jets under high pressure that can use off-balance bit, reaming bit or have an abrasive grain with wellhole be expanded to be rich in layer near.Wellhole 120 can be expanded into exceeds the border of being rich in layer 124, thereby also can remove some materials from poor layer 126.Wellhole 120 overlaps onto expansion in the poor layer 126 will allow further to be rich in that expanding appears in layer and/or its degree of depth or size occur any possible uncertain.

As shown in Figure 7, in another embodiment, heater 128 can have some sections 138, and it is near being rich in layer 124, and the calorific value that it provided is less than the heat output of the section 140 that poor layer 126 is heated.Section 138 is less to layer 124 heat that provides are provided, thereby makes the speed of speed less than poor layer 126 of being heated that is rich in layer.Carry a less heat to reduce to be rich near the layer a wellbore temperatures to being rich in layer 124, thereby can reduce and be rich in the total swell increment of layer.In one embodiment, the calorific value of section 138 is about half of section 140 calorific values.In some embodiments, the calorific value of section 138 is less than about 0.75,0.5 or 1/3 of section 140 calorific values.Generally, can be reduced on certain calorific value the rate of heat addition that is rich in layer 124, this calorific value can limit the expansion of being rich in layer 124, thereby can make heater 128 after the expansion and be rich in layer 124 minimum gap of maintenance in wellhole 120.Can control the calorific value of heater 128, so that near being rich in layer, provide less calorific value.In some embodiments, can with heater 128 design or transform as to be rich in layer near less calorific value is provided.The example of this type of heater comprises the heater that possesses the temperature limitation characteristic, for example the Curie temperature heater, be rich in layer special heater that near section resistance is less etc.

In some embodiments, be rich in layer 124 expand after (for example with 820 watts/Mi Jiare 15 to 30 days after), wellhole 120 can be reopened.As shown in Figure 4, utilizing 128 pairs of stratum of heater to carry out in the process of heating, the material that allows to be rich in layer 124 expand in the wellhole 120.As shown in Figure 3, after material expand in the wellhole 120, the annular space in the wellhole can be reopened.The operation that reopens wellhole 120 annular spaces can comprise: after expanding, the material that utilizes drill bit or any other method will expand in the wellhole is removed away, comes well execution to wash away (over washing) with this.

In some embodiments, can on the different degree of depth, force pipe (for example capillary pressure pipe) be connected on the heater, whether and/or when expand and annular space is sealed to judge material in the stratum.In some embodiments, utilization compares to determine when should carry out wellhole to the pressure on the different depth and reopen.In some embodiments, adopt an optical pickocff (for example fibre-optic cable), it can detect the stress in the earth formation material of pushing heater or pipeline that expands.These optical pickocffs can utilize Brillouin Scattering to measure stress curve figure and temperature profile simultaneously.Can utilize these measurement results to come the temperature of control heater (for example reducing the temperature of high stress locations or near heater), with prevent heater or pipeline expanded the back formation material the stress effect and deform.

In some embodiments, perforation on layer 124 and/or the poor layer 126 can be rich in.To being rich in layer 124 and/or poor layer 126 perforation will allow the material in these layers to expand, thereby preventing or weakened the expansion of material in wellhole 120.Can utilize perforating apparatus (for example perforating bullet or jet perforating gun) in being rich in layer 124 and/or poor layer 126, to form some eyelets.In cased well and bore hole well, all can form these eyelets.The diameter of these eyelets is approximately less than 1cm, 2cm or 3cm.In some embodiments, also can form bigger eyelet.These eyelets are designed to provide or reserve the space of expanding in the stratum.Eyelet also can weaken the rock matrix on stratum, thereby if the stratum does not expand, it will apply less action force.In some embodiments, be not to use perforating gun, but with formation breakdown.

In some embodiments, a bushing pipe or sleeve pipe can be set in the well of bore hole, cave in prevention well in to stratum execution heating process.Fig. 8 has represented a kind of embodiment of heater, and it is arranged in a bore hole well, is provided with a bushing pipe in the wellhole.Bushing pipe 142 can be placed in the wellhole 120 in the hydrocarbon bearing formation 122.Bushing pipe 142 can comprise first section 144 and second section 146.First section, 144 present positions are near poor layer 126.The position of second section 146 is near being rich in layer 124.The thickness of second section 146 is greater than the thickness of first section 144.In addition, can use the material firmer to make second section 146 than the material of first section 144.

