CN102834586A - Methods for heating with slots in hydrocarbon formations - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods for treating a subsurface formation are described herein. Some embodiments generally relate to systems, methods, and/or processes for treating fluid produced from the subsurface formation. Some methods include forming at least one wellbore in a hydrocarbon containing formation; forming one or more slots in a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation; providing heat to a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation from one or more heaters placed in at least a portion of the slot; allowing the heat to transfer from the heaters to the portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation; and producing hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon containing formation. One or more of the heaters includes one or more insulated electrical conductors.

Description

The method that in the hydrocarbon stratum, heats with slit

Technical field

Present invention relates in general to produce the method and system of hydrocarbon, hydrogen, methane and/or other products by various subsurface formations such as hydrocarbon containing formation.

Background technology

The hydrocarbon that is obtained by subsurface formations is used as the energy, raw material and the consumer goods usually.Caused having developed the more effective method that can obtain the hydrocarbon source of gathering, handle and/or use for the concern that can obtain the exhausted concern in hydrocarbon source and descend for the hydrocarbon total quality of being produced.But can use in-situ method use before removing from subsurface formations preparation method be difficult near and/or extract too expensive hydrocarbon materials.Possibly need change the chemistry and/or the physical property of hydrocarbon materials in the subsurface formations, so that hydrocarbon materials removes and/or improve the value of said hydrocarbon materials more easily in the subsurface formations.Said chemistry and physical change possibly comprise that generation can remove the reaction in-situ of hydrocarbon materials in the stratum of fluid, form variation, changes in solubility, variable density, phase-state change and/or viscosity and change.

All there is discovery in be deposited in a large number North America, South America, Africa and the Asia of the heavy hydrocarbon (heavy oil and/or tar) that in relative permeable formation (for example Tar sands), comprises.Tar can be than lighter hydrocarbons such as crude oil, naphtha, kerosene and/or gas-oil at surface mining and upgrading.The ground beneficiation method can further be separated pitch with sandstone.Pitch after the separation can be used traditional method for refining and be converted into lighter hydrocarbons.Ore dressing and upgrading Tar sands are much more expensive than producing lighter hydrocarbons by conventional oil-bearing layer usually.The certain methods of being produced hydrocarbon by tight formation comprises that fracturing and/or application traverse drill improve the permeability on stratum.

Can original position heating and/or dry rectificating oil shale stratum be converted into api gravity greater than 10 ° hydrocarbon with the permeability that increases the stratum and/or with oil bearing rock.In the conventional treatment of oil shale formation, the part oil shale formation that will contain oil bearing rock usually is heated to above 370 ℃ temperature to form low molecular weight hydrocarbon, oxycarbide and/or molecular hydrogen.The certain methods of being produced pitch by oil shale formation comprises the temperature that oil shale is heated to above the natural temperature of oil shale, is converted into pitch and/or fluidizable substances up to some organic components of oil shale.

The U.S. Pat 3 of Prats; 515; 213 described the fluid that will under moderate temperature, heat in the relatively long time from a dot cycle in the stratum to another point, a large amount of organic components that in oil shale formation, comprise are converted into the fluidizable substances that oil shale is derived.

People's such as Maher U.S. Pat 7,011,154 has been described and has been used stratum that the thermal source in-situ treatment contains oil bearing rock and liquid hydrocarbon with the production pyrolysed hydrocarbon.Maher has also described and has used the stratum that heat-transfer fluid such as steam in-situ treatment contain oil bearing rock and liquid hydrocarbon.In one embodiment, handling the method contain oil bearing rock and liquid hydrocarbon stratum can comprise and in the stratum, inject heat-transfer fluid.Can be passed to the selection area on stratum from the heat of heat-transfer fluid.Heat from heat-transfer fluid can the most of hydrocarbon of pyrolysis in the selection area on stratum.The admixture of gas that is produced can comprise that average A PI proportion is greater than about 25 ° hydrocarbon.

People's such as Vinegar U.S. Pat 7,017,661 has been described the situ heat treatment on coal stratum.Can produce hydrocarbon, H by the stratum ₂And/or the mixture of other formation fluid.Can apply heat to the stratum, produce temperature so that the temperature on part stratum is elevated to synthesis gas.Can in the stratum, introduce synthesis gas and produce fluid to produce synthesis gas.Can produce synthesis gas by the stratum with intermittent mode or continuous basically mode.

Thereby the open WO 2010/074980 of the international patent application of Carter has described the method and apparatus of the extension slit raising wellhole production capacity that cutting couples together the big cross section on wellhole and desirable production stratum.People's such as Coleman U.S. Pat 7,647,967 has been described through between two wellholes, forming the crack increases the system and method for being produced hydrocarbon by underground storage layer.

As discussed above, carried out a large amount of effort and produced hydrocarbon by oil shale.But still have many hydrocarbon containing formations not exploit economically at present.Therefore, need heating to comprise the improving one's methods of hydrocarbon of improving one's methods and also need have ideal characterisitics of the hydrocarbon containing formation of coal, heavy hydrocarbon and/or pitch by hydrocarbon containing formation production.

Summary of the invention

Embodiment described herein relates generally to the system and method for handling subsurface formations.In certain embodiments, the present invention provides one or more systems and/or the method for handling subsurface formations.

In some embodiments; A kind of method of handling hydrocarbon containing formation; Comprise: in hydrocarbon containing formation, form at least one wellhole, said wellhole comprise at least two basic horizontal or inclination part, be positioned at first perforate of ground primary importance and be positioned at second perforate of the ground second place; In the part hydrocarbon containing formation, form one or more slits, wherein at least one slit is perpendicular at least two basic horizontal of wellhole or the part of inclination; One or more heaters by in part slit at least, placing provide heat to the part hydrocarbon containing formation, and wherein one or more heaters comprise one or more insulated electric conductors; Allow heat to be passed to the part hydrocarbon containing formation from heater; With produce hydrocarbon by hydrocarbon containing formation.

In some embodiments, a kind of method of handling hydrocarbon containing formation comprises: allow heat to be passed to the first area on stratum from a plurality of heaters; Produce hydrocarbon by hydrocarbon containing formation; In the part hydrocarbon containing formation, form one or more slits, wherein at least one slit is perpendicular at least two basic horizontal of the wellhole that is positioned at hydrocarbon containing formation or the part of inclination; To the second area of hydrocarbon containing formation heat is provided by one or more additional heaters of in slit, placing; Allow heat to be passed to the second area on stratum from heater; With by the more hydrocarbon of hydrocarbon containing formation production.

In some embodiments; A kind of method of producing methane by hydrocarbon containing formation; Comprise: in hydrocarbon containing formation, form at least one wellhole, said wellhole comprise at least two basic horizontal or inclination part, be positioned at first perforate of ground primary importance and be positioned at second perforate of the ground second place; In the part hydrocarbon containing formation, form one or more slits, wherein at least one slit is perpendicular at least two basic horizontal of wellhole or the part of inclination; One or more heaters by in part slit at least, placing provide heat to the part hydrocarbon containing formation, and wherein one or more heaters comprise one or more insulated electric conductors; The average temperature of keeping in the part stratum makes it be lower than the pyrolysis temperature of hydrocarbon in the said zone; With remove methane by the hydrocarbon stratum.

In some embodiments; A kind of method of handling hydrocarbon containing formation; Comprise: in hydrocarbon containing formation, form at least one wellhole, said wellhole comprise at least two basic horizontal or inclination part, be positioned at first perforate of ground primary importance and be positioned at second perforate of the ground second place; In the part hydrocarbon containing formation, form one or more slits, wherein at least one slit is perpendicular at least two basic horizontal of wellhole or the part of inclination; To at least one slit drive fluid is provided; With produce hydrocarbon by the hydrocarbon stratum.

In other embodiments, the characteristic of specific embodiments can make up with the characteristic of other embodiment.For example, the characteristic of an embodiment can make up with the characteristic of any other embodiment.

In other embodiments, use any means described herein, system, power supply or heater and handle subsurface formations.

In other embodiments, can supplementary features be added in the specific embodiments described herein.

Description of drawings

Benefit from following detailed description and with reference to accompanying drawing, advantage of the present invention can become clearly concerning those skilled in the art, wherein:

The sketch map of Fig. 1 has been described the embodiment of the part of the situ heat treatment system that is used to handle hydrocarbon containing formation.

Fig. 2 has described the phantom drawing of end of the embodiment of insulated electric conductor.

Fig. 3 has described in the perforate in subsurface formations the embodiment with three insulated electric conductors of Y shape structure coupling.

Fig. 4 has described can be by the embodiment of three insulated electric conductors that remove in the open interior of stratum.

The generalized section of Fig. 5 A and 5B has been described with the embodiment of temperature-limiting heater as the insulated conductor heater of heating element.

The sketch map of Fig. 6 A and 6B has been described heat packs hydrocarbon bearing formation and the embodiment that contains the hydrocarbon containing formation in coal seam.

The phantom drawing of Fig. 7 has been described the embodiment that in hydrocarbon containing formation, forms slit.

Fig. 7 A has described along the sectional drawing of the slit of the 7A-7A part of Fig. 7.

Fig. 8 has described at the phantom drawing that forms slit post processing hydrocarbon containing formation.

The phantom drawing of Fig. 9 has been described and has been used the twin-well system forms slit in the hydrocarbon layer embodiment.

Figure 10 A has described the symmetrical arc phantom drawing that between two wellholes, forms.

Figure 10 B has described the polygonal phantom drawing that between two wellholes, forms.

Figure 11 A has described has centerwell and eight phantom drawings around the radial pattern of well.

Figure 11 B has described has centerwell and seven phantom drawings around the radial pattern of well.

The phantom drawing of Figure 12 A-C has been described and in the hydrocarbon stratum, has been reorientated the embodiment that wellhole is set.

Though the present invention is easy to carry out various improvement and has various alternative forms, its specific embodiments provides and possibly here describe in more detail through the mode of embodiment in the accompanying drawings.Accompanying drawing possibly not be pro rata.But it should be understood that said accompanying drawing and specify not limit the invention to disclosed ad hoc fashion that on the contrary, the present invention will be encompassed in the essence of the present invention of accompanying claims definition and all improvement, equivalence and the alternative form in the scope.

The specific embodiment

The following description relates generally to the system and method for handling hydrocarbon in the stratum.Can handle said stratum to obtain hydrocarbon product, hydrogen and other products.

" api gravity " refers to the api gravity under 15.5 ℃ (60 ° of F).Api gravity presses ASTM method D6822 or ASTM method D1298 measures.

" ASTM " refers to that ASTM is international.

In the context of the heating system, equipment and the method that reduce thermal output, term " self-heating " refers to that said system, equipment and method work in a certain way under the situation of not using external control (for example controller, PID controller or the predictive controller of peripheral control unit as having temperature pick up and backfeed loop).

" pitch/pitch " refers to dissolve in the semisolid stickum in the carbon disulfide.Pitch/pitch can be obtained perhaps by subsurface formations production by the refining operation.

The boiling Range Distribution Analysis of formation fluid described herein and liquid stream presses ASTM method D5307 or ASTM method D2887 measures.

