WO1995006093A1 - Procede ameliore pour l'extraction d'hydrocarbures - Google Patents

Procede ameliore pour l'extraction d'hydrocarbures Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1995006093A1
WO1995006093A1 PCT/AU1994/000488 AU9400488W WO9506093A1 WO 1995006093 A1 WO1995006093 A1 WO 1995006093A1 AU 9400488 W AU9400488 W AU 9400488W WO 9506093 A1 WO9506093 A1 WO 9506093A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
host rock
hydrocarbons
rock
host
heating
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU1994/000488
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Gary Norman Lye
Gwyn Harries
David Paul Gribble
David J. Mccarthy
Original Assignee
Technological Resources Pty. Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Technological Resources Pty. Ltd. filed Critical Technological Resources Pty. Ltd.
Priority to AU74849/94A priority Critical patent/AU7484994A/en
Publication of WO1995006093A1 publication Critical patent/WO1995006093A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/16—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
    • E21B43/24—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G1/00—Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G1/00—Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal
    • C10G1/02—Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal by distillation
    • 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
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/16—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
    • E21B43/24—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection
    • E21B43/2405—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection in association with fracturing or crevice forming processes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an enhanced hydrocarbon recovery method and relates particularly, though not exclusively, to tight oil recovery by induced thermal pressurisation (TORBIT) .
  • TORBIT induced thermal pressurisation
  • the enhanced hydrocarbon recovery technique of the invention may also be applicable to other rock formations characterised by low permeability and/or low porosity which do not contain tight oil, or to host rock that is not sufficiently susceptible to conventional recovery techniques alone.
  • the technique may also be applicable as a replacement for conventional secondary and/or tertiary hydrocarbon recovery techniques.
  • Tight oil is so called because it is tightly locked away in a rock formation of low permeability and cannot be efficiently recovered using conventional recovery techniques. It is sometimes also referred to as "old oil” because it may be found in very old rock formations, typically Precambrian rock.
  • Significant reserves of tight oil are known to exist in North America, North Africa and Australia. In the Northern Territory of Australia the McArthur Basin is thought to be Middle Proterozoic in age (1400 - 1800 Million years old) . The McArthur Basin contains significant tight oil reserves in the Velkerri Formation which comprises shales and siltstones having high organic carbon content.
  • the Velkerri siltstones have been identified as host rock for tight oil, and are characterised by low porosity (2 - 10 %) and very low permeability (0.01 - 0.5 milliDarcys (mD) ) . It is estimated that the Velkerri siltstones alone contain 700 Mbbls of oil. The low permeability of the host rock precludes oil flow, and the small pore spaces and low occurrence of natural fractures also make it difficult to stimulate hydrocarbon flow. These factors render conventional stimulation techniques less viable for the recovery of tight oil. Conventional recovery techniques include the following:
  • This method is useful in reservoirs having high permeability (above 1000 inD) and high porosity (above 20%) , containing highly viscous oils.
  • the method involves injecting steam into a reservoir to increase its temperature, thus lowering the viscosity of heavy oils and increasing reservoir pressure.
  • This method involves heating the reservoir electromagnetically by a device lowered down the well, having an electric current passed through it.
  • the well casing acts as a waveguide, supplying power to an electrode embedded in the deposit.
  • This method is suitable for reservoirs at low pressure (shallow) and good permeability, containing highly viscous heavy oils.
  • the electromagnetic heating typically raises the temperature to the 100°C region, to reduce viscosity and increase the pressure of the oil to stimulate flow.
  • an oxygen-containing gas such as air
  • This method employs water based fluids containing proppants to fracture the reservoir rock and prop open the fractures.
  • the fractures create artificial permeability and facilitate higher flow rates into production wells.
  • Reservoirs best suited to hydraulic fracturing are typically characterised by low permeability, with high pore pressures and few swelling clays .
  • US 3,981,362 describes a method utilising a fracturing technique together with in-situ combustion.
  • the reservoir is first fractured with a combustive fracturing mixture, then the mixture is burned in the fractures, and thereafter finely divided or fluidised carbon ii- an inert gas carrier is injected into the formation, together with an oxygen-containing gas so as to burn the carbon in the fractures and to establish a hot inert gas drive through the reservoir.
  • a method of recovering hydrocarbons from host rock comprising: heating the host rock to induce pressurisation of hydrocarbons contained therein whereby the mobility of the hydrocarbons is increased sufficiently to allow the hydrocarbons to be released from the host rock.
  • the host rock is heated to a temperature at which vaporisation of hydrocarbons and/or water occurs.
  • the host rock is heated to a temperature within the range 150 - 530°C, more preferably 200 -500°C.
  • the method comprises heating the host rock in-situ, for example, by means of an electrical heater lowered into a borehole traversing the host rock or by injecting hot inert gas into the borehole.
  • inert gas is taken to mean any gaseous, stream that contains substantially no free oxidant or that will not support combustion.
  • inert gas may, for example, be generated by partial combustion of hydrocarbons or by indirect heating of gases such as nitrogen.
  • the host rock can first be mined and then subjected to heating by external heating means.
  • the method of the invention may advantageously be combined with other secondary recovery techniques.
