Using tunnels for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations
US8162405B2 · kind B2 · utility
54Cited by
967References
17Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 10, 2009 |
| Grant date | Apr 24, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 20, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/119
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A system for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes one or more tunnels having an average diameter of at least 1 m. At least one tunnel is connected to the surface. Two or more wellbores extend from at least one of the tunnels into at least a portion of the subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation. At least two of the wellbores contain elongated heat sources configured to heat at least a portion of the subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation such that at least some hydrocarbons are mobilized.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.