In one embodiment, first section 144 is to make with the thick carbon steel of about 2cm, and second section 146 is to make with the thick Haynes  HR-120  of about 4cm (can buy from Haynes international corporation [Kokomo company]).The thickness of first section 144 and second section 146 can change between the 10cm at about 0.5cm.Can select the thickness of first section 144 and second section 146 according to the factor of several respects, the diameter, heater 128 that these factors include, but is not limited to wellhole 120 is to the desirable coefficient of overall heat transmission of hydrocarbon bearing formation 122 and/or stop the bushing pipe 142 flat required mechanical strength of collapsing.Also can use other material to make first section 144 and second section 146.For example, first section 144 can include, but is not limited to materials such as carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminium.Second section 146 can include, but is not limited to 304H stainless steel, 316H stainless steel, 347H stainless steel, Incoloy  alloy 800H or Incoloy  alloy 800HT (all can buy from company of Special Metals company [New Hartford, NY]), Inconel  625 etc.

Fig. 9 has represented a kind of embodiment of heater, and it is arranged in a bore hole well, is provided with a bushing pipe in wellhole, and the stratum expands and butt bushing pipe.The stratum is being carried out in the process of heating, second section 146 can prevent to be rich in material shutoff in the layer 124 annular space in the wellhole 120 (between bushing pipe 142 and heater 128).The intensity of second section 146 is enough to stop or slows down and is rich in the expansion of material in the layer 124.One or more eyelets 148 can be set, to allow in fluid flows to annular space between bushing pipe and the heater 128 from the annular space between bushing pipe 142 and wellhole 120 walls on bushing pipe 142.Thereby, in being rich in layer 124 expansion process, bushing pipe 142 can its with heater 128 between annular space of opening of reservation, thereby make fluid can continue the annular space of flowing through.The unimpeded of stream prevents that pressure raises in the well in the maintenance wellhole 120.Second section 146 can also prevent from the annular space between bushing pipe 142 and the heater 128 is blocked, thereby prevents to form focus, and heater can normally be worked.

As Fig. 8 and shown in Figure 9, in some embodiments, conduit 150 can be set in wellhole 120.Conduit 150 can have one or more eyelets, so that carry fluid to wellhole 120.In one embodiment, can be to wellhole 120 delivering vapors.In the eyelet 148 that steam can prevent to arrange along bushing pipe 142 length directions coking taking place, thereby eyelet can not stopped up, makes fluid can continue these eyelets of flowing through.Also can carry air, periodically blocked eyelet is carried out decoking by conduit.In some embodiments, conduit 150 also can be set at the inside of bushing pipe 142.In other embodiments, conduit 150 can be set at the outside of bushing pipe 142.Conduit 150 also can permanently be arranged in the wellhole 120, perhaps temporarily is arranged on (for example conduit can be wrapped in the wellhole, or unwinding goes out from wellhole) in the wellhole.Conduit 150 can be wrapped in the wellhole or from wellhole unwinding go out, thereby conduit can be used in a plurality of wellholes in the stratum.

Figure 10 has represented the relation between maximum radial stress 152, Maximum circumferential stress 154 and perforation size 156 and the abundance after 300 days, and this relation is used for the heating of bore hole well is calculated.Under following condition: borehole diameter is to be provided with the bushing pipe of 14.0cm in 16.5cm, the well and the calorific value of heater is 820 watts/meter, utilizes a reservoir simulator [STARS] and a mechanical analogue device [ABAQUES] to calculate.As shown in figure 10, maximum radial stress and Maximum circumferential stress reduce with abundance.The layer that abundance surpasses about 22.5 Gallons Per Tons (0.95L/kg) will expand and contact with bushing pipe.Along with abundance surpasses about 32 Gallons Per Tons (0.13L/kg), maximum stress begins to calm down slightly down on about 270 bars absolute or lower numerical value.The intensity of bushing pipe is enough to suppress abundance and is approximately higher than stress deformation under the 32 Gallons Per Ton conditions.In the abundance scope of 32 Gallons Per Tons, stress is enough to make bushing pipe to deform at about 22.5 Gallons Per Tons.Thereby, must regulate the diameter of well, the diameter of bushing pipe, the wall thickness and the indexs such as intensity, calorific value of bushing pipe, deform to prevent bushing pipe, and guarantee that all abundance for the stratum can both keep the annular space in the well.

