Patent · US Expired

In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation leaving one or more selected unprocessed areas

US6722429B2 · kind B2 · utility

269Cited by
420References
51Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 24, 2001
Grant dateApr 20, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 24, 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. An unpyrolyzed section may be left between two substantially pyrolyzed sections to inhibit subsidence of the formation.

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