US2444755A - Apparatus for oil sand heating - Google Patents

Apparatus for oil sand heating Download PDF

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US2444755A
US2444755A US639125A US63912546A US2444755A US 2444755 A US2444755 A US 2444755A US 639125 A US639125 A US 639125A US 63912546 A US63912546 A US 63912546A US 2444755 A US2444755 A US 2444755A
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oil
chamber
pipe
strata
oil sand
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US639125A
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Ralph M Steffen
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B36/00—Heating, cooling or insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones
    • E21B36/02—Heating, cooling or insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones using burners

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  • This invention relates to an apparatus for oil sand heating.
  • the primary object of this invention is to pro vide a novel method and apparatus for augmenting the yield from oil wells.
  • An important object of the invention is the provision at a method and apparatus which is applicable toerdsting wells to renew or increase this output, or which may be employed with euual facility in low yield shale and oil sands and in fields where normal procedures for development of the oil deposits are not practicable.
  • Aiurt ner object or the invention is the development oi a simple method and apparatus which shall conctu'rently condition the oil strata tor increased oil "flow and effect an increased output from the oil field.
  • an additional object of the invention is the provision of a novel method of heating the oil sands surrounding a well by the initiation and maintenance or a substantially constant gas flame therein whereby the oil in said sands is occluded by the resulting heat and pressure of the expanding gaseous products of combustion to adjacent wells for recovery therefrom.
  • a further object of the invention is the provision of simple and effective apparatus for carrying the method into effect.
  • a still further object of the invention is a novel method of treating an oil sand strataby forcing heated gases under pressure therethrough from within a well, thereby applying gaseous pressure to said strata for driving the oil away from the well for recovery in adjacent wells, and wherein the gas pressure is variable and with corresponding variation in the temperatures thereof whereby the oil in the sand strata may be re-iormed for subsequent recovering of the products thereof from adjacent wells.
  • a still further object of the invention is the provision of means forming an insulated, sealed combustion chamber in the bottom portion or a well casing which extends into an oil sand strata; which casing is provided with perforations in its cylindrical wall, and continuously admitting combustible charges or gas and air into said chamber, together with means for intermittently projecthas a flame into said chamber for efiecting and maintaining continuous ignition and burning of the combustible charges introduced continuously within the chamber whereby the pressure developed therein by the expanding burning charges, plus the internal pressure in the well, drives the resulting heat outwardly through the perforations and into and through the surrounding oil lid 2 sand strata for forcing the dormant oil therein to flow toward adjacent wells for recovery therefrom.
  • Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view somewhat diagrammatic in nature and illustrating the application of the invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof;
  • Fig. 2 is a broken top plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1.
  • the numeral it designates a cylindrical casing extending down through and into an oil bearing sand strata S.
  • the casing it is provided with a top closure plate ii and is also provided near its lower end with perforations it in its cylindrical wall for escape of combustion gases G from within the casin to the oil sand strata S.
  • This lower end portion of the casing it is partitioned from the upper portion by a packing member iii to provide a combustion chamber C later to be described.
  • the pipes l3 and ii are respectively provided with suitable regulating valves ii and it, and the pipe i5 is provided with a back check valve it, the latter pipe being further provided intermediate the valve ill and closure plate M with a suitable ignition means such as a spark plug 28 which may be incorporated in any suitable ignition circuit.
  • the pipe it is preferably provided with a. pressure gage and relief valve indicated at it and 2H, and a vent pipe 2'2 is provided in the top closure plate ll permitting the escape of gases that may accumulate above pack.- ing l6 to the atmosphere. Furthermore, a meter it may be provided in pipe 113 beyond valve ll, as indicated.
  • a suitable gas is constantly admitted through pipe II, which is regulated in its flow by means of valve l1, and discharged into-the upper end of the combustion chamber.
  • Air or other combustion supporting medium is likewise constantly admitted through pipe [4 to the combustion chamber C, the flow of which is controlled by valve II.
  • a mixture of gas and air, in proper combustible proportions, is admitted through pipe I! past the check valve 19 to the combustion chamber adjacent the discharge ends of pipes i3 and H.