At the commitment of hydrocarbon containing formation being carried out heating, the stratum is easy to occur the geomechanics motion.The geological movement on stratum can cause the well in the stratum to deform.If significant deformation has appearred in the well in the stratum, then the equipment in the well (for example heater, conduit etc.) will be out of shape and/or damage.

The reason that produces the geomechanics motion generally is: the one or more heaters that are arranged in the certain volume stratum have sent heat, and this will cause the stratum volume to produce thermal expansion.The thermal expansion of stratum volume can be limited by following formula:

(1)Δr＝r×ΔT×α；

R is meant the radius (promptly in the used area of Figure 11 and continuous heating volume shown in Figure 12 the length of long straight line) of volume in the formula, and Δ T is the variation of temperature amount, and α is a thermal linear expansion coefficient.

Generally, along with the increase that is input to heat in the stratum, the geological movement amount also can increase.At a certain special time, with the increase of the stratum volume that is heated, the geomechanics motion in the stratum and the distortion of well are tending towards increasing.Thereby, if be maintained in the selected dimensional threshold, then just the distortion of geomechanics motion and well can be remained on below the acceptable degree at the volume that is heated of a certain special time.In addition, by second processing region and the 3rd processing region that is positioned at the relative both sides of first processing region heated, can limit the geomechanics motion of first processing region.The geomechanics motion that second processing region produces owing to being heated can be offset by thermogenetic geological movement by the 3rd processing region.

Vertical view among Figure 11 has represented to be used for a kind of embodiment of heater arrays that hydrocarbon containing formation is heated.Thermal source 158 can be disposed in the stratum 160.As shown in figure 11, can arrange thermal source 158 according to leg-of-mutton general layout, or according to required any other arranged in arrays thermal source.Stratum 160 can comprise one or more volumes that will heat 162,164.As shown in figure 11, volume 162,164 can be the volume of space in the stratum 160.In some embodiments, the thermal source 158 in the volume 162,164 can be unlocked or begin heating (being that each thermal source is all worked) basically simultaneously in one or two months in several days or under some situation.But all thermals source 158 of opening in the volume 162,164 will make stratum 160 produce very big geomechanics motion.This geological movement can make the well of one or more thermals source 158 in the stratum and/or other well deform.The easiest the deforming of outmost well in the stratum 160.These wells are easier to deformation reason and are that the effect of geological movement adds up, and to its perimeter zone, the effect of geological movement increases gradually from the centre of the volume that is heated.

Vertical view among Figure 12 has represented to be used for another embodiment of heater arrays that hydrocarbon containing formation is heated.As shown in figure 12, the volume that volume 162,164 can the concentric ring shape.Thermal source 158 can be arranged to required array in volume 162,164.In the volume 162,164 of concentric ring form, owing to increase gradually along with annular volume outwards moves its girth, so can reduce the geological movement of outer shroud volume.

In other embodiment, volume 162,164 can be other occupation of land shape and/or the array that is arranged to other moulding.For example, the occupation of land shape of volume 162,164 can be linear, shaped form or irregular bar shaped.In some embodiments, volume 164 can be separated volume 162, thereby be used to stop geological movement in the volume 162 (being that volume 164 has played the effect of barriers [for example retaining wall]) so that reduce the effect of the geomechanics motion of a volume 162 to another volume 162.

Shown in Figure 11 and 12, in some embodiments, the thermal source 158 in the volume 162,164 can be opened in the different time, so that prevent from once just a large amount of volumes on stratum all to have been heated and/or weakened the effect of geological movement.In one embodiment, the thermal source 158 in the volume 162 can be opened simultaneously basically or be begun the heating (promptly all 1 or 2 months in work).Thermal source 158 in the volume 146 can be closed, and volume 162 is heated simultaneously.Thermal source 158 in volume 162 is unlocked or has begun to heat after the selected time, and the thermal source 158 in the volume 164 is unlocked or begins heating.Only the design to volume 162 transfer heat can alleviate the effect that geomechanics is moved in the stratum in section seclected time in the selected time.In the selected time period, certain geomechanics motion can take place in the volume 162.The size of volume 162, shape and position can be selected as the geology on stratum in these volumes being expanded and remain on one below the maximum value.The maximum value that stratum geology expands can be a selected numerical value, is used to prevent that the distortion of one or more wells from surpassing the threshold (promptly in this critical point, well is damaged, or the equipment in the well is no longer available) of distortion.

