A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H.sub.2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. The formation to be treated may be selected based on initial moisture content of the formation.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/199,215 entitled "In Situ Energy Recovery," filed Apr. 24, 2000, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/199,214 entitled "In Situ Energy Recovery From Coal," filed Apr. 24, 2000, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/199,213 entitled "Emissionless Energy Recovery From Coal," filed Apr. 24, 2000. The above-referenced provisional applications are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
A oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H.sub.2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat sources may be used to heat the formation. The heat sources may be positioned within the formation in a selected pattern.
A system for reducing heat load applied to a frozen barrier by a heated formation is described. The system includes heat interceptor wells positioned between the heated formation and the frozen barrier. Fluid is positioned in the heat interceptor wells. Heat transfers from the formation to the fluid to reduce the heat load applied to the frozen barrier.
A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The method may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation. At least one heater may be located in at least one wellbore 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 transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation. In some embodiments, a mixture may be produced from the formation.
A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation may include heating a first volume of the formation using a first set of heaters. A second volume of the formation may be heated using a second set of heaters. The first volume may be spaced apart from the second volume by a third volume of the formation. The first volume, second volume, and/or third volume may be sized, shaped, and/or located to inhibit deformation of subsurface equipment caused by geomechanical motion of the formation during heating.
A process for utilizing the heat from fluids produced from a hydrocarbon containing formation, which has been treated in situ. The in situ treatment process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that heat from the one or more heaters pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons within the part of the formation. Hydrocarbons may be produced from the formation. In an embodiment, heat from the produced fluids may be used for other processes. Examples of other processes may include, but are not limited to, hydrotreating, separations, steam cracking, olefin production, etc.