  • the method of the invention may be combined with a technique for artificially fracturing the host rock, and/or a method of in-situ combustion or pyrolysis.
  • an apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from host rock comprising: means for heating the host rock to induce pressurisation of hydrocarbons contained therein whereby the mobility of the hydrocarbons is increased sufficiently to allow the hydrocarbons to be released from the host rock.
  • said means for heating comprises means for injecting heated inert gas into a borehole traversing the host rock.
  • the apparatus further comprises means for collecting the hydrocarbons released from the host rock.
  • Figure 1 illustrates an electrical heater in-situ, that may be employed in one embodiment of the method of the invention
  • FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative method for implementing the invention
  • FIG 3 illustrates another method for implementing the invention
  • Figure 4 illustrates a further method for implementing the invention
  • Figure 5 illustrates a still further method for implementing the invention.
  • the method of the invention involves heating the host rock to a temperature at which pressurisation of hydrocarbons contained therein is induced to increase the mobility of hydrocarbons present in the host rock.
  • the process involves controlled heating of the host rock and the hydrocarbons and water contained therein to the temperature at which vaporization of the hydrocarbons and/or water occurs.
  • the temperature will vary depending on the nature of the hydrocarbon compounds in the host rock, however typically vaporisation of most of the hydrocarbons occurs between 200 - 530°C. Vaporization may have the effect of significantly increasing the mobility of the hydrocarbons since the gaseous phase can move through the host rock at much higher velocities than the liquid phase, which may be substantially immobile.
  • the vapours also exert pressure on the walls of the pores in the host rock and if the induced pressure is sufficiently high will fracture the rock, forming connections between adjacent pores.
  • the development of high induced pressure will be favoured in formations with low porosity and low permeability.
  • Such induced microfractures will form a network of connections between pores thus increasing host rock permeability and allowing the liberation of the vaporised oil. This is particularly advantageous in host rock containing tight oil where an increase in the permeability of the host rock is required to liberate the oil.
  • An upper limit of the temperature to which the host rock is heated of 530° may apply, because thermal cracking of hydrocarbon vapours becomes very rapid at temperatures above 520 - 530°.
  • water may be present as chemically bound water in clays and other minerals. Permeability may also be increased during the heating process through the combined effects of thermal pressurisation and rock shrinkage that may occur through the thermally induced release of chemically bound water in clays and other minerals.
  • the host rock would probably need to be heated in-situ, although in principle the rock may be mined and transported to the surface for further processing using the method of the invention, for example, by heating in a suitable furnace. Mining of the host rock would have the additional benefit of promoting fracturing to further enhance the permeability of the rock.
  • the host rock is heated in-situ by drilling one or more bore holes into the rock and supplying thermal energy to the bore hole.
  • the thermal energy may be supplied by any suitable means, for example, by injecting heated inert gas into the bore hole from the surface.
  • the thermal energy may be supplied by an electrical heater lowered into the bore hole.
  • Figure 1 illustrates an experimental electrical heater 10 shown in-situ lowered in a bore hole 12 on a wire line 14.
  • the heater 10 comprises an electrical coil heating element 16 of high electrical resistance through which a current is fed from the surface via electrical cable 18. Heat radiates radially from the heating element 16 into the adjacent rock formation 20 through a section of the wall of the borehole 12 approximately one metre in length. A radially decreasing temperature gradient will be formed in the rock formation 20 with a maximum temperature at the wall of the borehole 12. In order to ensure that most of the thermal energy radiates into the rock formation 20, spiral-shaped heat shields 22 are provided below and above the heating element 16, which reflect/deflect the thermal energy towards the wall of the borehole 12.
  • heating is conducted in an inert atmosphere of nitrogen gas which is pumped into the space 23 surrounding the heating element 16 via gas line 24.
  • the nitrogen gas is drawn back up to the surface through an aperture provided in the lower end 26 of the heater 10 which is connected to a suction line 28 that communicates with the surface equipment above ground (not illustrated) .
  • Nitrogen gas is also used to inflate a packer 30 provided at the upper end of the heater 10 above the heating element 16, for sealing the space 23 between the heating element 16 and the wall of the borehole 12.
  • a cement plug 32 is provided below the heater 10 for sealing the space 23 at the lower end.
  • the nitrogen gas provides positive pressurisation of the space 23 to act as a gas lift to the surface via line 28 of any fluids that collect in the bottom of space 23.
  • the nitrogen gas also helps to cool the packer 30.
  • heat generated by the electrical heater 10 propagates radially into the host rock, causing the temperature of the host rock adjacent the one metre section of the borehole wall to rise such that the temperature of the rock and hydrocarbons contained therein is slowly raised in a controlled manner in order to avoid pyrolysis. It is estimated that raising the temperature of the host rock to the desired level for a distance of one metre extending radially in all directions may take between 10 to 20 days, however this may vary considerably depending on the nature of the host rock. As thermally induced pressurisation of the pores in the host rock containing the oil begins to occur, microfractures may begin to form increasing the permeability of the host rock. Some spalling at the wall of the borehole may also occur. Vaporised hydrocarbons and water vapour are liberated from the host rock 20 into the space surrounding the heating element 16, and from there are drawn to the surface via
