Patent · US Active

Converting organic matter from a subterranean formation into producible hydrocarbons by controlling production operations based on availability of one or more production resources

US8540020B2 · kind B2 · utility

15Cited by
339References
40Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 21, 2010
Grant dateSep 24, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 2, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B43/247
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

One or more methods, systems and computer readable mediums are utilized to provide treatment of a subterranean formation that contains solid organic matter, such as oil shale, tar sands, and/or coal formation. The treatment of the formation includes heating a treatment interval within the subterranean formation with one or more electrical in situ heaters. Available power, or other production resources, for the electrical heaters are determined at regular, predetermined intervals. Heating rates of the one or more electrical heaters are selectively controlled based on the determined available power at each regular, predetermined interval and based on an optimization model that outputs optimal heating rates for each of the electrical heaters at the determined available power.

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