" carbon number " refers to the number of carbon atom in the molecule.Hydrocarbon fluid can comprise the various hydrocarbon with different carbon numbers.Hydrocarbon fluid can be described by carbon number distribution.Carbon number and/or carbon number distribution can distribute and/or gas liquid chromatography mensuration through true boiling point.

" chemical stability " but refer in formation fluid, not have component reaction to form the ability of carrying formation fluid under the condition of polymer and/or composition of blocking pipe, valve and/or container.

" condensable hydrocarbons " is at 25 ℃ and an atmospheric pressure (absolute pressure) hydrocarbon of condensation down.Condensable hydrocarbons can comprise the mixture of carbon number greater than 4 hydrocarbon." not condensable hydrocarbons " is at 25 ℃ and the following uncondensable hydrocarbon of an atmospheric pressure (absolute pressure).Condensable hydrocarbons can not comprise that carbon number is less than 5 hydrocarbon.

" coring " is for generally including to the stratum internal drilling and from the hole, removing the method for a large amount of solid matters in stratum.

" cracking " refers to include organic compounds and decomposes with molecular recombination and compare more polymolecular method when initially existing to produce.In cracking process, be accompanied by hydrogen atom in intermolecular transfer generation series reaction.For example, naphtha can stand heat cracking reaction formation ethene and H ₂

" fluid " can be but be not limited to gas, liquid, emulsion, slurries and/or have the solid particle logistics of the flow behavior that is similar to liquid flow.

The pressure that " fluid pressure " produces for the stratum inner fluid." rock static pressure " (being sometimes referred to as " rock stress ") is the pressure in the stratum, equals the weight of unit area overlying rock material." hydrostatic pressure " is for being imposed on the pressure on stratum by water column.

" stratum " comprises one or more hydrocarbon bearing formations, one or more nonhydrocarbon layer, superstratum and/or underlying strata." hydrocarbon layer " refers to comprise in the stratum layer of hydrocarbon.The hydrocarbon layer can comprise non-hydrocarbon materials and hydrocarbon materials." superstratum " and/or " underlying strata " comprises the impermeable material that one or more are dissimilar.For example, superstratum and/or underlying strata can comprise rock, shale, mud stone or wet/close carbonate.In position in some embodiments of heat treatment method; Superstratum and/or underlying strata can be included in one or more hydrocarbon bearing formation impermeable relatively and not tolerable temperature in the situ heat treatment process, and wherein said heat treatment process can cause the characteristic generation significant change of the hydrocarbon bearing formation of superstratum and/or underlying strata.For example, underlying strata can comprise shale or mud stone, but does not allow underlying strata is heated to pyrolysis temperature in the heat treatment process in position.In some cases, superstratum and/or underlying strata can be permeable to a certain degree.

" formation fluid " refers to the fluid that in the stratum, exists and can comprise pyrolyzation fluid, synthesis gas, mobile hydrocarbon and water (steam).Formation fluid can comprise hydrocarbon fluid and non-hydrocarbon fluids.Term " mobile fluid " refers in the hydrocarbon containing formation because the heat treated result in stratum can flowing fluid." fluid of generation " refers to the fluid that removes from the stratum.

" thermal source " is for mainly providing any system of heat through conduction of heat and/or heat radiation to layer at least in part.For example, thermal source can comprise conductive material and/or insulated electric conductor, elongated member and/or the conductor of electric heater as in conduit, being provided with.Thermal source can also comprise that fuel outside through the burning stratum or wherein produces the system of heat.Said system can be surface burners, downhole gas burner, flameless distributed combustor and natural distributed combustor.In some embodiments, provide by one or more thermals source or the heat that produces can be supplied through other energy.Other energy can directly heat the stratum, perhaps can said energy be applied to the transmission medium on direct or indirect heating stratum.Be understood that the one or more thermals source that apply heat to the stratum can use different energy sources.Therefore; For example; For given stratum; Some thermals source can provide heat by conductive material, resistance heater, and some thermals source can provide heat and some thermals source heat to be provided by one or more other energy (for example chemical reaction, solar energy, wind energy, living beings or other regenerative resource) by burning.Chemical reaction can comprise exothermic reaction (for example oxidation reaction).Thermal source also can comprise conductive material and/or near the heating location (like heater well) and/or the peripheral region heater of heat is provided.

" heater " is near any system or the thermal source that produces heat in well or the well bore region.Heater can for but be not limited to electric heater, burner, the burner that reacts with material or the material that produces by the stratum in the stratum and/or their combination.

" heavy hydrocarbon " is viscous hydrocarbon fluids.Heavy hydrocarbon can comprise high viscosity hydrocarbon fluid such as heavy oil, tar and/or pitch.Heavy hydrocarbon can comprise carbon and hydrogen and than sulphur, oxygen and the nitrogen of small concentration.Also can there be micro-additional elements in the heavy hydrocarbon.Heavy hydrocarbon can be classified by api gravity.Heavy hydrocarbon has usually and is lower than about 20 ° api gravity.For example the api gravity of heavy oil is generally about 10-20 °, and the api gravity of tar is usually less than about 10 °.The viscosity of heavy hydrocarbon under 15 ℃ is usually greater than about 100 centipoises.Heavy hydrocarbon can comprise aromatic hydrocarbons or other complicated cyclic hydrocarbon.

Heavy hydrocarbon can found in the permeable formation relatively.Said relative permeable formation can be included in the heavy hydrocarbon of carrying secretly in sand for example or the carbonate." permeable relatively " is defined as 10 millidarcies or the mean permeability of big (like 10 or 100 millidarcies) more to stratum or part stratum." low relatively permeability " is defined as the mean permeability less than about 10 millidarcies to stratum or part stratum.One darcy equals about 0.99 square micron.The permeability of impermeable barrier is usually less than about 0.1 millidarcy.

Some stratigraphic types that comprise heavy hydrocarbon can also include but not limited to natural mineral wax or natural hard asphalt." natural mineral wax " be present in usually have several meters wide, in the mineral ore of basic tubulose that several kilometers long and hundreds of rice are dark." natural hard asphalt " comprises the solid hydrocarbons that aromatics is formed and is present in usually in the big mineral ore.For example natural mineral wax and natural hard asphalt can comprise that fusing is to form liquid hydrocarbon and/or to carry out the solution mining of hydrocarbon from the stratum by stratum original position recovery of hydrocarbons.

" hydrocarbon " is normally defined the molecule that is mainly formed by carbon and hydrogen atom.Hydrocarbon can also comprise other element such as but not limited to halogen, metallic element, nitrogen, oxygen and/or sulphur.Hydrocarbon can for but be not limited to oil bearing rock, pitch, pyrobitumen, oil, natural mineral wax and hard asphalt.Hydrocarbon can be arranged in the mineral substrate of the earth or contiguous with it.Matrix can include but not limited to sedimentary rock, sandstone, silicilyte, carbonate rock, tripoli and other porous media." hydrocarbon fluid " is for comprising the fluid of hydrocarbon.Hydrocarbon fluid can comprise, carries secretly or be trapped in non-hydrocarbon fluids such as hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, water and the ammonia.

" converted in-situ method " thus refer to that with thermal source heating hydrocarbon containing formation the temperature of layer being increased to is higher than pyrolysis temperature produces pyrolyzation fluid in the stratum method.

" situ heat treatment method " thus referring to the temperature of layer at least in part to be elevated to be higher than with thermal source heating hydrocarbon containing formation causes that fluid moves, the temperature of visbreaking and/or pyrolysis hydrocarbon material produces the method for mobile fluid, visbreaking fluid and/or pyrolyzation fluid in the stratum.

" insulated electric conductor " refers to conduct electricity and all or part of any elongated material that is covered by electrically insulating material.

" karst " is the lysigenous underground landforms of sill dissolvable layer, is generally carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite.This dissolving can be caused by atmosphere or acid water.The Grosmont stratum of Canada Alberta is the instance of karst carbonate strata.

" oil bearing rock " is for taking place to transform and the solid-state insoluble hydrocarbon that mainly comprises carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur through Natural Degradation.Coal and oil shale are the representative instances that contains the material of oil bearing rock." pitch " is for dissolve in the noncrystalline solid or the viscous hydrocarbon material of carbon disulfide basically." oil " is the fluid that comprises the mixture of condensable hydrocarbons.

" alkene " is the molecule that comprises the unsaturated hydrocarbons with one or more non-aromatics carbon-carbon double bonds.

" perforation " is included in perforate, seam, hole or the hole on conduit, pipe, pipeline or other flow channel wall, and they allow to flow into or flow out said conduit, pipe, pipeline or other flow channel.

" periodic table " refers to the periodic table by International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) in November, 2003 regulation.

" physical stability " refers to the ability that formation fluid is not separated or flocculates in fluid delivery process.Physical stability is measured by ASTM method D7060.

" pyrolysis " is for having destroyed chemical bond owing to using heat.For example, pyrolysis can comprise through only using heat that compound is converted into one or more other materials.Heat can be passed to the part stratum and cause pyrolysis.

" pyrolyzation fluid " or " pyrolysis product " refers to the main fluid that produces in the pyrolytic process of hydrocarbon.The fluid that produces through pyrolytic reaction can mix with other fluid in the stratum.Said mixture will be treated as pyrolyzation fluid or pyrolysis product.Applied as here, " pyrolysis zone " refers to react or reacting the stratum volume (for example relative permeable formation such as tar sand formation) that forms pyrolyzation fluid.

" residual oil " refers to that boiling point is higher than the hydrocarbon of 537 ℃ (1000 ℉).

" rich layer " in the hydrocarbon containing formation is the layer (it is thick to be generally about 0.2-0.5m) of relative thin.Rich layer has about 0.150L/kg or bigger enrichment usually.Enrichment of some rich layer for about 0.170L/kg or bigger, about 0.190L/kg or more greatly or about 0.210L/kg or bigger.The enrichment of the poor layer on stratum is about 0.100L/kg or littler and usually than rich bed thickness.Enrichment of each layer and position are for example through coring with subsequently core Fischer analysis, density or neutron well logging or other logging method are measured.Rich layer possibly have lower initial thermal conductivity each layer of in the stratum other.Usually, rich layer thermal conductivity is the 1/1.5-1/3 of poor layer of thermal conductivity.In addition, the rich layer on stratum has higher coefficient of thermal expansion than poor layer.

" slit " refers to be basically perpendicular in the hydrocarbon containing formation crack of wellhole.Slit can be groove, depression, plane perforate or passage.Slit can be arbitrary orientation.

" depression " moves downward with respect to the ground elemental height for the part stratum.

" heat stack " thus refer to influenced by said thermal source to the temperature that the selection area on stratum provides heat to make at least one stratum, position between thermal source by two or more thermals source.

" synthesis gas " is for comprising the mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide.The annexing ingredient of synthesis gas can comprise water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, methane and other gas.Synthesis gas can produce through the whole bag of tricks and raw material.Synthesis gas can be used to synthetic multiple compound.

" tar " is usually greater than the viscous hydrocarbon of about 10,000 centipoises 15 ℃ of following viscosity.The proportion of tar is usually greater than 1.000.The api gravity of tar is less than 10 °.