  • the induced thermal pressurisation process may be employed in combination with other secondary recovery techniques.
  • the host rock may first be subjected to artificial fracturing by means of hydraulic fracturing or by detonating an explosive charge within the host rock to increase permeability.
  • a low shock energy explosive (LSEE) such as ANRUB described in copending Australian Patent Application No. 12477/92, would be suitable.
  • the induced thermal pressurisation process may also be combined with in-situ combustion to induce pyrolysis as either a pre- or post-processing step, or simultaneous with the induced thermal pressurisation.
  • In-situ combustion cannot normally be employed in tight oil bearing rock due to the low permeability of the host rock.
  • the permeability of the rock is increased during the induced thermal pressurisation process, which therefore facilitates the possibility of employing pyrolysis.
  • Figures 3 to 5 illustrate several alternative methods for taking advantage of this synergy between the two techniques.
  • BR1 Barren overburden and any upper part of the pay section which has been processed and is barren.
  • PS Pay section of host rock containing hydrocarbons . Some of this region may be barren due to prior processing.
  • BR2 Barren rock under the pay section.
  • Combustion chamber operates under controlled conditions to ensure the heated gas produced is at a controlled temperature and does not contain molecular oxygen. The latter condition is to prevent uncontrolled burning of product.
  • GD Gas distributor designed to give spatially uniform heat and/or gas delivery to the section of the host rock being processed.
  • PL Product line through which flue gas and hydrocarbons (gases, vapours and possibly liquids are withdrawn to the surface) .
  • At least one borehole 40 is drilled into the host rock, and sealing plugs 42, for example of cement, are inserted above and below the pay section (PS) of the host rock.
  • the arrangement of Figure 2 is similar to that of Figure 1, except that the thermal energy is supplied by hot inert gases heated in a combustion chamber (CC) supplied with inert gas and a combustible fuel.
  • CC combustion chamber
  • some of the distillation product of the induced thermal pressurisation process is burnt as fuel in the combustion chamber.
  • This fuel would comprise light hydrocarbons which cannot be sold economically due to geographical or other factors, as well as heavy hydrocarbons which suffer from the same disadvantages .
  • a separation plant 43 separates the fuel from the saleable hydrocarbon product at the surface.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates one possible method of combining in-situ combustion with one form of the method according to the invention.
  • pyrolysis is employed as a post-TORBIT processing step.
  • Oil well 44 passes through a pay section of the host rock from which most of the tight oil has been recovered by induced thermal pressurisation at temperatures up to 530°C, typically between 300 to 500°C.
  • In- situ combustion is now induced by burning the carbonaceous residue from distillation in a backfiring mode. Ignition in well 44 is initiated by commencing air flow into the well with the temperature at the well wall higher than the ignition temperature of the residue, or by using a supplementary fuel.
  • the flow of hydrocarbons produced in PLl will contain Pyrolysis tars/oils which may be of low value. These can be used as fuel in the combustion chamber for heating the inert gas injected into well 46 which operates according to the TORBIT process.
  • PL2 carries the hydrocarbon product, water vapour and inert gasses from the TORBIT process in well 46.
  • the TORBIT process is maintained in well 52 until the distilled zones in the pay section of the host rock between wells 50 and 52 interconnect. This distilled region then becomes available for pyrolysis to produce a fuel source for further distillation in another adjacent well (not shown) .
  • This arrangement lends itself to a sequential operation in which the TORBIT process is performed in one well, followed by in-situ combustion to produce a fuel source for the TORBIT process in an adjacent well.
  • the adjacent well is employed for in-situ combustion to produce a fuel for the TORBIT process in a still further well, and so on.
  • the illustrated arrangement shows the TORBIT process and/or in-situ combustion occurring with only one well at a time, however in practice more than one well can be operated simultaneously.
  • a network of both horizontal and vertical boreholes may be employed depending on the nature and distribution of the reservoir of tight oil and kerogens in the host rock.
  • Figure 5 illustrates such an arrangement in which a combustion front is driven through the previously distilled region between wells 54 and 56 in a forward firing mode similar to that illustrated in Figure 4.
  • the combustible products from pyrolysis in the previously distilled region between wells 54 and 56 are burnt in an external combustion chamber (not illustrated) for directly heating inert gas injected into well 56, to induce thermal pressurisation in the pay section of the host rock adjacent well 56.
  • the products of both pyrolysis and the TORBIT process are drawn from well 56 through PL3 for separation at the surface.
  • an explosive charge may be detonated below ground, for example, in a horizontal drill hole to create a region of fractured host rock or a stope within which an in-situ retorting process can be performed.
  • Thermal energy generated in the subterranean retort heats the surrounding rock formation to induce thermal pressurisation which liberates the hydrocarbons from the host rock.
  • the invention may have application wherever conventional oil recovery techniques alone a e not viable. It is thought that significant amounts of hydrocarbons are left in exhausted wells where conventional oil recovery techniques have been used. Heating of the host rock to induce thermal pressurisation may increase the mobility of any remaining hydrocarbons sufficiently to release them for recovery from the "exhausted" well. The induced thermal pressurisation may also cause fractures to be formed which increase the permeability of the rock formation surrounding the "exhausted” well, to further enhance the liberation of hydrocarbons therefrom.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Production Of Liquid Hydrocarbon Mixture For Refining Petroleum (AREA)