Can utilize simulation, calculating or other suitable method to determine size, shape and/or the position of volume 162, so that estimate the degree of geological movement in to stratum heating process.In one embodiment, can utilize simulation to determine in the geomechanics motion that is taken place when the ground layer for heating of certain volume is to a predetermined temperature.In simulation process, change the size of the stratum volume be heated to predetermined temperature, till the volume energy of finding a certain size remains on the distortion of well below the threshold.

The size of volume 162,164 is characterized by the degree of depth of contained ground layer segment in its floor space on volumetric surface and the volume.By changing the floor space of volume 162,164, just can change the size of volume.In one embodiment, the floor space of volume 162,164 can be less than about 10000 square metres, 6000 square metres, 4000 square metres or 3000 square metres.

Expansion in the stratum can be to take place by concrete zone or layer.In some stratum, each of stratum layer or zone have different thermal conductivity and/or different coefficient of thermal expansion.For example, can have some thin layers (being the layer that abundance is higher than about 0.15L/kg) like this in the hydrocarbon containing formation: its thermal conductivity is lower than the adjacent layer in the stratum, but coefficient of thermal expansion is higher than adjacent layer.Thermal conductivity is lower but thin layer that coefficient of thermal expansion is higher can be positioned at the different level on stratum.When determining to want the size of heated stratum volume, must consider the difference of thin layer aspect dilatancy.In general, Zui Da expansion may appear in the zone or layer that thermal conductivity is very low and/or coefficient of thermal expansion is very high.In some embodiments, size, shape and/or the position of volume 162,164 can be defined as to adapt to the expansion characteristics of the big layer of low heat conductivity and/or thermal expansion.

In some embodiments, size, shape and/or the position of volume 164 can be chosen to be the effect that can prevent the geomechanics motion accumulates in the stratum.In some embodiments, the size of volume 164 is enough to stop the geomechanics motion other volume 162 spaced apart to be applied the effect of accumulation.In one embodiment, the occupation of land district of the occupation of land district of volume 164 and volume 162 is substantially similar.Make volume 162,164 have substantially similar size and can in the stratum, set up the uniform heating section.

In some embodiments, thermal source 158 in volume 164 was unlocked after the selected time, and the thermal source in the volume 164 158 is opened.In about 6 months (or in about 1 years or 2 years) when the thermal source 158 from volume 162 begins to heat, heating can be opened or begin to the thermal source 158 in the volume 164.Thermal source 158 in the volume 164 can appear opening after a selected amount of expansion in volume 162 again.In one embodiment, the geology of volume 162 expand near or when reaching its maximum possible swell increment, open the thermal source 158 in the volume 164.For example, the geology of volume 162 expand greater than its maximum estimated swell increment about 70%, about 80% or 90% o'clock, open the thermal source 158 in the volume 164.Can utilize simulation or other suitable method to determine the estimated value of the swell increment that volume may reach, the reason that can estimate is: when volume is heated to a certain selected average temperature, will occur in the volume expanding.Also to consider the active strength feature of rock matrix when simulating.When reaching about 200 ℃ usually, in the stratum strong expansion can take place.In about 200 ℃ to 350 ℃ scope, it is slow a lot of that the expansion on stratum is wanted usually.Be higher than on the temperature of pyrolysis temperature, the expansion on stratum is very little or do not expand.In some stratum, when temperature was higher than pyrolysis temperature, shrinking may appear in the stratum.The average temperature that is used for determining the expansion estimated value for example can be the stratum to be carried out maximum heating temperature to the stratum volume of processing procedure on the spot (for example about 325 ℃, 350 ℃ etc.).The additive effect that the design of again volume 164 being heated after significant the expansion appears in volume 162 can weaken, stops and/or regulate geological movement in the stratum.