" tar sand formation " is a kind of stratum, and wherein hydrocarbon mainly exists with the form of the heavy hydrocarbon in mineral grain skeleton or other host's rock (for example sand or carbonate), carried secretly and/or tar.The example of tar sand formation comprises the Faja stratum of the Orinoco band of stratum such as Athabasca stratum, Grosmont stratum and Peace River stratum (these three kinds of stratum all are arranged in Canadian Alberta) and Venezuela.

" temperature-limiting heater " is often referred to the heater of under the condition of not utilizing external control such as temperature controller, power governor, rectifier or miscellaneous equipment, regulating the heat output (for example reducing heat output) that is higher than specified temp.Temperature-limiting heater can be the resistance heater of AC (interchange) or modulation (for example " copped wave ") DC (direct current) power supply.

" hot tearing " refers to because the expansion of stratum and/or stratum inner fluid or contraction and the pressure break that in the stratum, produces; And this expansion or contraction are because the temperature of increases/reduction stratum and/or stratum inner fluid causes, and/or the pressure that increases/reduce the stratum inner fluid causes owing to heating.

" thermo oxidative stability " refers to the thermo oxidative stability of fluid.Thermo oxidative stability is pressed ASTM method D3241 and is measured.

Layer " thickness " refers to the thickness of the section of layer, the surperficial quadrature of wherein said section and layer.

" time-varying current " refers to that said electric current produces the Kelvin effect electric current in ferromagnetic conductor, and the magnitude of said electric current changes in time.Time-varying current had both comprised that interchange (AC) also comprised modulation direct current (DC).

" U-shaped wellhole " refers to the wellhole that first perforate in the stratum extends through layer at least in part and goes out through second perforate in the stratum.In this context, said wellhole can be to be roughly to understand " V " or " U " shape for the wellhole that is considered to " U " shape, and two legs of " U " shape need not be parallel to each other or be vertical with " end " of " U ".

Upgrading " refer to improve the quality of hydrocarbon.For example, the upgrading heavy hydrocarbon can cause the AP I proportion of heavy hydrocarbon to increase.

" visbreaking " refers in heat treatment process, make the molecule disentanglement in the fluid and/or in heat treatment process, is less molecule with big molecular breakdown, thereby causes fluid viscosity to reduce.

Except as otherwise noted, " viscosity " refers to the kinematic viscosity under 40 ℃.Viscosity is measured through ASTM method D445.

" wax " refers to a kind of low melting point organic mixture, or under lower temperature for solid under the higher temperatures be the high-molecular weight compounds of liquid and when being in when solid-state it can form the barrier to water.The example of wax comprises animal wax, vegetable wax, mineral wax, pertroleum wax and synthetic wax.

Term " wellhole " refers to through boring or in the stratum, inserts the hole in the stratum that conduit forms.Wellhole can have basic be circular cross section or other cross sectional shape.Applied as here, when the perforate in the finger stratum, term " well " and " perforate " can be exchanged with term " wellhole " and used.

Can handle the stratum in every way to produce many Different products.Can use the different stages in the heat treatment process in position or process is handled the stratum.In some embodiments, one or more subterranean formation zones are carried out solution mining from said zone, to remove soluble mineral matter.In position before the heat treatment process, and/or can carry out solution mining to mineral matter afterwards.The average temperature of in some embodiments, carrying out one or more zones of solution mining can keep below about 120 ℃.

In some embodiments, with the heating of one or more subterranean formation zones to remove water from said district and/or to remove methane and other volatile hydrocarbon from said district.In some embodiments, in the process that removes water and volatile hydrocarbon, average temperature can be elevated to from environment temperature and be lower than about 220 ℃ temperature.

In some embodiments, one or more subterranean formation zones are heated to the temperature that allows hydrocarbon motion in the stratum and/or visbreaking.In some embodiments, the average temperature of one or more subterranean formation zones is elevated to the mobile temperature temperature of 100-250 ℃, 120-240 ℃ or 150-230 ℃ (for example to) of hydrocarbon in the zone.

In some embodiments, heat one or more zones to the temperature that allows to take place in the stratum pyrolytic reaction.In some embodiments, can the average temperature of one or more subterranean formation zones be elevated to the pyrolysis temperature (for example 230-900 ℃, 240-400 ℃ or 250-350 ℃ temperature) of hydrocarbon in the zone.

Can set up thermal gradient around thermal source with a plurality of thermals source heating hydrocarbon containing formations, said thermal gradient is elevated to the temperature of wanting with the desirable rate of heat addition with the temperature of hydrocarbon in the stratum.For wanting product, possibly influence the quality and the quantity of the formation fluid of producing by hydrocarbon containing formation through the temperature rise rate that moves temperature range and/or pyrolysis temperature range.Slowly the rising formation temperature is through moving the hydrocarbon that temperature range and/or pyrolysis temperature range possibly allow to be produced by the stratum high-quality, high AP I proportion.Slowly the rising formation temperature possibly allow to remove a large amount of hydrocarbon that exist in the stratum as hydrocarbon product through moving temperature range and/or pyrolysis temperature range.

In some situ heat treatment embodiments, the part stratum is heated to the temperature of wanting rather than the temperature that slowly raises through a temperature range.In some embodiments, the temperature of wanting is 300 ℃, 325 ℃ or 350 ℃.Can select other temperature as the temperature of wanting.

Heat stack from thermal source allows in the stratum, to set up relatively rapidly and effectively the temperature of wanting.Can regulate thermal source imports the temperature in the stratum is remained basically the temperature of wanting to the energy on stratum.

Can produce by the stratum through producing well and move and/or pyrolysis product.In some embodiments, the average temperature with one or more zones is elevated to mobile temperature and produces hydrocarbon from producing well.Since move to produce be reduced to be lower than set point value after, the average temperature in one or more zones can be elevated to pyrolysis temperature.In some embodiments, before reaching pyrolysis temperature, do not have under the mass-produced condition, the average temperature in one or more zones can be elevated to pyrolysis temperature.The formation fluid that can comprise pyrolysis product through producing well production.

In some embodiments, after mobile and/or pyrolysis, can the average temperature in one or more zones be elevated to the temperature that is enough to allow the synthesis gas generation.In some embodiments, reach be enough to allow temperature that synthesis gas produces before, can be enough to the temperature that allows synthesis gas to produce not having under the mass-produced condition hydrocarbon is elevated to.For example, synthesis gas can be produced in the temperature range of about 400-1200 ℃, about 500-1100 ℃ or about 550-1000 ℃.Can in said zone, add synthesis gas and generate fluid (like steam and/or water) to produce synthesis gas.Synthesis gas can be by producing well production.

Solution mining be can implement in position in the heat treatment process, remove volatile hydrocarbon and water, hydrocarbon, pyrolysed hydrocarbon, generation synthesis gas and/or other process moved.In some embodiments, can implement some processes after the heat treatment process in position.These processes can include but not limited to by carbon dioxide sequestration in the zone of fluid storage (like water and/or hydrocarbon) and/or former processing in the zone of processing region recovery heat, former processing.

Fig. 1 has described the sketch map of embodiment of the part of the situ heat treatment system that is used to handle hydrocarbon containing formation.Said situ heat treatment system can comprise barrier wells 200.Use barrier wells and around processing region, form shielding.Said shielding suppression fluid flows into and/or the outflow processing region.Barrier wells includes but not limited to dewatering well, vacuum well, capture well, injector well, grout wells, freeze or their combination.In some embodiments, barrier wells 200 is a dewatering well.Dewatering well can remove aqueous water and/or suppress aqueous water and get into ground layer segment to be heated or the stratum of heating.In the embodiment that Fig. 1 describes, barrier wells 200 only is expressed as extends along a side of thermal source 202, but barrier wells surrounds institute usually and use or all thermals source 202 to be used, thereby heats the processing region on stratum.

Thermal source 202 is positioned at least in part in the layer.Thermal source 202 can comprise heater such as insulated electric conductor, double pipe heater, surface burners, flameless distributed combustor and/or natural distributed combustor.Thermal source 202 can also comprise the heater of other type.Thermal source 202 is that layer provides heat with the hydrocarbon in the heating stratum at least in part.Can for thermal source 202 energy be provided through supply line 204.The type that depends on the thermal source or each thermal source that are used to heat the stratum, supply line 204 can be structurally different.The supply line 204 that is used for thermal source can be the burner transfer the fuel for electric heater send electricity, perhaps can carry the heat exchanging fluid that in the stratum, circulates.In some embodiments, the electricity that is used for the situ heat treatment process can provide through one or more nuclear power stations.Using nuclear power can allow to reduce or eliminate by situ heat treatment process discharging carbon dioxide.

When the heating stratum, the heat on input stratum can cause the stratum to be expanded and geological movement.Can be before dehydration, open thermal source simultaneously or in the process.Computer simulation can the response of simulated formation to heating.Can appliance computer simulate and develop pattern and the sequential that activates the stratum endogenous pyrogen, thus the geological movement that makes the stratum can negative effect stratum endogenous pyrogen, the function of producing well and miscellaneous equipment.

The heating stratum can make in-place permeability and/or porosity increase.The increase of permeability and/or porosity possibly come from material in the stratum owing to the vaporization of water and remove, hydrocarbon remove and/or the formation in crack reduces.Because the in-place permeability and/or the porosity that increase, fluid possibly flow in the ground layer segment of heating more easily.Because the fluid in the permeability and/or the porosity that increase, the ground layer segment of heating possibly move through sizable distance in the stratum.Said sizable distance can surpass 1000m, and this depends on the permeability on various factors such as stratum, the characteristic of fluid, the temperature on stratum and the barometric gradient that fluid is moved.Fluid mobile phase in the stratum allows producing well 206 far away relatively at interval in the stratum when the ability of big distance.

Use producing well 206 and remove formation fluid by the stratum.In some embodiments, producing well 206 comprises thermal source.Thermal source in the producing well can the producing well place or near one or more parts on heating stratum.In the embodiment of some situ heat treatment methods, the heat that is offered the stratum by producing well in every meter producing well is applied to the heat on stratum in every meter thermal source less than the thermal source by the heating stratum.The heat that is applied to the stratum by producing well can and remove near the producing well liquid phase fluid through evaporation increases near the in-place permeability the producing well, and/or increases near the in-place permeability the producing well through forming big and/or little crack.

In producing well, can place an above thermal source.When from the stack of the heat of adjacent thermal source with ground layer for heating to being enough to offset when heating the benefit that the stratum provides with producing well, the thermal source of producing well bottom can be closed.In some embodiments, the thermal source on producing well top can be held open behind the thermal source inactivation of producing well bottom.Aboveground thermal source can suppress formation fluid condensation and backflow.

In some embodiments, the thermal source in the producing well 206 allows that gas phase removes formation fluid in the stratum.Provide at the producing well place or through producing well heating can: (1) suppresses condensation of this production fluid and/or backflow when producing when fluid moves near the producing well of superstratum; (2) increase the heat that is input to the stratum; (3) compare with the producing well that does not have thermal source; Increase the output speed of producing well, (4) suppress the producing well medium high carbon and count compound (C ₆Hydrocarbon and more than) condensation, and/or (5) increase producing well place or near in-place permeability.

