An in situ process for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is provided. The 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 the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that heat from the one or more heat sources pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons within the part. Hydrocarbons may be produced from the formation.

The present invention involves a method and apparatus for enhanced recovery of petroleum fluids from the subsurface by convective heating of the oil sand formation and the heavy oil and bitumen in situ by a downhole electric heater. Multiple propped vertical hydraulic fractures are constructed from the well bore into the oil sand formation and filled with a diluent. The heater and downhole pump force thermal convective flow of the heated diluent to flow upward and outward into the propped fractu...

Certain embodiments provide a method for heating a subsurface formation. The method includes applying direct electrical current (DC) to a heater section below a first selected temperature to provide an electrically resistive heat output. The heater section includes one or more electrical conductors electrically coupled to the electrical power supply. The heater section is configured to be placed in an opening in the formation. At least one of the electrical conductors includes ferromagnetic mate...

A method and apparatus for subterranean thermal conditioning. The first step involves providing a tubular magnetic induction apparatus. The second step involves positioning the magnetic induction apparatus into a subterranean environment. The third step involves supplying voltage waves to the magnetic induction apparatus thereby inducing a magnetic field in and adjacent to the magnetic induction apparatus to thermally condition the subterranean environment. This method and apparatus has applicat...

A heat exchanger for high velocity fluids comprises a first conduit through which a first fluid flows at a high velocity, a second conduit in heat exchange relationship with the first conduit for conducting a second fluid at a high velocity to be heated by the first fluid in the first conduit, the first and second conduits having a common thermally conductive wall, the common thermally conductive wall having a shape to impose a centrifugal force on the first and the second fluids flowing through...

The method and improvement for recovery of hydrocarbons in situ from subterranean oil shale formations is disclosed by forming generally horizontal electrodes from the injection of molten metal into preheated or unheated fractures of the formation. A nonconductive spacing material is positioned in the casing of the bore hole between the electrodes. A fracture horizontally intermediate between the metallic electrodes is propped with a nonconductive granular material. Unterminated standing waves f...

An apparatus and method for increasing and regulating temperature, pressure and fluid viscosities of fluid streams found in oil and gas production. Applicant's apparatus regulates and increases fluid temperatures, by and through improved heating apparatus, which may be placed at one or more locations along a wellbore surface flow line, or subsea flow line. The apparatus preferably either heats fluids flowing from the reservoir to the surface, or alternatively, can heat fluids injected from the s...

Certain embodiments provide a system including a heater. The heater includes one or more electrical conductors. The heater is configured to generate a heat output during application of electrical current to the heater. The heater includes a ferromagnetic material. A conduit at least partially surrounds the heater. A fluid is located in a space between the heater and the conduit. The fluid has a higher thermal conductivity than air at standard temperature and pressure (STP) (0.degree. C. and 101....

Certain embodiments provide a system configured to heat a subsurface formation. The system includes an electrical power supply. A heater section includes one or more electrical conductors electrically coupled to the electrical power supply. At least one of the electrical conductors includes ferromagnetic material. The heater section provides a first heat output when time-varying electrical current is applied to the heater section below a selected temperature, and a second heat output approximate...

The invention provides a system configured to heat at least a part of a subsurface formation. The system includes: an electrical power supply configured to provide modulated direct current (DC); and one or more electrical conductors configured to be electrically coupled to the electrical power supply and placed in an opening in the formation, wherein at least one of the electrical conductors has a heater section, the heater section comprising an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material conf...