  • valve I9 When the pipe 15 is filled with the combustible gas and air mixture to the lower end thereof or slightly thereafter, the valve I9 is closed, plug 20 is energized to ignite the mixture with the result that a flame travels down the pipe l and upon reaching the lower end thereof insures certain ignition of the gas and air issuing from pipes i3 and 14 which become mixed for eflicient her C may be obtained by admission of the gas 1 and air through pipes i3 and I4 at higher pressures whereby the oil within the sand strata may combustion.
  • the ignition within the chamber is like any gas burner, and the hot combustion gases G will be forced through the perforations i2 into and through the oil sand strata S, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1.
  • the heated gases G generated therein will be driven constantly therefrom and further through the oil sand strata S with the resultant heating of all of the oil therein and driving of the same to adjacent wells for recovery therefrom.
  • the combustible mixture traveling through pipe i5 must be rather rich to ensure the travel of a flame through the pipe if it be of any substantial length.
  • other suitable ignition means may be introduced through pipe ii.
  • the pressure relief valve 2m may be adjusted for any desired maximum pressure within the chamber C or may be employed to vent the chamber when desired. Higher pressures with correspondingly higher temperatures within the chambe cracked or re-formed and the products thereof recovered from adjacent wells.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Gasification And Melting Of Waste (AREA)

Description

R. M. STEFFEN APPARATUS FOR OIL .SAND HEATING Filed Jan. '4, 1946 APPARATUS FOR 6H4 S Ralph M. Stefien,
d, 19%, fies No. 639,125
(Cl. N1?) pplication This invention relates to an apparatus for oil sand heating.
The primary object of this invention is to pro vide a novel method and apparatus for augmenting the yield from oil wells.
An important object of the invention is the provision at a method and apparatus which is applicable toerdsting wells to renew or increase this output, or which may be employed with euual facility in low yield shale and oil sands and in fields where normal procedures for development of the oil deposits are not practicable.
Aiurt ner object or the invention is the development oi a simple method and apparatus which shall conctu'rently condition the oil strata tor increased oil "flow and effect an increased output from the oil field.
an additional object of the invention is the provision of a novel method of heating the oil sands surrounding a well by the initiation and maintenance or a substantially constant gas flame therein whereby the oil in said sands is occluded by the resulting heat and pressure of the expanding gaseous products of combustion to adjacent wells for recovery therefrom.
A further object of the invention is the provision of simple and effective apparatus for carrying the method into effect.
A still further object of the invention is a novel method of treating an oil sand strataby forcing heated gases under pressure therethrough from within a well, thereby applying gaseous pressure to said strata for driving the oil away from the well for recovery in adjacent wells, and wherein the gas pressure is variable and with corresponding variation in the temperatures thereof whereby the oil in the sand strata may be re-iormed for subsequent recovering of the products thereof from adjacent wells.
A still further object of the invention is the provision of means forming an insulated, sealed combustion chamber in the bottom portion or a well casing which extends into an oil sand strata; which casing is provided with perforations in its cylindrical wall, and continuously admitting combustible charges or gas and air into said chamber, together with means for intermittently projecthas a flame into said chamber for efiecting and maintaining continuous ignition and burning of the combustible charges introduced continuously within the chamber whereby the pressure developed therein by the expanding burning charges, plus the internal pressure in the well, drives the resulting heat outwardly through the perforations and into and through the surrounding oil lid 2 sand strata for forcing the dormant oil therein to flow toward adjacent wells for recovery therefrom.
With the above recited and other objects in view, the invention is set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view somewhat diagrammatic in nature and illustrating the application of the invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof;
Fig. 2 is a broken top plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1.
Referring now in detail to the drawing, the numeral it designates a cylindrical casing extending down through and into an oil bearing sand strata S. The casing it is provided with a top closure plate ii and is also provided near its lower end with perforations it in its cylindrical wall for escape of combustion gases G from within the casin to the oil sand strata S. This lower end portion of the casing it is partitioned from the upper portion by a packing member iii to provide a combustion chamber C later to be described.
A plurality, preferably three, of pipes id, id
and it extend downwardly through the top clo sure plate ii and into the casing iii with their lower free ends evenly terminating within the combustion chamber and below the top of the oil sand strata S, as illustrated. These pipes it, it and it are preferably closely disposed and extend through the suitable insulating and packing member it forming the top of the combustion chamber C. Thus, the interior of the casing it, below this packing member iii, provides a combustion chamber with the free ends of the pipes l3, it and ill protruding into the upper end thereof.