Subsurface pressure in the stratum can be corresponding to the fluid pressure that produces in the stratum.When the stratum of heating portion temperature raise, as the fluid generation of original position thermal expansion, increase and the result of water vapor, the pressure of heating part may increase.Control removes fluid from the stratum speed allows the pressure in the control stratum.Pressure in the stratum can be measured at a plurality of diverse locations, for example the producing well place or near, the thermal source place or near, or at the monitor well place.

In some hydrocarbon containing formations, produce hydrocarbon by the stratum and be suppressed the mobile and/or pyrolysis of at least some hydrocarbon in the stratum., formation fluid just can produce said formation fluid when having selected quality by the stratum.In some embodiments, said selected quality comprises the api gravity at least about 20 °, 30 ° or 40 °.Suppress to produce up at least some hydrocarbon and move and/or pyrolysis can increase the conversion ratio of heavy hydrocarbon to lighter hydrocarbons.The inhibition initial production can minimize in the stratum produces heavy hydrocarbon.Produce the life-span that a large amount of heavy hydrocarbons possibly need expensive equipment and/or shorten production equipment.

In some hydrocarbon containing formations, in the ground layer segment of heating, produced sizable permeability before, can the hydrocarbon in the stratum be heated to and move and/or pyrolysis temperature.The initial deficiency of permeability possibly suppress FLUID TRANSPORTATION to the producing well 206 that produced.During initial heating, the fluid pressure in the stratum, contiguous thermal source 202 place possibly increase.The fluid pressure of this increase can discharge, monitor, change and/or control through one or more thermals source 202.For example, selected thermal source 202 or independent relief well can comprise that permission removes the relief valve of some fluids in the stratum.

In some embodiments, owing in the stratum, possibly also not exist, therefore can allow pressure increase by the expansion generation of the mobile fluid, pyrolyzation fluid or other fluid that produce in the stratum to the open approach of producing well 206 or any other pressure trap.Fluid pressure is increased towards the rock static pressure.When fluid possibly form the crack during near minimum in situ stress in hydrocarbon containing formation.In some embodiments, said minimum in situ stress can equal or near the rock static pressure on hydrocarbon stratum.For example, possibly in the ground layer segment of heating, form the crack by thermal source 202 to producing well 206.Produce the crack in the heated portion and can discharge some pressure in the said part.Possibly must keep the pressure in the stratum to be lower than selected pressure, to suppress undesired production, pressure break superstratum or underlying strata and/or to make the hydrocarbon coking in the stratum.

Reach move and/or pyrolysis temperature and allow to produce from the stratum after; Can change pressure in the stratum to change and/or the composition of the formation fluid that control is produced; In the control formation fluid with the percentage that can not condensed fluid compare condensable fluid, and/or the api gravity of the formation fluid that produces of control.For example, reduce pressure and can cause producing more condensable fluid component.Condensable fluid component possibly comprise the alkene of big percentage.

In the embodiment of some situ heat treatment methods, it is enough high to promote the production of api gravity greater than 20 ° formation fluid that the pressure in the stratum can keep.Keep the stratum inner high voltage can suppress settlement of stratum in position in the heat treatment process.Keep high pressure to reduce or cancel compressing on ground formation fluid with in collecting pipe with the needs of said FLUID TRANSPORTATION to treatment facility.

In the ground layer segment of heating, keep high pressure can produce a large amount of high-quality and low-molecular-weight relatively hydrocarbon astoundingly.Make the formation fluid that is produced have the minimum compound that is higher than selected carbon number thereby can keep-up pressure.Said selected carbon number can be at the most 25, at the most 20, at the most 12 or at the most 8.Some number of carbons compounds possibly be entrained in the steam in the stratum and can in the stratum, remove with steam.High pressure in the maintenance stratum can suppress the number of carbons compound and/or polycyclic hydrocarbon compounds is entrained in the steam.Number of carbons compound and/or polycyclic hydrocarbon compounds can keep liquid phase for a long time in the stratum.Saidly can form the low carbon number compound with pyrolysis for compound provide time enough for a long time.

It is believed that producing relative low molecular weight hydrocarbon partly is because the automatic generation and the reaction of hydrogen in the part hydrocarbon containing formation.For example, the maintenance high pressure can force the hydrogen that in pyrolytic process, produces to get into the liquid phase in the stratum.The temperature that heats in said part to the pyrolysis temperature range can make the hydrocarbon pyrolysis in the stratum, thereby produces the liquid phase pyrolyzation fluid.The liquid phase pyrolyzation fluid component that is produced can comprise two keys and/or free radical.Hydrogen (H in the liquid phase ₂) can reduce two keys of the pyrolyzation fluid that produced, thus pyrolyzation fluid polymerization that is produced or the possibility that forms long-chain compound reduced.In addition, H ₂Free radical in the pyrolyzation fluid that is produced also can neutralize.H in the liquid phase ₂The pyrolyzation fluid that can suppress to be produced react each other and/or with the stratum in the reaction of other compound.

Can carry the formation fluid of producing by producing well 206 through collecting pipe 208 to treatment facility 210.Also can be by thermal source 202 grown place layer fluid.For example, can produce fluid with the pressure near the stratum control thermal source by thermal source 202.Can carry the fluid produced by thermal source 202 through pipe or pipeline to collecting pipe 208 or can carry the fluid produced through pipe or pipeline directly to treatment facility 210.Treatment facility 210 can comprise separative element, reaction member, upgrading unit, fuel cell, turbine, hold-up vessel and/or be used to handle other system and the unit of the formation fluid of being produced.Treatment facility can form transport fuel by the hydrocarbon that the stratum produces by at least a portion.In some embodiments, said transport fuel can be aviation kerosine, for example JP-8.

Can be with the electrical heater element of insulated electric conductor as heater or thermal source.Insulated electric conductor can comprise the internal conductance body (core) and the external electrical conductors (overcoat) of being surrounded by electrical insulator.Electrical insulator can comprise mineral insulation (for example magnesia) or other electric insulation.

In certain embodiments, insulated electric conductor is positioned in the perforate in the hydrocarbon containing formation.In some embodiments, insulated electric conductor is placed in the uncased perforate in the hydrocarbon containing formation.In hydrocarbon containing formation, placing insulated electric conductor in the uncased perforate can allow heat to pass to the stratum from insulated electric conductor through radiation and conduction.Using uncased perforate has to be beneficial to and from well, fetches insulated electric conductor where necessary.

In some embodiments, insulated electric conductor is placed in the sleeve pipe in the stratum; Can be in the stratum water mudding jail; Perhaps can in perforate, fill with sand, gravel or other filler.Can insulated electric conductor be supported on the support component that is positioned at perforate.Said support component can be cable, bar or conduit (for example pipeline).Said support component can be processed by metal, pottery, inorganic material or their combination.Because in use the part support component possibly be exposed to formation fluid and heat, so support component possibly be a chemically-resistant and/or heat-resisting.

Can utility node, the connector of solder joint and/or other type gets up insulated electric conductor and support component coupling at the diverse location place along the insulated electric conductor length direction.Support component can link to each other with well head at the upper surface place on the stratum.In some embodiments, insulated electric conductor has enough structural strengths, thereby does not need support component.In many cases, insulated electric conductor can have that at least some are flexible, to suppress the thermal expansion damage when stand variations in temperature.

In certain embodiments, insulated electric conductor is placed in the wellhole of not being with support component and/or centralizer.The appropriate combination that possibly not have following character with the insulated electric conductor of support component and/or centralizer: heatproof and corrosion-resistant, creep strength, length, thickness (diameter) and metallic character, these will suppress insulated electric conductor fault in use.

Fig. 2 has described the phantom drawing of end of the embodiment of heater 212.Heater 212 can comprise insulated electric conductor 214.Insulated electric conductor 214 can have any section shape of wanting, such as but not limited to circular (as shown in Figure 2), triangle, ellipse, rectangle, hexagon or irregularly shaped.In certain embodiments, insulated electric conductor 214 comprises overcoat 216, core 218 and electrical insulator 220.When electric current flow through core 218, core 218 can resistance heated.Can use interchange or time-varying current and/or DC current is that core 218 provides electric power, thereby makes the core resistance heated.

In some embodiments, electrical insulator 220 suppresses electric current to overcoat 216 leakages and generation electric arc.The heat that electrical insulator 220 can produce in core 218 to overcoat 216 conduction of heat.Overcoat 216 can be to stratum radiation or conduction heat.In certain embodiments, the length of insulated electric conductor 214 is 1000m or longer.In order to satisfy the special-purpose needs, also can use longer or shorter insulated electric conductor.Can select the size of the overcoat 216 of core 218, electrical insulator 220 and insulated electric conductor 214, can self-supporting thereby make insulated electric conductor have enough intensity, even in limited time still can be like this on operating temperature.This insulated electric conductor can dangle down from the support of well head or the near interface between superstratum and hydrocarbon containing formation, and does not need to extend to the support component in the hydrocarbon containing formation along insulated electric conductor.

Can design insulated electric conductor 214 with operation under about 1650 watts/meter or higher power level at the most.In certain embodiments, when the heating stratum, insulated electric conductor 214 is operated under about 500-1150 watt/meter power level.Can design insulated electric conductor 214, thereby the ceiling voltage level under the typical operation temperature can not cause electrical insulator 220 big heat and/or electrical breakdown.Thereby can design insulated electric conductor 214 overcoats 216 and can not surpass the obvious temperature that reduces of the corrosion resistance characteristic that causes lagging material.In certain embodiments, can design insulated electric conductor 214 to reach about 650-900 ℃ temperature.Can form insulated electric conductor, to satisfy specific operation requirement with other opereating specification.

Fig. 2 has described the insulated electric conductor 214 with single core 218.In some embodiments, insulated electric conductor 214 has two or more cores 218.For example single insulated electric conductor can have three cores.Core 218 can be processed by metal or other conductive material.The material that is used to form core 218 can include but not limited to kuromore, copper, nickel, carbon steel, stainless steel and their combination.In certain embodiments; Select core 218 to have certain diameter and the resistivity under operating temperature; Thereby making its resistance value that is obtained by Ohm's law make it for the length of every meter selected power dissipation, heater and/or concerning the maximum voltage that core material allows, all is stable on electricity and structure.

In some embodiments, along the length of insulated electric conductor 214, core 218 is processed by different materials.For example, can process by second section significantly lower material of resistance for first of core 218 section than core.First section contiguous stratum of placing maybe not need be heated to the equally high temperature on contiguous second section second stratum.Diameter through having variation and/or through prepare the resistivity that the core section can be regulated core 218 each sections with different materials.

Electrical insulator 220 can be processed by various materials.Usually the powder of using can include but not limited to MgO, Al ₂O ₃, zirconia, BeO, the different chemical variant of spinelle and their combination.Thermal conductivity that MgO can provide and electrical insulation capability.Desirable electrical insulation capability comprises that low electric current leaks and high dielectric strength.Low electric current leaks the possibility and the high dielectric strength that reduce thermal decomposition and reduces to pass the possibility that isolator produces electric arc.If leakage current causes the temperature of isolator to rise gradually, then thermal decomposition possibly take place, also can cause passing isolator and produce electric arc.

