Patent · US Expired

In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a selected production well spacing

US6712136B2 · kind B2 · utility

311Cited by
416References
121Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 24, 2001
Grant dateMar 30, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 29, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S48/06
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, 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 mixture may be produced from the formation through production wells. A spacing between production wells, and operating conditions of production wells and heat injection wells, may allow the produced mixture to have a desired ratio of condensable hydrocarbons to non-condensable hydrocarbons.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.