The pipes l3 and ii are respectively provided with suitable regulating valves ii and it, and the pipe i5 is provided with a back check valve it, the latter pipe being further provided intermediate the valve ill and closure plate M with a suitable ignition means such as a spark plug 28 which may be incorporated in any suitable ignition circuit. The pipe it is preferably provided with a. pressure gage and relief valve indicated at it and 2H, and a vent pipe 2'2 is provided in the top closure plate ll permitting the escape of gases that may accumulate above pack.- ing l6 to the atmosphere. Furthermore, a meter it may be provided in pipe 113 beyond valve ll, as indicated.
While the pipes it, it and is are disclosed as having closely disposed lower free ends, such ends may communicate with a suitable unit burner.
In the operation of the structure disclosed, a suitable gas is constantly admitted through pipe II, which is regulated in its flow by means of valve l1, and discharged into-the upper end of the combustion chamber. Air or other combustion supporting medium is likewise constantly admitted through pipe [4 to the combustion chamber C, the flow of which is controlled by valve II. A mixture of gas and air, in proper combustible proportions, is admitted through pipe I! past the check valve 19 to the combustion chamber adjacent the discharge ends of pipes i3 and H.
When the pipe 15 is filled with the combustible gas and air mixture to the lower end thereof or slightly thereafter, the valve I9 is closed, plug 20 is energized to ignite the mixture with the result that a flame travels down the pipe l and upon reaching the lower end thereof insures certain ignition of the gas and air issuing from pipes i3 and 14 which become mixed for eflicient her C may be obtained by admission of the gas 1 and air through pipes i3 and I4 at higher pressures whereby the oil within the sand strata may combustion. The ignition within the chamber is like any gas burner, and the hot combustion gases G will be forced through the perforations i2 into and through the oil sand strata S, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1.
Due to the continuous ignition of the constantly supplied combustible charges within the chamber 0, the heated gases G generated therein will be driven constantly therefrom and further through the oil sand strata S with the resultant heating of all of the oil therein and driving of the same to adjacent wells for recovery therefrom. The combustible mixture traveling through pipe i5 must be rather rich to ensure the travel of a flame through the pipe if it be of any substantial length. Alternatively, other suitable ignition means may be introduced through pipe ii.
The pressure relief valve 2m may be adjusted for any desired maximum pressure within the chamber C or may be employed to vent the chamber when desired. Higher pressures with correspondingly higher temperatures within the chambe cracked or re-formed and the products thereof recovered from adjacent wells.
Having thus described my invention and in whatmanner the same may be carried into practice, what I claim is:
1. The combination of a bore extending into an oil bearing strata, a casing having a per-- forated section at its lower end, an insulating and packing partition in said casing above the perforated section forming a chamber freely communicating with the face of said strata, a plurality of parallel valved conduits extending into said bore and through said partition and tarminating adjacent each other in said chamber. means for separately introducing the constituents of a combustible mixture through two of said conduits, means for introducing a combustible mixture through a third of said conduits, means for intermittently ignitingsaid latter mixture above said casing for igniting and maintaining combustion of said constituents in said chamber. v
2. The combination of claim 1 including means for limiting the maximum pressure in said chamber including a pressure relief valve in one of said conduits.
RALPH M. STEFFEN.
I REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the
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Cited By (51)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2584605A (en) * 1948-04-14 1952-02-05 Edmund S Merriam Thermal drive method for recovery of oil
US2584606A (en) * 1948-07-02 1952-02-05 Edmund S Merriam Thermal drive method for recovery of oil
US2668592A (en) * 1949-06-04 1954-02-09 Sinclair Oil & Gas Co Gas burner and method for burning gas in oil and gas wells
US2675081A (en) * 1950-10-23 1954-04-13 Union Oil Co Method and apparatus for pumping and heating oil wells
DE1024036B (en) * 1952-05-16 1958-02-13 Otto Kriegbaum Process for heating an oil deposit for secondary extraction
US2858891A (en) * 1952-05-16 1958-11-04 Union Rheinische Braunkohlen Pressure maintenance and repressuring in oil and gas fields
US2913050A (en) * 1955-05-12 1959-11-17 Phillips Petroleum Co Preventing explosions in bore holes during underground combustion operations for oil recovery
US3026937A (en) * 1957-05-17 1962-03-27 California Research Corp Method of controlling an underground combustion zone
US3072189A (en) * 1958-05-12 1963-01-08 Phillips Petroleum Co Process and apparatus for in situ combustion
US3272262A (en) * 1964-01-23 1966-09-13 Pan American Petroleum Corp Ignition of thick pay formations
US4033411A (en) * 1975-02-05 1977-07-05 Goins John T Method for stimulating the recovery of crude oil
EP0597154A1 (en) * 1990-02-05 1994-05-18 Hrubetz Environmental Services, Inc. Method and apparatus for heating subsurface soil for decontamination
US5482402A (en) * 1990-02-05 1996-01-09 Hrubetz Environmental Services, Inc. Method and apparatus for heating subsurface soil for decontamination
US20030079877A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-01 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation in a reducing environment
US20030080604A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-01 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing and inhibiting migration of fluids into or out of an in situ oil shale formation
US20030098149A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-05-29 Wellington Scott Lee In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation using gas to increase mobility
US6581684B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-06-24 Shell Oil Company In Situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce sulfur containing formation fluids
US6588504B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-07-08 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to produce nitrogen and/or sulfur containing formation fluids
US20030155111A1 (en) * 2001-04-24 2003-08-21 Shell Oil Co In situ thermal processing of a tar sands formation
US20030173081A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-09-18 Vinegar Harold J. In situ thermal processing of an oil reservoir formation
US20030173085A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-09-18 Vinegar Harold J. Upgrading and mining of coal
US20030196810A1 (en) * 2001-10-24 2003-10-23 Vinegar Harold J. Treatment of a hydrocarbon containing formation after heating
US6698515B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-03-02 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using a relatively slow heating rate
US6715546B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-04-06 Shell Oil Company In situ production of synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon containing formation through a heat source wellbore
US6715548B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-04-06 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce nitrogen containing formation fluids
US20050269313A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-12-08 Vinegar Harold J Temperature limited heaters with high power factors
US7011154B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-03-14 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a kerogen and liquid hydrocarbon containing formation
US7073578B2 (en) 2002-10-24 2006-07-11 Shell Oil Company Staged and/or patterned heating during in situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7090013B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-08-15 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce heated fluids
US7096953B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-08-29 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using a movable heating element
US7104319B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-09-12 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a heavy oil diatomite formation
US7121342B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2006-10-17 Shell Oil Company Thermal processes for subsurface formations
US7165615B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2007-01-23 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation using conductor-in-conduit heat sources with an electrically conductive material in the overburden
US20070045266A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-03-01 Sandberg Chester L In situ conversion process utilizing a closed loop heating system
US20070095536A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-05-03 Vinegar Harold J Cogeneration systems and processes for treating hydrocarbon containing formations
US20070108201A1 (en) * 2005-04-22 2007-05-17 Vinegar Harold J Insulated conductor temperature limited heater for subsurface heating coupled in a three-phase wye configuration
US20080035346A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-02-14 Vijay Nair Methods of producing transportation fuel
US20080128134A1 (en) * 2006-10-20 2008-06-05 Ramesh Raju Mudunuri Producing drive fluid in situ in tar sands formations
US20090071652A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-03-19 Vinegar Harold J In situ heat treatment from multiple layers of a tar sands formation
US20090189617A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-07-30 David Burns Continuous subsurface heater temperature measurement
US20090260824A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2009-10-22 David Booth Burns Hydrocarbon production from mines and tunnels used in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US20100089586A1 (en) * 2008-10-13 2010-04-15 John Andrew Stanecki Movable heaters for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US20100258265A1 (en) * 2009-04-10 2010-10-14 John Michael Karanikas Recovering energy from a subsurface formation
US8631866B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-01-21 Shell Oil Company Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations
US8701768B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-04-22 Shell Oil Company Methods for treating hydrocarbon formations
US8820406B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-09-02 Shell Oil Company Electrodes for electrical current flow heating of subsurface formations with conductive material in wellbore
CN104533365A (en) * 2014-12-22 2015-04-22 中国石油大学(北京) Method for exploiting oil sand through paraffin media