Overcoat 216 can be outer metal layer or conductive layer.Overcoat 216 can contact with the formation fluid of heat.Overcoat 216 can be processed by the material that at high temperature has highly corrosion resistant.216 can be used to coat the ideal operating temperature range of the alloy include, but are not limited to, 304 stainless steel, 310 stainless steel,

800 and

600 (U.S. West Virginia Huntington's Inco? Alloys? International).The thickness of overcoat 216 possibly must be enough in heat and corrosive atmosphere, continue 3-10.The thickness of overcoat 216 changes between about 1-2.5mm usually.310 for example can application 1 .3mm thick stainless steel skins surpass the good chemically-resistant sulfidation corrosion performance in 3 years as overcoat 216 in the heating region on stratum, to provide.Can use greater or lesser overcoat thickness and satisfy the special-purpose requirement.

Can one or more insulated electric conductors be placed in the perforate in the stratum, form one or more thermals source.Can make electric current flow through each insulated electric conductor in the perforate, to heat said stratum.Alternatively, can make electric current flow through insulated electric conductor selected in the perforate.The conductor that does not have to use can be used as subsequent use heater.Can the insulated electric conductor galvanic couple be incorporated on the power supply with any mode easily.Can each end of insulated electric conductor be coupled on the lead-in cable that flows through well head.This structure has usually and is positioned near 180 ° curved (" sharp turns ") the thermal source bottom or turns to.Comprise 180 ° of insulated electric conductors curved or that turn to and possibly not need bottom terminal, but 180 ° curved or to turn to possibly be electricity and/or the structure weakness in the heater.Insulated electric conductor can be with series, parallel or series connection and the mode electric coupling of parallelly connected combination together.In some embodiments of thermal source, through making core 218 be connected (as shown in Figure 2) with overcoat 216 in the thermal source bottom, electric current can flow in the conductor of insulated electric conductor, and can return through the overcoat of insulated electric conductor.

In some embodiments, three insulated electric conductors 214 in one 3 phase Y shape structure electric coupling to power supply.Fig. 3 has described in the perforate in subsurface formations the embodiment with three insulated electric conductors of Y shape structure coupling.Fig. 4 has described can be by the embodiment of three insulated electric conductors 214 that remove in the perforate in the stratum 222.For three insulated electric conductors of Y shape structure, possibly not need the bottom to connect.Alternatively, all three insulated electric conductors of Y shape structure can link together near the bottom of perforate.The place, end that can directly connect in the end of the heating region of insulated electric conductor or be coupled to the cold-sale (less resistance area) of heating region in the insulated electric conductor bottom directly connects.Said bottom connects and can process with the tube of isolator filling and sealing or with the tube that epoxy resin is filled.Said isolator can have and the identical composition of isolator that is used as electric insulation.

Using centralizer 226 can be coupled to three insulated electric conductors 214 describing among Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 on the support component 224.Alternatively, can insulated electric conductor 214 directly be bonded on the support component 224 the applied metal band.Centralizer 226 can keep insulated electric conductor 214 on support component 224 the position and/or suppress it and move.Centralizer 226 can be processed by metal, pottery or their combination.Metal can maybe can bear the metal of any other type of corrosion and hot environment for stainless steel.In some embodiments, centralizer 226 is for to be welded to the bow type bonding jumper on the support component with the spacing less than about 6m.The pottery of in centralizer 226, using can for but be not limited to Al ₂O ₃, MgO or other electrical insulator.Centralizer 226 can keep the position of insulated electric conductor 214 on support component 224, thereby under the operating temperature of insulated electric conductor, suppresses moving of insulated electric conductor.Insulated electric conductor 214 can have also that some are flexible, to bear the expansion of support component 224 in the heating process.

Can support component 224, insulated electric conductor 214 and centralizer 226 be put into the perforate 222 of hydrocarbon layer 228.Can use cold-sale 232 is coupled to insulated electric conductor 214 on the bottom conductor abutment 230.Bottom conductor abutment 230 can make each insulated electric conductor 214 electric coupling each other.Bottom conductor abutment 230 can comprise infusible material under the temperature that has electric conductivity and in perforate 222, find.Cold-sale 232 can be the lower insulated electric conductor of resistance ratio insulated electric conductor 214.

Can be coupled on the well head 238 introducing conductor 234, thereby be insulated electric conductor 214 power supplies.Introducing conductor 234 can be processed by the conductor with relatively low resistance, thereby produces less relatively heat by flowing through the electric current of introducing conductor.In some embodiments, introducing conductor is the strand copper cash of rubber or polymer insulation.In some embodiments, introducing conductor is the mineral insulation conductor with copper core.Introducing conductor 234 can be coupled on the well head 238 through the sealing flange between superstratum 242 and ground 240 at 240 places, ground.Sealing flange can escape on the ground 240 from perforate 222 by suppression fluid.

In certain embodiments, use transition conductor 244 and make introducing conductor 234 and insulated electric conductor 214 couplings.Transition conductor 244 can be that the resistance of insulated electric conductor 214 is than lower part.Transition conductor 244 can be called insulated electric conductor 214 " cold-sale ".Can design transition conductor 244, dissipating about 1/10th to about 1/5th power by unit length, the same with the power of the main bringing-up section dissipation of unit length insulated electric conductor 214.Meet the special-purpose requirement though can use shorter or longer length, transition conductor 244 can be about 1.5-15m usually.In one embodiment, the conductor of transition conductor 244 is a copper.The electrical insulator of transition conductor 244 can be identical type with the electrical insulator used in the main bringing-up section.The overcoat of transition conductor 244 can be processed by resistant material.

In certain embodiments, transition conductor 244 is through articulated joint or other coupling joint and 234 couplings of introducing conductor.Also can use articulated joint with transition conductor 244 and insulated electric conductor 214 couplings.Articulated joint possibly must be born and equaled the half the temperature of target area operating temperature.In many cases, the density of electric insulation should be enough high in the articulated joint, to bear required temperature and operating voltage.

In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 3, packing material 246 is placed between superstratum sleeve pipe 248 and the perforate 222.In some embodiments, supporting material 250 can make superstratum sleeve pipe 248 be fastened on the superstratum 242.Packing material 246 can suppression fluid from perforate 222 inflow surfaces 240.Supporting material 250 for example can comprise Class G or Class H portland cement, slag or quartz powder and/or their mixture that mixes with the quartz powder that is used for improving high-temperature behavior.In some embodiments, supporting material 250 radially extends the width of about 5-25cm.

Like Fig. 3 and shown in Figure 4, support component 224 can be in 240 places, surface and well head 238 couplings on stratum with introducing conductor 234.Ground conductor 236 can be enclosed supporting material 250 and be coupled on the well head 238.The embodiment of ground conductor extends to the degree of depth of about 3-515m in can the perforate in the stratum.Alternatively, the said ground conductor degree of depth that can in the stratum, extend about 9m.Electric current can offer insulated electric conductor 214 by power supply, produces heat with the resistance owing to insulated electric conductor.Heat by three insulated electric conductors 214 produce can be transmitted in perforate 222, thereby heats part hydrocarbon layer 228 at least.

The heat that insulated electric conductor 214 produces can heat at least a portion hydrocarbon containing formation.In some embodiments, mainly through transmitting heat to the stratum to heat that the stratum radiation produced.Owing in perforate, have gas, can transmit some heat through conduction of heat and convection current.Shown in Fig. 3 and 4, perforate can be uncased perforate.Uncased perforate cancelled with the hot seal of heater to the stratum cost related, with the cost of sleeve pipe cost related and/or the heater of in perforate, packing into.In addition, radiant heat transfer is more effective than conduction of heat usually, so heater can be operated under lower temperature in open wellhole.In the initial operation process of thermal source, can strengthen heat transmission by conductivity through in perforate, adding gas.Can gas be remained under the pressure of about at the most 27bar (absolute pressure).Gas can include but not limited to carbon dioxide and/or helium.Advantageously free wxpansion or contraction of insulated conductor heater in open wellhole is with accommodate thermal expansion and contraction.Can advantageously from open wellhole, remove or reinstall insulated conductor heater.

In certain embodiments, use bobbin equipment and install or remove the insulated conductor heater assembly.More than one bobbin equipment be can use and insulated electric conductor and support component come to install simultaneously.Alternatively, can use the coiled tubing device said support component is installed.In the time will supporting in the fill-in well, can heater be separated bobbin and is connected in the support.Can electric heater and support component be separated bobbin from bobbin equipment.Along the length of support component, can pad be coupled on support component and the heater.For the additional electric heaters element, can use additional bobbin equipment.

Temperature-limiting heater can exist in the structure and/or can be included in the material of confirming can provide for heater under the temperature automatic temperature-adjusting limited characteristic.In certain embodiments, in temperature-limiting heater, use ferrimagnet.Ferrimagnet the Curie temperature of material and/or phase transition temperature place or near can limit temperature certainly, thereby when the heat that minimizing is provided when said material applies time-varying current.In certain embodiments, ferrimagnet is from having limit under the selected temperature of temperature in being about Curie temperature and/or phase transition temperature scope of temperature-limiting heater.In certain embodiments, said selected temperature is within Curie temperature and/or phase transition temperature scope about 35 ℃, within about 25 ℃, within about 20 ℃ or within about 10 ℃.In certain embodiments, with ferrimagnet and other material (for example high conductivity material, high-strength material, resistant material or their combination) coupling, thereby various electricity and/or mechanical performance are provided.Other parts of some parts proportional limit temperature heaters of temperature-limiting heater have lower resistance (causing owing to different geometries and/or through using different ferromagnetism and/or nonferromugnetic material).Make the parts of temperature-limiting heater have material different and/or size allows the desirable heat output of adjustment by each parts of heater.

Temperature-limiting heater maybe be more reliable than other heater.Temperature-limiting heater possibly more be difficult for owing to focus in the stratum damages or fault.In some embodiments, temperature-limiting heater allows the stratum to heat basically equably.In some embodiments, temperature-limiting heater can more effectively heat the stratum through operating under higher average heat output along the whole length of heater.Temperature-limiting heater is along the operation under higher average heat output of the whole length of heater; The maximum operating temp that surpasses or will surpass heater if this is along the temperature of any point of heater needn't be reduced to whole heater to the power input of heater as the heater that utilizes typical constant wattage.Be applied under the situation of the time-varying current of heater in controlled adjustment not, reduce automatically near the heat output of the temperature-limiting heater part of heater Curie temperature and/or phase transition temperature scope.Because the electrical property (for example resistance) of temperature-limiting heater part changes, heat output reduces automatically.Therefore, in more most heating process, more power are provided through temperature-limiting heater.

In certain embodiments; When temperature-limiting heater is supplied power with temperature variant electric current; The system that comprises temperature-limiting heater provides the output of first heat at first, then the Curie temperature of heater resistance part and/or phase transition temperature scope place, near or more than the heat output (output of second heat) of minimizing is provided.First heat is output as the heat output under the uniform temperature, and temperature-limiting heater begins from restriction when being lower than said temperature.In some embodiments, first heat is output as the heat output under the Curie temperature that is lower than ferrimagnet in the temperature-limiting heater and/or about 50 ℃, about 75 ℃ of phase transition temperature scopes, about 100 ℃ or the about 125 ℃ temperature.