In some embodiments, thermal source 158 in volume 162 has been worked and has been opened thermal source 158 in the volume 164 after the selected time, so that the stratum keeps comparatively constant productivity ratio.Make the stratum keep more constant productivity ratio can reduce some cost of production, these costs and the equipment relevant (for example cost of purchase of equipment, operating equipment, purchase raw material etc.) that is used for production fluid and/or the fluid execution of output from the stratum is handled.In some embodiments, thermal source 158 in volume 162 has been worked and has been opened thermal source 158 in the volume 164 after the selected time, to improve the productivity ratio on stratum.Can adopt simulation or other suitable method to determine in the volume 162 the relative opening time of thermal source 158 in the thermal source 158 and volume 164, so that keep or improve the productivity ratio on stratum.

Some form of implementation of heater can have switch (for example fuse and/or thermostat), and when reaching certain condition in the heater, it can cut off heater or its a part of energy supply.In some embodiments, can use " limit warm type heater " that hydrocarbon containing formation is heated.Limit warm type heater generally is meant such heater: need not to adopt the device such as serviceability temperature controller or power governor of external control-for example, just can regulate (for example reducing calorific value) to calorific value when being higher than specified temp.Limit warm type heater can be AC (interchange) resistance heater.

Limit warm type heater is more more reliable than other heater.Limit warm type heater is owing to the possibility that exists focus to be damaged in the stratum or lost efficacy is very low.In some embodiments, limit warm type heater can be realized stratum uniform heating basically.In some embodiments, limit warm type heater can heat the stratum more effectively by making its whole length all have higher average operating temperature.The reason that limit warm type heater can be operated with higher average temperature in the scope of entire length is: if the temperature of any point surpasses or when being about to surpass its maximum operation temperature on the heater, need not to reduce the energy supply energy supply of the whole length of heater (for example along) of whole heater, and for common heater, then situation comes to this.The part that its temperature approaches Curie temperature in the limit warm type heater can automatically reduce calorific value.Reducing automatically of calorific value is owing to changed due to the electrical characteristic (for example resistance) of limitting these parts in the warm type heater.Thereby, between the longer-term of heating process in, can provide more energy to limit warm type heater.

When introducing heating system that calorific value reduces, equipment and method, word " automatically " means: need not to adopt external control measure (for example adopt peripheral control unit-for example have the controller of temperature pick up and feedback closed loop), these systems, equipment and method just can be moved in some way.For example, under the situation of limit warm type heater, comprise that the system of limit warm type heater can have first calorific value when initial, then by the alternating current energy supply, temperature at a certain active component of heater approaches, is in or when being higher than Curie temperature, can reduce the calorific value of heater.

Limit warm type heater can be designed to make heater to have the structure of automatic temperature-limiting character on certain temperature and/or comprise this material.For example, in limit warm type heater, can use ferromagnetic material.Applying to ferromagnetic material under the situation of alternating current, ferromagnetic material is reaching or temperature is being had the volitional check effect during near its Curie temperature, thereby is reaching or reducing calorific value during asymptotic Curie temperature.In some embodiments, ferromagnetic material can be combined with other material (for example nonferromagnetic material and/or high conduction material), to realize various electrology characteristics and/or mechanical property.The resistance of some parts is lower than the resistance (reason is to have different geometries and/or has used different ferromagnetism and/or nonferromugnetic material) of other parts in the limit warm type heater.The design that makes each parts of limitting the warm type heater have different materials and/or size can realize such effect: the calorific value of heater various piece can be adjusted into desirable numerical value.Than the design of using switch in limit warm type heater, the cost of use ferromagnetic material is lower, reliability is higher.

Curie temperature is meant such temperature: on this temperature, magnetic material (for example ferrimagnet) is lost its magnetic.Except its magnetic of forfeiture on the Curie temperature, if the electric current of the ferrimagnet of flowing through increases, ferrimagnet also can be lost its magnetic.