Abstract

Technique améliorée d'extraction d'hydrocarbures dans la roche réservoir, dans laquelle la roche réservoir est chauffée en vue de provoquer la pressurisation thermique des hydrocarbures qu'elle contient. La pressurisation induite augmente suffisamment la mobilité des hydrocarbures pour qu'ils s'échappent de la roche réservoir. Dans certaines formations rocheuses, la pressurisation thermique induite peut aussi provoquer la fracturation de fractures dans la roche réservoir. Ces microfractures induites forment un réseau de communications entre les pores de la roche résrvoir, ce qui augmente sa perméabilité et permet la libération des hydrocarbures vaporisés. Le procédé est particulièrement applicable à l'extraction de pétrole piégé dans des formations rocheuses caractérisées par une faible perméabilité. Il peut aussi être associé à d'autres techniques d'extraction secondaire, telles que la combustion in situ et la fracturation artificielle de la roche réservoir par fracturation hydraulique ou par la détonation d'une charge explosive dans la roche réservoir.
PCT/AU1994/000488 1993-08-20 1994-08-22 Procede ameliore pour l'extraction d'hydrocarbures WO1995006093A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU74849/94A AU7484994A (en) 1993-08-20 1994-08-22 Enhanced hydrocarbon recovery method

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPM077893 1993-08-20
AUPM0778 1993-08-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1995006093A1 true WO1995006093A1 (fr) 1995-03-02

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Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005103444A1 (fr) * 2004-04-23 2005-11-03 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Inhibition des effets de l'encrassement dans des puits de forage
US8833453B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-09-16 Shell Oil Company Electrodes for electrical current flow heating of subsurface formations with tapered copper thickness
US8851170B2 (en) 2009-04-10 2014-10-07 Shell Oil Company Heater assisted fluid treatment of a subsurface formation
US8857506B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2014-10-14 Shell Oil Company Alternate energy source usage methods for in situ heat treatment processes
US8881806B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2014-11-11 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for treating a subsurface formation with electrical conductors
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
US9127538B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2015-09-08 Shell Oil Company Methodologies for treatment of hydrocarbon formations using staged pyrolyzation
US9181780B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2015-11-10 Shell Oil Company Controlling and assessing pressure conditions during treatment of tar sands formations
US9309755B2 (en) 2011-10-07 2016-04-12 Shell Oil Company Thermal expansion accommodation for circulated fluid systems used to heat subsurface formations
US9399905B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2016-07-26 Shell Oil Company Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations
WO2016186690A1 (fr) * 2015-05-18 2016-11-24 Saudi Arabian Oil Company Fracturation de formation par traitement thermique
US9528322B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2016-12-27 Shell Oil Company Dual motor systems and non-rotating sensors for use in developing wellbores in subsurface formations