Temperature-limiting heater can be through time-varying current (exchanging or the modulation direct current) power supply that provides at the well head place.Said well head can comprise the power supply and other assembly (for example modulation component, transformer and/or capacitor) that is used for to the temperature-limiting heater power supply.Temperature-limiting heater can be one of a plurality of heaters of being used for the heating part stratum.

In some embodiments, the conductive layer of using relative thin temperature at the most the temperature place of the Curie temperature of ferromagnetic conductor and/or phase transition temperature scope or near provide temperature-limiting heater main resistance heat output.Can be with this temperature-limiting heater as the heating element in the insulated conductor heater.The heating element of insulated conductor heater can be arranged on outer intracutaneous, between crust and heating element, has insulating layer.

The sectional drawing of Fig. 5 A and 5B has been described with the embodiment of temperature-limiting heater as the insulated conductor heater of heating element.Insulated electric conductor 214 comprises core 218, ferromagnetic conductor 252, inner conductor 254, electrical insulator 220 and overcoat 216.Core 218 is the copper core.Ferromagnetic conductor 252 is for example iron or ferroalloy.

The nonferromugnetic material conductive layer of inner conductor 254 relative thin that to be electrical conductivity higher than ferromagnetic conductor 252.In certain embodiments, inner conductor 254 is a copper.Inner conductor 254 can be copper alloy.Copper alloy has than the more flat resistance of fine copper with temperature variation curve usually.The function that more flat resistance can be used as the temperature of Curie temperature at the most and/or phase transition temperature scope with temperature variation curve provides and changes less heat output.In some embodiments, inner conductor 254 for the copper that contains 6wt% nickel (like CuNi ₆Or LOHM ^TM).In some embodiments, inner conductor 254 is CuNi ₁₀Fe ₁The Mn alloy.At the Curie temperature of ferromagnetic conductor 252 and/or below the phase transition temperature scope, the magnetic characteristic of ferromagnetic conductor limits most of electric currents and flows into inner conductor 254.Therefore, inner conductor 254 provides insulated electric conductor 214 main resistance heats to export at Curie temperature and/or below the phase transition temperature scope.

In certain embodiments,, confirm the size of inner conductor 254, thereby inner conductor provides desirable heat output and desirable adjusting ratio with core 218 and ferromagnetic conductor 252.For example, the cross-sectional area of inner conductor 254 can be about 1/2 or 1/3 of the cross-sectional area of core 218.Usually, if inner conductor 254 is copper or copper alloy, then must to have relative small cross section long-pending so that desirable heat output to be provided for inner conductor 254.In the embodiment of utilizing copper inner conductor 254, the diameter of core 218 is 0.66cm, and the external diameter of ferromagnetic conductor 252 is 0.91cm, and the external diameter of inner conductor 254 is 1.03cm, and the external diameter of electrical insulator 220 is that the external diameter of 1.53cm and overcoat 216 is 1.79cm.Utilizing CuNi ₆In the embodiment of inner conductor 254, the diameter of core 218 is 0.66cm, and the external diameter of ferromagnetic conductor 252 is 0.91cm, and the external diameter of inner conductor 254 is 1.12cm, and the external diameter of electrical insulator 220 is that the external diameter of 1.63cm and overcoat 216 is 1.88cm.Provide the insulated electric conductor of main heat output to compare at Curie temperature and/or below the phase transition temperature scope with approaching inner conductor, this insulated electric conductor is littler usually and manufacture more cheap.

Electrical insulator 220 can be magnesia, alumina, silica, beryllium oxide, boron nitride, silicon nitride or their combination.In certain embodiments, electrical insulator 220 is magnesian compacted powder.In some embodiments, electrical insulator 220 comprises the bead of silicon nitride.

In certain embodiments, between electrical insulator 220 and inner conductor 254, place a little layer material, under higher temperatures, move the entering electrical insulator to suppress copper.For example, can between electrical insulator 220 and inner conductor 254, place a substratum nickel (the for example nickel of about 0.5mm).

Overcoat 216 is processed such as but not limited to 347 stainless steels, 347H stainless steel, 446 stainless steels or 825 stainless steels by resistant material.In some embodiments, overcoat 216 is at the Curie temperature of ferromagnetic conductor 252 and/or phase transition temperature scope place or abovely for insulated electric conductor 214 some mechanical strengths are provided.In certain embodiments, overcoat 216 is not used for conductive electric current.

The composition that depends on hydrocarbon in the stratum, oil shale formation can have numerous characteristics.This this characteristic possibly influence in situ heat treatment method (the for example converted in-situ method) process forming and quantity of the product produced by oil shale formation.The characteristic that can use oil shale formation determines whether and/or how to make oil shale formation stand the situ heat treatment process.

Oil bearing rock is made up of the organic substance that in maturation, has transformed.The maturation of oil bearing rock can comprise for two stages: biochemistry stage and geologic chemistry stage.The biochemistry stage generally includes by organic substance degraded aerobic and/or that anaerobic organic matter causes.The geologic chemistry stage generally includes because the organic substance that variations in temperature and big pressure cause transforms.In maturation, oil is gentle can be along with the oil bearing rock organic substance transforms and produces.Oil bearing rock can be divided into four kinds of different classes: I, II, III and IV class.The division of oil bearing rock kind possibly depended on the precursor material of oil bearing rock.Said precursor material is converted into maceral in time.Maceral is the microtexture with different structure and characteristic, and said different structure and characteristic depend on the precursor material that they are derived.

I class oil bearing rock can be categorized as the algal coal element, because it is mainly evolved by alginite.I class oil bearing rock possibly be derived from the deposit that produces in the lake environment.II class oil bearing rock possibly evolved by the organic substance that in marine environment, deposits.III class oil bearing rock can comprise the vitrinite maceral usually.Vitrinite is derived from cell membrane and/or lignum (the for example stem of plant, branch, Ye Hegen).III class oil bearing rock can exist in most of humic coal.III class oil bearing rock possibly evolved by the organic substance that deposits in the marsh.IV class oil bearing rock comprises the inertinite class.The inertinite class is by forming through oxidated vegetable material such as leaf, skin and stem in the early stage peat stage of burying diagenesis.Inertinite chemically is being similar to vitrinite, but has high carbon content and low hydrogen content.

Can use the reflectance of vitrinite evaluation and contain the quality of the fluid of oil bearing rock stratum generation by some.The stratum that comprises oil bearing rock that can be used to handle based on the reflectance of vitrinite evaluation/selection of oil bearing rock.Reflectance of vitrinite is often relevant with the oxygen to carbon atom ratio of the hydrogen-to-carbon ratio of oil bearing rock and oil bearing rock.The reflectance of vitrinite of hydrocarbon containing formation possibly show that which kind of fluid is produced by the stratum under heating state.For example, the reflectance of vitrinite of about 0.5-1.5% possibly show that oil bearing rock will produce a large amount of condensable fluids.The reflectance of vitrinite of about 1.5-3.0% possibly show that the H/C mol ratio of oil bearing rock is about 0.25-0.9.The heating reflectance of vitrinite may produce in a large number the methane and the hydrogen of (for example great majority) for the hydrocarbon stratum of about 1.5-3.0%.

In some embodiments, use the situ heat treatment method and handle hydrocarbon containing formation in the stratum, to remove methane.Hydrocarbon containing formation can and/or comprise coal for oil shale formation.In some embodiments, around heated portion, form shielding.In some embodiments, hydrocarbon containing formation is included in and contains coal seam (dark coal seam) below the oil shale layer.Containing the coal seam possibly comprise than the more methane of oil shale layer.For example, containing the methane volume in coal seam can be bigger five times than the methane volume of oil shale layer.Can form and extend through the wellhole that the oil shale layer entering contains the coal seam.Processing hydrocarbons layer (for example oil shale layer) and subsequently from the coal seam thermal desorption hydrocarbon of hydrocarbon layer below allow by before inaccessible part hydrocarbon stratum produce hydrocarbon economically.

Can to hydrocarbon containing formation heat be provided by a plurality of heaters that are positioned at the stratum.One or more heaters can be temperature-limiting heater and/or one or more insulated electric conductor (for example mineral insulation conductor).Can control heating to allow the handling oil rammell, the temperature that keeps simultaneously containing the coal seam is lower than pyrolysis temperature.

Fig. 6 A and 6B have described the sketch map that heats the embodiment on the hydrocarbon stratum that comprises the coal seam.The hydrocarbon stratum can comprise superstratum 242, hydrocarbon layer 228 (for example oil shale layer) and impermeable coal seam 256.Coal seam 256 can be dark coal seam and/or coal bed.Coal seam 256 can be lower than or be lower than basically hydrocarbon bearing formation 228.Heater 212 can be arranged in hydrocarbon layer 228 at first.Heater 212 can be horizontal or vertical heater.Can use the said layer of heater heating of any pattern or quantity.Can use heater 228 a period of times of 212 heat hydrocarbon layer, so that the hydrocarbon in the said layer moves.Can use the hydrocarbon that producing well 206 is moved by the production of hydrocarbon layer.

Behind the processing hydrocarbons layer 228, shown in Fig. 6 B, can heater 212 be provided (for example extension or mobile) to containing coal seam 256.Heater 212 can be insulated electric conductor (for example mineral insulation electric conductor).For example, after with insulated electric conductor situ heat treatment oil shale layer, can make the mineral insulation electric conductor extend into dark coal seam from oil shale layer.Can keep containing the pyrolysis temperature that temperature in the coal seam 256 is lower than hydrocarbon in the stratum.In some embodiments, the temperature that keeps containing coal seam 256 is about 30-200 ℃ or 40-150 ℃ or 50-100 ℃.In some embodiments, the temperature that keeps containing coal seam 256 is about 30-40 ℃.Along with the temperature that contains coal seam 256 raises, methane can discharge in the stratum.Can produce methane by the hydrocarbon stratum.For example, use the producing well 206 that is arranged in hydrocarbon layer 228 and can produce methane.In some embodiments, carbon number is that the hydrocarbon of 1-5 discharged and produced by the stratum from containing the coal seam of stratum.

In some embodiments, in having the hydrocarbon layer of low-permeability (for example oil shale layer and/or contain the coal seam), form slit or crack to increase the permeability on stratum.In the hydrocarbon layer, forming the slit or the crack of extending can increase near one or more wellholes or the surface area on next door.The surface area that increases the hydrocarbon layer can increase the connectedness of hydrocarbon containing formation inner fluid.Use technology known in the art and can in the hydrocarbon layer, form slit or the crack in the hydrocarbon layer.Use slit and can reduce the quantity of using the required heater of situ heat treatment method processing hydrocarbon containing formation.In slit, place heater and provide heat (for example using situ heat treatment method or converted in-situ method) that the hydrocarbon in the stratum is moved to part hydrocarbon stratum.In some embodiments, keep temperature to be lower than the pyrolysis temperature of hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon layer.Keeping temperature to be lower than pyrolysis temperature (for example being lower than under about 50 ℃ temperature) can be by one or more hydrocarbon layers (for example dark coal seam) thermal desorption hydrocarbon.In some embodiments, the temperature of retaining part hydrocarbon layer is about 30-200 ℃, about 40-150 ℃ or about 50-100 ℃.Desorption or mobile hydrocarbon can move through the hydrocarbon layer and use one or more producing wells by hydrocarbon containing formation production.Compare with the methane of using the routine techniques desorption, use the methane production at least 20%, at least 30% or at least 50% that slit and situ heat treatment method can increase coal bed.