Heater can comprise a kind of conductor, and when when this conductor applies alternating current, its working method is similar to the kelvin effect heater.Kelvin effect has limited the degree of depth that electric current is penetrated into conductor inside.For ferrimagnet, kelvin effect is by the magnetic conductivity decision of conductor.The relative magnetic conductivity of ferrimagnet is generally greater than 10, also can be greater than 50,100,500, even greater than 1000.Along with the temperature of ferrimagnet rises on the Curie temperature and/or along with the increase of applying electric current, the magnetic conductivity of ferrimagnet can significantly reduce, the depth of penetration is expansion (for example subduplicate inverse of magnetic conductivity) fast.That the reduction of magnetic conductivity can make is approaching on the conductor, be in or surpass the AC resistance reduction of the Curie temperature and/or electric current increase place that applies.When heater when substantially be the power supply power supply of constant current, approaching on the heater, reach or will reduce above the heat dissipation of the part of Curie temperature.Be not on the heater or the section of asymptotic Curie temperature leading by kelvin effect, this effect makes heater have very high heat dissipation.

In some embodiments, available paramagnetic material is made limit warm type heater (for example Curie temperature heater).The magnetic conductivity of paramagnetic material normally comparatively speaking, its numerical value is greater than 1 but less than 10.The temperature-limiting character of the limit warm type heater of being made by paramagnetic material is obviously not as the temperature-limiting character of the limit warm type heater made with ferrimagnet.

Adopt limit warm type heater that the advantage that hydrocarbon containing formation heats is: can select the conductor of its Curie temperature in desirable operating temperature range.Desirable working range can be injected a large amount of heats in the stratum, the temperature of heater and miscellaneous equipment can also be remained on simultaneously under the design temperature and (promptly be lower than and to bring the temperature of negative effect to some character, for example cause burn into creep and/or distortion).The temperature-limiting character of heater can prevent that near the heater appearance of " focus " of poor thermal conductivity in the stratum is overheated or burn out.In some embodiments, the tolerant temperature of limit warm type heater is higher than about 250 ℃, 500 ℃, 700 ℃, 800 ℃, 900 ℃ or higher temperature, and concrete temperature depends on the material that uses in the heater.

Than the heater of deciding wattage, limit warm type heater can be injected into more heat in the stratum, and reason wherein is to be input to energy in the limit warm type heater and can not be restricted and be contained near the low heat conductivity zone heater.For example, in Green River oil shale, the difference of hydrocarbon bearing formation (approximately greater than 0.20L/kg) aspect thermal conductivity that the hydrocarbon bearing formation of abundance minimum (approximately less than 0.04L/kg) and abundance are the highest is at least 50%.If such stratum is heated, use the situation of the heater of limitting the heat that is input under the warm type heater situation in the stratum to be subject to the low heat conductivity layer than use much higher, and low heat conductivity layer wherein is only thick for about 0.3m.Because the heater that hydrocarbon containing formation is heated generally has very big length (for example greater than 10m, 100m or 300m), so, although only there is the temperature of part seldom to reach or asymptotic Curie temperature on the heater, the operating temperature of the most of length of heater is under Curie temperature.

The diameter of limit warm type heater can be sufficiently little, so that prevent owing to formation collapse makes heater texturing.In some embodiments, the external diameter of limit warm type heater is approximately less than 5cm.In some embodiments, the external diameter of limit warm type heater can less than about 4cm, 3cm or at 2cm between the 5cm.

In the described in the text heater embodiment (including but not limited to limit warm type heater, insulated electric conductor type heater, conduit inner wire type heater and slender member heater), can select the cross-sectional dimension of heater, have required ratio between when for example initial (borehole diameter) so that cross-sectional dimension and borehole diameter.Maximum cross sectional dimensions be meant with the heater maximum size (for example being the diameter of column type heater or the width of standing heater) of borehole diameter coaxial line.In some embodiments, the ratio of cross-sectional dimension and borehole diameter can be chosen to be approximately less than 1: 2,1: 3 or 1: 4.Can select to prevent that in heating process heater contacts with the stratum and/or acted on by the stratum and be out of shape (promptly prevent heater from shutting) in well the ratio between heater diameter and the borehole diameter.In some embodiments, the diameter of well is by the decision of the diameter of the drill bit that is used to form well.