Citations (6)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB283639A (en) * 1926-10-13 1928-01-13 Robert Henry Crozier Method of and apparatus for the distillation of oils from oil shale or coal or similar material
AU119337A (en) * 1937-03-25 1938-04-07 John Robin Core Ernest Improved low temperature method of, and apparatus for, removing the vaporable contents from carbonaceous materials
US4304609A (en) * 1980-02-28 1981-12-08 Morris James B N Drill cuttings treatment apparatus and method
AU8284182A (en) * 1981-04-22 1982-10-28 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Extraction of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-bearing substrate
AU2045383A (en) * 1982-10-22 1984-05-03 Iit Research Institute Recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from oil shale by electro magnetic heating in situ
US4473120A (en) * 1983-04-29 1984-09-25 Mobil Oil Corporation Method of retorting oil shale using a geothermal reservoir

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB283639A (en) * 1926-10-13 1928-01-13 Robert Henry Crozier Method of and apparatus for the distillation of oils from oil shale or coal or similar material
AU119337A (en) * 1937-03-25 1938-04-07 John Robin Core Ernest Improved low temperature method of, and apparatus for, removing the vaporable contents from carbonaceous materials
US4304609A (en) * 1980-02-28 1981-12-08 Morris James B N Drill cuttings treatment apparatus and method
AU8284182A (en) * 1981-04-22 1982-10-28 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Extraction of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-bearing substrate
AU2045383A (en) * 1982-10-22 1984-05-03 Iit Research Institute Recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from oil shale by electro magnetic heating in situ
US4473120A (en) * 1983-04-29 1984-09-25 Mobil Oil Corporation Method of retorting oil shale using a geothermal reservoir

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2005236069B2 (en) * 2004-04-23 2008-08-07 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Inhibiting effects of sloughing in wellbores
WO2005103444A1 (fr) * 2004-04-23 2005-11-03 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Inhibition des effets de l'encrassement dans des puits de forage
US8857506B2 (en) 2006-04-21 2014-10-14 Shell Oil Company Alternate energy source usage methods for in situ heat treatment processes
US9181780B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2015-11-10 Shell Oil Company Controlling and assessing pressure conditions during treatment of tar sands formations
US9528322B2 (en) 2008-04-18 2016-12-27 Shell Oil Company Dual motor systems and non-rotating sensors for use in developing wellbores in subsurface formations
US9051829B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2015-06-09 Shell Oil Company Perforated electrical conductors for treating subsurface formations
US8881806B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2014-11-11 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for treating a subsurface formation with electrical conductors
US9022118B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2015-05-05 Shell Oil Company Double insulated heaters for treating subsurface formations
US9129728B2 (en) 2008-10-13 2015-09-08 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods of forming subsurface wellbores
US8851170B2 (en) 2009-04-10 2014-10-07 Shell Oil Company Heater assisted fluid treatment of a subsurface formation
US8875788B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-11-04 Shell Oil Company Low temperature inductive heating of subsurface formations
US9127538B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2015-09-08 Shell Oil Company Methodologies for treatment of hydrocarbon formations using staged pyrolyzation
US9033042B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2015-05-19 Shell Oil Company Forming bitumen barriers in subsurface hydrocarbon formations
US9127523B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2015-09-08 Shell Oil Company Barrier methods for use in subsurface hydrocarbon formations
US9399905B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2016-07-26 Shell Oil Company Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations
US8833453B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2014-09-16 Shell Oil Company Electrodes for electrical current flow heating of subsurface formations with tapered copper thickness
US9016370B2 (en) 2011-04-08 2015-04-28 Shell Oil Company Partial solution mining of hydrocarbon containing layers prior to in situ heat treatment
US9309755B2 (en) 2011-10-07 2016-04-12 Shell Oil Company Thermal expansion accommodation for circulated fluid systems used to heat subsurface formations
WO2016186690A1 (fr) * 2015-05-18 2016-11-24 Saudi Arabian Oil Company Fracturation de formation par traitement thermique
US10113402B2 (en) 2015-05-18 2018-10-30 Saudi Arabian Oil Company Formation fracturing using heat treatment
US10746005B2 (en) 2015-05-18 2020-08-18 Saudi Arabian Oil Company Formation fracturing using heat treatment
AU2015395724B2 (en) * 2015-05-18 2020-10-22 Saudi Arabian Oil Company Formation fracturing using heat treatment

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