Fig. 7 has described the sketch map that in hydrocarbon containing formation, forms the embodiment of slit.Use drilling technique as known in the art such as directional drilling and can in hydrocarbon layer 228, form wellhole 300.As shown in the figure, wellhole 300 has " J " shape.Wellhole 300 can have the part 304 of vertical basically part 302 and basic horizontal or inclination.Vertical part 302 can water mudding cover.After the boring, from wellhole 300, remove drill string.Use downhole tool (for example nose shape instrument or shoe-shaped instrument) and will denude top that cutting element 306 is connected pipe 308 to form slit brill 310.Abrasion cutting element 306 can for but be not limited to wire rope, diamond wire, rhombus abrasion cable, scroll saw, cutting cable or cable saw.In some embodiments, abrasion cutting element 306 can be diamond abrasive material fixing or embedding wire rope external surface.Abrasion cutting element 306 can be virtually any size.In some embodiments, the diameter of abrasion cutting element 306 is about 0.9-8cm.In some embodiments, abrasion cutting element 306 is for being embedded with or being fixed with the heater cable of abrasive material on its crust.

Traverse drill 310 is coupled on the take-up device 312 (for example can abrasion cutting element 306 be connected on the winch).Take-up device 312 can for but be not limited to winch, rig or any take-up device as known in the art.Take-up device 312 moves back and forth traverse drill 310 in wellhole 300, thereby keeps the tension force on the cable when in wellhole, moving back and forth.When pipe 308 descended entering wellhole 300, take-up device 312 made on the abrasion cutting element 306 and keeps desirable tension force.When pipe 308 descends, strain abrasion cutting element 306 and suppress pipes rotation and winding abrasion cutting element in the way of the vertical component that gets into the hole in the hole.

When traverse drill 310 moves back and forth (by arrow 314 expressions) in hydrocarbon bearing formation 228, in hydrocarbon bearing formation, formed slit 316.Traverse drill 310 stroke (for example 27m) entirely moves back and forth a period of time, with cutting hydrocarbon layer 228.In up stroke, the tension force of abrasion cutting element 306 is limited to by tension element 312 to be provided, so the up stroke cutting seldom or is not cut.The tension force of abrasion cutting element 306 allows the internal diameter of the curved portion of abrasion cutting element 306 fastening wellholes 300, and the clamping load of pipe 308 tends to make the external diameter of the said curve of pipe fastening.Amplified initial lower abrasion cutting element tension force around the friction of curve on abrasion cutting element 306, and doubly increased around the curved path exponentially from tension device.Abrasion cutting element 306 cuts slit 316 on the curve internal diameter in wellhole 300 in each downward stroke.In some embodiments, be about 60-140 degree through the curvature of cutting the camber line that forms.Therefore, slit 316 forms perpendicular to the basic horizontal of axle, curve and the wellhole of abrasion cutting element or the part of inclination.Slit 316 can expose the cross section (for example exposing at least 10,000-100,000 square feet cross section) of sizable hydrocarbon layer to wellhole.Fig. 7 A has described along the sectional drawing of the slit 316 of the cross section 7A-7A of Fig. 7.

Passing wellhole 300 and slit through circulating fluid or foam drilling fluid, gas or compressed air can remove the earth cuttings that boring produces from slit 316.In some embodiments, water is as drilling fluid.Behind the cutting slit 316, can from wellhole 300 and slit 316, remove drilling fluid (for example by pumping in the wellhole) and can one or more thermals source (for example heater) be provided to wellhole and/or slit.Fig. 8 has described at the sketch map that forms slit post processing hydrocarbon containing formation.Can heater 212 be placed wellhole 300 and/or slit 316.Use the situ heat treatment method, hydrocarbon can be heated and move through hydrocarbon containing formation.In some embodiments, keep the temperature of situ heat treatment method to be lower than pyrolysis temperature (for example being lower than about 50 ℃), thereby from hydrocarbon bearing formation 228 desorption methane and/or C ₂-C ₅Hydrocarbon.Hydrocarbon can flow through and have more infiltrative stratum, and uses producing well 206 and produce.

Slit can be for extending quite long longitudinal fluting apart from (for example at least about 30m, at least about 40m or at least about 50m) from wellhole one side.The width of slit depends on the size of the abrasion cutting element 306 that is used for cutting.For example, slot width can be about 2-10cm.

In some embodiments, slit 306 is used the formation of twin-well system.Fig. 9 has described and has used the twin-well system forms the embodiment of slit in the hydrocarbon layer sketch map.Can first end of traverse drill 310 be coupled on first take-up device 312 and with second end of traverse drill 310 be coupled to second take-up device 312 ' on.Can pipe 308 be placed into pipeline 320 inside.Pipeline 320,320 ' can reduce the friction when pipe 308 moves back and forth in wellhole 300.Use first take-up device 312 and second take-up device 312 ' move back and forth and in hydrocarbon layer 228, cut out slit 316 by reciprocating traverse drill 310 through making traverse drill pass the hydrocarbon layer.

In some embodiments, use two traverse drills 310.For example, can with first traverse drill be coupled on first take-up device 312 and with second traverse drill 310 ' be coupled to, second take-up device 312 ' on.In hydrocarbon layer 228, cut slit 316 through making each traverse drill pass 228 reciprocating motion of hydrocarbon layer.

In some embodiments, operation traverse drill 310 (for example carrying out) through the amount of tension of regulating on the abrasion cutting element 306, thus between wellhole, form polygon pattern (for example triangle).Figure 10 A has described the symmetrical arc sketch map that between two wellholes, forms.Figure 10 B has described the leg-of-mutton sketch map that between two wellholes, forms.When forming slit, forming polygon pattern 322 can be used for forming and has with other each to the radial pattern of the shared centerwell of well.Figure 11 A has described has centerwell and eight sketch mapes around the radial pattern of well.Use the polygon pattern in the radial pattern can be with the number of well by eight reduce to shown in Figure 11 B seven.

In some embodiments, after producing hydrocarbon, can in hydrocarbon bearing formation, form one or more slits by the hydrocarbon layer.In hydrocarbon bearing formation, forming slit behind the production hydrocarbon can allow wellhole in the hydrocarbon layer, to reorientate (moving).Figure 12 A-C has described the phantom drawing of in the hydrocarbon stratum, reorientating the embodiment that wellhole is set.In hydrocarbon layer 228, can form first wellhole 300 and second wellhole 300 '.The first basic horizontal part 304 of first wellhole 300 can be connected to through the curved portion of wellhole second wellhole 300 ' the second basic horizontal part 304 ', to form the U-shaped wellhole of level.Can use the U-shaped wellhole that drilling technique known in the art forms level.In some embodiments, in hydrocarbon bearing formation 228 part 304 of the part 304 of guiding first basic horizontal or inclination downwards and second basic horizontal or inclination '.Using inclined well can minimize the application of underground equipment and minimize the load of sleeve pipe side when forming slit.In the process that slit forms, remaining cutting liquid can be disposed to slant well than lower part (toe place), allow top (instep place) to provide hot simultaneously for the hydrocarbon layer in wellhole.Use technology known in the art such as artificial lift technology (for example gas lift) or can from wellhole 300 and/or slit 316, remove cutting liquid through exerting pressure to system.In some embodiments, the toe of said wellhole and instep position can be put upside down.

The part 304 of first basic horizontal or inclination and the part 304 of second basic horizontal or inclination ' can in the hydrocarbon stratum, extend desirable distance (for example 500m, 600m or 650m).The part 304 of first basic horizontal or inclination can with the part 304 of second basic horizontal or inclination ' at a distance of desirable distance (for example 500m, 600m or 650m).In one embodiment, the part 304 of first basic horizontal or inclination in hydrocarbon bearing formation 228, be higher than basically the part 304 of second basic horizontal or inclination '.

Shown in Figure 12 A-C, can heater 212 (for example insulated electric conductor) be placed in the wellhole 300 in the hydrocarbon layer 228.Can use the situ heat treatment method and handle hydrocarbon bearing formation 228 so that the hydrocarbon in the zone of hydrocarbon bearing formation moves and/or pyrolysis.Can produce hydrocarbon by the stratum through producing well 206.Can heater 212 cut out, cool off and from wellhole 300, remove in some embodiments.Can traverse drill be inserted (not shown) in the wellhole, and can the part 304 of first basic horizontal or inclination and the part 304 of second basic horizontal or inclination ' between vertical plane in hydrocarbon layer 228 in form slit 316.In some embodiments, before one or more heaters 212 being placed into the hydrocarbon stratum, drill slit 316.After the slit that forms ideal quantity; Can remove traverse drill; And can the part 304 of first basic horizontal or inclination and the part 304 of second basic horizontal or inclination ' between at least one slit 316 in place heater 212 ' (for example can insulated electric conductor be screwed in slit) with the speed of about 9m/min; Thereby shown in Figure 12 B, make wellhole move to the second place 326 from primary importance 324.Application situ heat treatment method processing hydrocarbons layer 228 ' hydrocarbon is moved towards producing well 206.After hydrocarbon bearing formation 228 ' removed the hydrocarbon of desired quantity, can repeat said process shown in Figure 12 C, moving wellhole 300, thus the placement of 328 places, the 3rd position hydrocarbon layer 228 in heater 212 ".In some embodiments, hydrocarbon layer 228,228 ', 228 " be dark coal seam.

In some embodiments, the heater in the stratum (the for example heater in slit and the hydrocarbon bearing formation) operation under total power output, thereby heating stratum to visbreaking temperature or higher temperature.Under total power, operate the pressure in the stratum that to increase sharply.In certain embodiments,, produce fluid from the stratum, be lower than selected pressure to keep the pressure in the stratum along with formation temperature raises.In some embodiments, the said selected pressure frac pressure that is the stratum.In certain embodiments, said selected pressure is about 1000-15000kPa, about 2000-10000kPa or about 2500-5000kPa.In one embodiment, said selected pressure is about 10000kPa.Keep-up pressure to minimize by the stratum near frac pressure as far as possible and produce the needed producing well number of fluid.

In certain embodiments, handle the stratum be included in the whole production stage keep temperature for or near visbreaking temperature (as stated), keep-uping pressure simultaneously is lower than frac pressure.Can reduce or cancel the heat that offers the stratum, to maintain the temperature at or near the visbreaking temperature.Be heated to the visbreaking temperature but keep temperature to be lower than pyrolysis temperature or can suppress to form the reaction of coke and/or higher degree near pyrolysis temperature (for example being lower than about 230 ℃).Under elevated pressures (for example pressure near but be lower than frac pressure), be heated to the reduction that the visbreaking temperature keeps the gas of institute's output to be in the fluid oil (hydrocarbon) the stratum in and utilizes hydrogen in the higher hydrogen partial pressure increase stratum.The stratum only is heated to the visbreaking temperature also than ground layer for heating is used energy input still less to pyrolysis temperature.