In one embodiment, the stratum is being carried out in the process of heating, the diameter of well can the about 16.5cm when initial narrows down to about 6.4cm (for example for abundance greater than the well the hydrocarbon bearing formation of about 0.12L/kg).In some cases, because hydro carbons, kerogen or be rich in layer thermal expansion has taken place, expand into earth formation material in the well in the heating process and can cause reaching balance between the circumference stress of well and the compressive strength.In this, the stratum no longer has and makes the distortion of heater or bushing pipe or the flat intensity of collapsing.For example, be about the well of 16.5cm for diameter, the radial stresses that earth formation material applied is about 12000psi (82.7Mpa), and after expanding, the stress on the well of the about 6.4cm of diameter is about 3000psi (20.7Mpa).The diameter of heater can be chosen as less than about 3.8 ", occur contacting to prevent stratum and heater.The advantage of limit warm type heater is: (for example less than about 5.1 "); than the heater of deciding wattage, it can provide very big calorific value (for example the pyrolysis hydro carbons in hydrocarbon containing formation provides enough heats required calorific value) to the major part of well for the heater of minor diameter.

In some embodiments, heater can be placed in the container of resistance to deformation.The resistance to deformation container can provide further protection to heater, distortion occurs to prevent it.The creep rupture strength of resistance to deformation container is greater than the intensity of heater.In one embodiment, on about 650 ℃ temperature, 100000 hours creep rupture strengths of resistance to deformation container are at least about 3000psi (20.7Mpa).In some embodiments, on about 650 ℃ temperature, 100000 hours creep rupture strengths of resistance to deformation container are at least about 4000psi (27.7Mpa) or 5000psi (34.5Mpa).In one embodiment, the resistance to deformation container comprises the alloy that one or more provide mechanical strength.For example, the resistance to deformation container can comprise the alloy of iron, nickel, chromium, manganese, carbon, tantalum and/or their mixture.

Figure 13 has represented radial stresses and conduit (for example bushing pipe) relation between the well residual diameter and conduit external diameter in flat intensity and the hydrocarbon containing formation of collapsing.To stress Calculation radially is to carry out under the Green of 52 Gallons Per Tons River oil shale prerequisite.Heat rate is about 820 watts/meter.Figure line 166 has been represented the relation between oil shale maximum radial stress and the well residual diameter, and wherein, the initial diameter of this well is 6.5 inches.Figure line 168 has been represented collapse relation between flat intensity and the external diameter of under 650 ℃ of conditions bushing pipe, and wherein bushing pipe is Schedule 80 347H type stainless steel tubes.Figure line 170 is illustrated in collapse relation between flat intensity and the external diameter of bushing pipe under 650 ℃ of conditions, and wherein, bushing pipe is a Schedule160 347H type stainless steel tube.Figure line 172 expression be collapse relation between flat intensity and the external diameter of the bushing pipe of ScheduleXXH 347H type stainless steel pipe under 650 ℃ of conditions.Can find out that from figure line 168,170,172 increase of bushing pipe thickness can improve the flat intensity of collapsing, and the flat intensity of collapsing of Schedule XXH 347H type stainless steel bushing pipe is enough to bear the maximum radial stress of oil shale under 650 ℃ of conditions.The flat intensity of collapsing of conduit should distortion occur to prevent conduit greater than maximum radial stress.

Figure 14 has represented radial stresses and the conduit relation between the well initial diameter ratio in flat intensity and the conduit external diameter/hydrocarbon containing formation of collapsing.Figure line 174 has been represented the relation between oil shale radial stresses and the conduit external diameter/well initial diameter ratio.Can find out that from figure line 174 along with ratio drops to approximately 0.85 from 1, the radial stresses of oil shale sharply descends.When ratio 0.8 when following, it is slow that the decline of radial stresses becomes.Figure line 176 has been represented for collapse relation between flat intensity and the conduit external diameter/well initial diameter ratio of ScheduleXXH 347H type stainless steel pipe, conduit.Figure line 178 has been represented for collapse relation between flat intensity and the conduit external diameter/well initial diameter ratio of Schedule160 347H type stainless steel pipe, conduit.Figure line 180 has been represented for collapse relation between flat intensity and the conduit external diameter/well initial diameter ratio of Schedule80 347H type stainless steel pipe, conduit.Figure line 182 has been represented for collapse relation between flat intensity and the conduit external diameter/well initial diameter ratio of Schedule40 347H type stainless steel pipe, conduit.Figure line 184 has been represented for collapse relation between flat intensity and the conduit external diameter/well initial diameter ratio of Schedule10 347H type stainless steel pipe, conduit.Each bar figure line from Figure 14 can find out, at the ratio of conduit external diameter/well initial diameter 0.75 when following, the radial stresses that the flat intensity of collapsing of ScheduleXXH347H stainless steel pipe is enough to bear oil shale.Figure 14 and other similar figure line can be used to design the initial diameter of well and the material and the external diameter of conduit, so that stop the distortion of conduit.