US9016370B2 (en) 2011-04-08 2015-04-28 Shell Oil Company Partial solution mining of hydrocarbon containing layers prior to in situ heat treatment
US9033042B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2015-05-19 Shell Oil Company Forming bitumen barriers in subsurface hydrocarbon formations
US9309755B2 (en) 2011-10-07 2016-04-12 Shell Oil Company Thermal expansion accommodation for circulated fluid systems used to heat subsurface formations
US10047594B2 (en) 2012-01-23 2018-08-14 Genie Ip B.V. Heater pattern for in situ thermal processing of a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation

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US1473348A (en) * 1920-08-09 1923-11-06 Standard Dev Co Method of operating oil wells
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Cited By (443)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2584605A (en) * 1948-04-14 1952-02-05 Edmund S Merriam Thermal drive method for recovery of oil
US2584606A (en) * 1948-07-02 1952-02-05 Edmund S Merriam Thermal drive method for recovery of oil
US2668592A (en) * 1949-06-04 1954-02-09 Sinclair Oil & Gas Co Gas burner and method for burning gas in oil and gas wells
US2675081A (en) * 1950-10-23 1954-04-13 Union Oil Co Method and apparatus for pumping and heating oil wells
DE1024036B (en) * 1952-05-16 1958-02-13 Otto Kriegbaum Process for heating an oil deposit for secondary extraction
US2858891A (en) * 1952-05-16 1958-11-04 Union Rheinische Braunkohlen Pressure maintenance and repressuring in oil and gas fields
US2913050A (en) * 1955-05-12 1959-11-17 Phillips Petroleum Co Preventing explosions in bore holes during underground combustion operations for oil recovery
US3026937A (en) * 1957-05-17 1962-03-27 California Research Corp Method of controlling an underground combustion zone
US3072189A (en) * 1958-05-12 1963-01-08 Phillips Petroleum Co Process and apparatus for in situ combustion
US3272262A (en) * 1964-01-23 1966-09-13 Pan American Petroleum Corp Ignition of thick pay formations
US4033411A (en) * 1975-02-05 1977-07-05 Goins John T Method for stimulating the recovery of crude oil
EP0597154A1 (en) * 1990-02-05 1994-05-18 Hrubetz Environmental Services, Inc. Method and apparatus for heating subsurface soil for decontamination
US5482402A (en) * 1990-02-05 1996-01-09 Hrubetz Environmental Services, Inc. Method and apparatus for heating subsurface soil for decontamination
US6805195B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2004-10-19 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce hydrocarbon fluids and synthesis gas
US8789586B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2014-07-29 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US8485252B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2013-07-16 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7096953B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-08-29 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using a movable heating element
US7096941B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-08-29 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with heat sources located at an edge of a coal layer
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US7036583B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-05-02 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to increase a porosity of the formation
US7017661B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-03-28 Shell Oil Company Production of synthesis gas from a coal formation
US7011154B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-03-14 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a kerogen and liquid hydrocarbon containing formation
US6997255B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-02-14 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation in a reducing environment
US6581684B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-06-24 Shell Oil Company In Situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce sulfur containing formation fluids
US6994160B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-02-07 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce hydrocarbons having a selected carbon number range
US6588504B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-07-08 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to produce nitrogen and/or sulfur containing formation fluids
US6994161B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-02-07 Kevin Albert Maher In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected moisture content
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US6591907B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-07-15 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected vitrinite reflectance
US6994168B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-02-07 Scott Lee Wellington In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected hydrogen to carbon ratio
US6991031B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2006-01-31 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to convert a selected total organic carbon content into hydrocarbon products
US8225866B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2012-07-24 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US6973967B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-12-13 Shell Oil Company Situ thermal processing of a coal formation using pressure and/or temperature control
US20110088904A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2011-04-21 De Rouffignac Eric Pierre In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US7798221B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2010-09-21 Shell Oil Company In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US20090101346A1 (en) * 2000-04-24 2009-04-23 Shell Oil Company, Inc. In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation
US6966372B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-11-22 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce oxygen containing formation fluids
US6959761B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-11-01 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected ratio of heat sources to production wells
US6953087B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-10-11 Shell Oil Company Thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to increase a permeability of the formation
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US6607033B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-08-19 Shell Oil Company In Situ thermal processing of a coal formation to produce a condensate
US6913078B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2005-07-05 Shell Oil Company In Situ thermal processing of hydrocarbons within a relatively impermeable formation
US6609570B2 (en) 2000-04-24 2003-08-26 Shell Oil Company In situ thermal processing of a coal formation and ammonia production
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