The fluid of being produced by the stratum can comprise the visbreaking fluid, move fluid and/or pyrolyzation fluid.In some embodiments, produce the output mixture that comprises these fluids by the stratum.The mixture of being produced can have some valuable characteristics (for example measurable characteristic).Characteristic by the definite mixture of being produced of the operating condition in the pending stratum (for example temperature in the stratum and/or pressure).In certain embodiments, can select, change and/or keep said operating condition in the mixture that is produced, to produce the hydrocarbon of ideal characterisitics.For example, the mixture of being produced can comprise the hydrocarbon that its characteristic allows mixture and be easy to carry (for example pipeline is passed through in conveying under the situation of the hydrocarbon that does not add thinner or make said mixture and/or gained and other fluid blend).

In some embodiments, after the stratum reaches the visbreaking temperature, reduce the pressure in the stratum.In certain embodiments, the pressure in the temperature that is higher than the visbreaking temperature descends low stratum.More hydrocarbon is converted into more high-quality hydrocarbon through visbreaking and/or pyrolysis in higher temperature decline low-pressure allows the stratum.But before pressure reduces, allow the stratum to reach higher temperature, may increase the amount of carbon dioxide and/or the amount of coke that produce in the stratum.For example, in some stratum, the coking of pitch (when pressure is higher than 700kPa) begins under about 280 ℃ and is issued to flank speed at about 340 ℃.When pressure was lower than about 700kPa, the coking rate in the stratum was minimum.Allow the stratum to reach higher temperature before pressure reduces and to reduce hydrocarbon amount by stratum production.

In certain embodiments; Except the situ heat treatment method, also use flooding method (for example steam injection method such as cyclic steam injection, steam assisted gravity oil extraction method (SAGD), solvent injection method, vapor solvent and SAGD method or carbon dioxide injection method) and handle hydrocarbon containing formation (tar sand formation of for example strengthening).In some embodiments, by formation slit described here in the stratum, to be formed for the infiltration area of oil displacement process.In one embodiment, in wellhole and/or slit, use heater, with the high permeability zones (or injection region) that in the stratum, is formed for oil displacement process.The heater that can use in wellhole and/or the slit forms mobile geometry or produces network in the stratum, fluid flows through the stratum in oil displacement process to allow.For example, can use slit is formed for oil displacement process between heater and producing well emission path.In some embodiments, use said heater heat is provided in oil displacement process.Compare with heat input (the heat input of for example injecting) from steam from oil displacement process, maybe be less by the heat that heater provides.

In some embodiments, applying steam injects (or displacement of reservoir oil) method (for example SAGD, cyclic steam soak or other steam percentage recovery) processing stratum and produces hydrocarbon by the stratum.Use that described method can form slit in the hydrocarbon stratum and steam can inject hydrocarbon stratum wellhole and flow into said slit here.

After the steam method for implanting, can use the original position oil recovery that the situ heat treatment method increases the stratum.In certain embodiments, the applying steam injection method can not effectively shift out hydrocarbon (for example, up to steam injection method no longer economically feasible) again up to the steam injection method from the stratum.After the steam injection method, use the situ heat treatment method and come remaining hydrocarbon in the layer of grown place.After the steam injection method, use the situ heat treatment method can allow to gather original position oil in the stratum at least about 25%, at least about 50%, at least about 55% or at least about 60%.

Handling the stratum with the situ heat treatment method afterwards in fluid displacement of reservoir oil method (for example steam injection method) maybe be more effective than only handling the stratum with the situ heat treatment method.The steam injection method can use steam as the stratum some energy (heat) to be provided.In steam injection method process, add and all can reduce the needed energy that provides by heater of situ heat treatment method for any energy on stratum.The energy that minimizing is provided by heater can reduce uses the cost that the situ heat treatment method is handled the stratum.Inject the back at steam and use the situ heat treatment method, at least some additional hydrocarbons are moved and output in the part stratum.Than using the hydrocarbon that drive fluid produces, said additional hydrocarbons can comprise at least some upgrading hydrocarbon.

Should understand and the invention is not restricted to described particular system, it certainly changes.Will also be understood that here the term used just in order to describe specific embodiment, and be not used in restriction.As applied in this manual, if clearly do not indicate in the context, then singulative also comprises plural number.Therefore, for example, when mentioning " core ", comprise the combination of two or more cores and when mentioning " material ", comprise mixtures of material.

After having read this manual, the further adjustment and the alternate embodiment of various aspects of the present invention can become clearly concerning those skilled in the art.Therefore, this manual is descriptive and purpose is the general mode of instruction those skilled in the art embodiment of the present invention.Be understood that given form of the present invention with description is existing preferred embodiment here.Can substitute described herein and element and the material described, can put upside down parts and process and can independent utility some characteristic of the present invention, all these all are tangible to those skilled in the art after benefiting from manual of the present invention.Under the condition that does not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention of back described in the claim, can change element described herein.It should be understood that each characteristic in the following stated claim can make up with the characteristic of other claim or separate.For example, the characteristic of two or more dependent claims can be combined and form a multinomial dependent claims.

Claims (27)

1. method of handling hydrocarbon containing formation comprises:

In hydrocarbon containing formation, form at least one wellhole, said wellhole comprise at least two basic horizontal or inclination part, be positioned at first perforate of ground primary importance and be positioned at second perforate of the ground second place;

In the part hydrocarbon containing formation, form one or more slits, wherein at least one slit is perpendicular at least two basic horizontal of wellhole or the part of inclination;

One or more heaters by in part slit at least, placing provide heat to the part hydrocarbon containing formation, and wherein one or more heaters comprise one or more insulated electric conductors;

Allow heat to be passed to the part hydrocarbon containing formation from heater; With

Produce hydrocarbon by hydrocarbon containing formation.

2. the process of claim 1 wherein that said wellhole is the U-shaped horizontal wellbore.

3. the process of claim 1 wherein to form the tension force that slit comprises the abrasive element of regulating traverse drill, thereby the zone between first perforate, second perforate and one or more slit forms polygon.

4. the process of claim 1 wherein that the part of in hydrocarbon containing formation said second basic horizontal or inclination is positioned at below the first.

5. the process of claim 1 wherein that in part slit at least, placing heater comprises and from wellhole, remove traverse drill; The part of at least one heater is coupled on the pipe of traverse drill; With heater was revolved slit.

6. the method for claim 1 also comprises at least one slit removing at least one heater; Another part at hydrocarbon bearing formation forms one or more additional slot; For at least one additional slot provides additional heater; By additional heater is that the extention of hydrocarbon containing formation provides heat, and wherein said additional heater comprises insulated electric conductor; Allow heat to be passed to the extention of hydrocarbon containing formation from heater; With by the more hydrocarbon of hydrocarbon containing formation production.

7. the process of claim 1 wherein that said hydrocarbon containing formation has low permeability.

8. the process of claim 1 wherein that said hydrocarbon containing formation comprises oil shale formation and/or coal.

9. the process of claim 1 wherein that forming slit comprises the abrasion tool elements of at least one heater of application as traverse drill.

10. method of handling hydrocarbon containing formation comprises:

Allow heat to be passed to the first area on stratum from a plurality of heaters;

Produce hydrocarbon by hydrocarbon containing formation;

In the part hydrocarbon containing formation, form one or more slits, wherein at least one slit is perpendicular at least two basic horizontal of the wellhole that is positioned at hydrocarbon containing formation or the part of inclination;

To the second area of hydrocarbon containing formation heat is provided by one or more additional heaters of in slit, placing;

Allow heat to be passed to the second area on stratum from heater; With

By the more hydrocarbon of hydrocarbon containing formation production.

11. the method for claim 10, wherein at least one additional heater comprises insulated electric conductor.

12. a method of producing methane by hydrocarbon containing formation comprises:

In hydrocarbon containing formation, form at least one wellhole, said wellhole comprise at least two basic horizontal or inclination part, be positioned at first perforate of ground primary importance and be positioned at second perforate of the ground second place;

In the part hydrocarbon containing formation, form one or more slits, wherein at least one slit is perpendicular at least two basic horizontal of wellhole or the part of inclination;

One or more heaters by in part slit at least, placing provide heat to the part hydrocarbon containing formation, and wherein one or more heaters comprise one or more insulated electric conductors;

Average temperature in the retaining part stratum is lower than the pyrolysis temperature of hydrocarbon in the said zone; With

By removing methane in the hydrocarbon stratum.

13. the method for claim 12, wherein said hydrocarbon containing formation comprises oil shale.

14. the method for claim 12 also comprises in the part hydrocarbon containing formation removing the hydrocarbon that carbon number is 1-5.

15. the method for claim 12, wherein said part stratum comprises coal.

16. the method for claim 12 also comprises around the part stratum shielding is provided.

17. the method for claim 12, the average temperature of wherein said part hydrocarbon containing formation are lower than 230 ℃.

18. a method of handling hydrocarbon containing formation comprises:

In hydrocarbon containing formation, form at least one wellhole, said wellhole comprise at least two basic horizontal or inclination part, be positioned at first perforate of ground primary importance and be positioned at second perforate of the ground second place;

In the part hydrocarbon containing formation, form one or more slits, wherein at least one slit is perpendicular at least two basic horizontal of wellhole or the part of inclination;

To at least one slit drive fluid is provided; With

Produce hydrocarbon by said hydrocarbon stratum.

19. the method for claim 18, wherein said drive fluid are steam.

20. the method for claim 18 also comprises by the one or more heaters that are positioned at hydrocarbon containing formation to the part stratum heat being provided; With said at least some additional hydrocarbons of layer production by the stratum, wherein with the hydrocarbon phase ratio of using drive fluid production, said additional hydrocarbons comprises at least some upgrading hydrocarbon.

21. a method of producing methane by hydrocarbon containing formation comprises:

A plurality of heaters by being positioned at hydrocarbon containing formation provide heat to said stratum, and wherein one or more heaters comprise one or more insulated electric conductors;

Allow heat to be passed to the hydrocarbon containing formation of part at least that comprises methane from heater;

Average temperature in the retaining part hydrocarbon containing formation is lower than the pyrolysis temperature of hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon containing formation that comprises methane; With

By removing methane in the part hydrocarbon containing formation.

22. the method for claim 21, wherein said hydrocarbon containing formation comprises oil shale.

23. the method for claim 21, wherein said part stratum comprises coal.

24. the method for claim 21 also comprises around the part stratum shielding is provided.

25. the method for claim 21, the average temperature of wherein said part hydrocarbon containing formation are 30-40 ℃.

26. a method of producing methane by hydrocarbon containing formation comprises:

A plurality of heaters by being positioned at the stratum provide heat to the first area of hydrocarbon containing formation, and wherein one or more heaters comprise one or more insulated electric conductors;

Allow heat to be passed to the first area of hydrocarbon containing formation from heater;

Produce hydrocarbon by the first area;

First area by hydrocarbon containing formation provides one or more heaters to second area, and the second area on wherein said stratum comprises methane;

Keep the interior average temperature of hydrocarbon containing formation second area to be lower than the pyrolysis temperature of hydrocarbon in the second area; With

By removing methane in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

27. the method on a processing hydrocarbons stratum comprises and uses the one or more insulation conductance body heater heating part hydrocarbon containing formations that are positioned at the one or more slits of hydrocarbon containing formation.

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