Those skilled in the art can recognize clearly that there be other remodeling and alternate embodiment in all fields in the present invention after the description of having read this paper.Thereby the description of this paper should only be counted as exemplary, and it is in order to instruct the relevant enforcement of those skilled in the art general type of the present invention.Be understood that the embodiment of the present invention of introducing in the literary composition can be counted as at present preferred embodiment.Those skilled in the art should clearly realize that after the description of having understanded this paper: each element and the material of expression and description in the replaceable literary composition; Converse each parts and processing procedure; And can use some feature of the present invention individually.Under prerequisite not, can change each element described in the literary composition departing from design philosophy of the present invention that limits by the appended claim book and protection domain.In addition, should be appreciated that in some embodiments that use can combine some features of describing separately in the literary composition.

Claims (16)

1. one kind is used for method that hydrocarbon containing formation is handled, and it comprises step:

Provide heat from one or more heaters at least one part to the stratum, wherein, at least one heater is arranged at least one well on stratum; Determine by ground layer for heating being made the swell increment of its generation, at least on part, design based on the size of the stratum swell increment of being determined at least one bore hole well, the stratum swell increment deficiency that is produced produces big distortion so that be arranged in one or more heaters of the well of this process size design so that the stratum is heated; And the ratio between heater external diameter and the well internal diameter is less than about 0.75;

Allow heat to pass to the part stratum from one or more heaters;

From the stratum, exploit out mixture.

2. method according to claim 1, wherein: described at least one well comprises the well of a bore hole.

3. method according to claim 1 and 2, wherein: the ratio between heater external diameter and the well internal diameter is less than about 0.5 or 0.3.

4. method according to claim 1, it also comprises: heating is controlled, so that keeping the minimum clearance at least about 0.25cm between described at least one heater and the stratum at least one well.

5. method according to claim 1, it also comprises: utilize limit warm type heater that heating is controlled.

6. method according to claim 1, wherein: the diameter of the well of one or more sizes process design is more than or equal to about 30cm.

7. method according to claim 1, wherein: be rich in the position in zone in close stratum relatively, one or more wells have the diameter of expansion, and this diameter is more than or equal to about 30cm.

8. method according to claim 1, it also comprises: the calorific value at least one heater is regulated, so that in the stratum, be rich in calorific value that the zone provides relatively less than the calorific value that provides to all the other zones, stratum, perhaps, in the stratum, be rich in calorific value that the zone provides relatively less than about 1/2 of the calorific value that provides to all the other zones, stratum.

9. method according to claim 1, it also comprises: to the stratum at least in the part one or more zones of being rich in relatively carry out perforation and handle, expand in the process of heating stratum to allow at least one or a plurality of zone of being rich in relatively.

10. method according to claim 7, wherein: the abundance that is rich in the zone relatively is greater than about 0.12L/kg, 0.15L/kg or 0.17L/kg.

11. method according to claim 1, it also comprises: after the stratum having been carried out heating at least to a certain degree by the well of reaming, at least one well is carried out reaming, wherein, reaming is that the hydrocarbons that expand in the well is removed away.

12. method according to claim 1, it also comprises: at least one heater is shifted out from least one well, then at least one such well is carried out reaming.

13. method according to claim 1, it also comprises: a bushing pipe is set at least one well, it is between at least a portion and stratum of heater, and wherein, lining pipe prevents that heater is owing to distortion appears in the effect that is subjected to the stratum thermal expansion in heating process.

14. method according to claim 13, wherein: the mechanical strength of bushing pipe be enough to stop be arranged in the stratum be rich in relatively the zone near bushing pipe collapse flat.

15. according to claim 13 or 14 described methods, wherein: bushing pipe comprises one or more perforates, to allow the fluid well of flowing through.

16. method according to claim 13, wherein: the ratio in bushing pipe external diameter and institute corresponding well intraocular footpath is less than about 0.75,0.5 or 0.3.

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