Shell Oil Comapny

Bruce Gerard Hunsucker

Harold J Vinegar

Eric Pierre De Rouffignac

Scott Lee Wellington

John Michael Karanikas

Charles Robert Keedy

Robert Charles Ryan

Ilya Emil Berchenko

Etuan Zhang

Thomas David Fowler

John Matthew Coles

James Louis Menotti

Fredrick Gordon Carl, Jr

Christopher Arnold Pratt

Lawrence James Bielamowicz

Kevin Albert Maher

Ronald Marshall Bass

Anthony Thomas Cole

In an embodiment, a system may be used to heat a hydrocarbon containing formation. The system may include a heater placed in an opening in the formation. The system may allow heat to transfer from the heater to a part of the formation. The transferred heat may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in the formation. The heater may be removable from the opening in the formation and redeployable in at least one alternative opening in the formation.

Installation and use of removable heaters in a hydrocarbon containing formation

A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Hydrocarbons, H, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat sources may be positioned within open wellbores in the formation.

In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using heat sources positioned within open wellbores

An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be provided to the treatment area from one or more heat sources. A heat source may be positioned in an uncased wellbore. Heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat source to a section of the formation. Subsequently, hydrocarbons, H, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation.

In situ thermal processing through an open wellbore in an oil shale formation

A method for treating a relatively low permeability formation containing heavy hydrocarbons in situ may include providing heat from one or more heat sources to a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat sources to a selected section of the formation. The transferred heat may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons within the selected section. A mixture of hydrocarbons may be produced from the selected section. In certain embodiments, one or more heat sources may be placed in an uncased wellbore.

In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation using an open wellbore

An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Hydrocarbons, H, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation from one or more heat sources to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a desired temperature. Some of the heat sources may be conductors placed within conduits. The conductors may be resistively heated so that the conductors radiantly heat the conduits. The generated heat may transfer to the formation.

Conductor-in-conduit heat sources for in situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation

The oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be provided to a section of the formation from one or more heat sources. A portion of a heat source may include conductive material. In some embodiments, the conductive portion may reduce heat loss to a non-hydrocarbon containing layer in the formation. Heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat sources to a section of the formation. Hydrocarbons, H, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation.

Heat sources with conductive material for in situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation

A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Hydrocarbons, H , and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation from heat sources to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a desired temperature. Some of the heat sources may include heater elements. The heater elements may be lengths of bare metal disposed within wellbores within the formation.

In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using exposed metal heat sources

A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Hydrocarbons, H , and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation from heat sources to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a desired temperature. Some of the heat sources may be conductors placed within conduits. The conductors may be resistively heated so that the conductors radiantly heat the conduits. The conduits may transfer heat to the formation.

In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using conductor in conduit heat sources

A coal formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Hydrocarbons, H , and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat sources may be positioned within open wellbores in the formation.

In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using heat sources positioned within open wellbores

A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Hydrocarbons, H , and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation from heat sources to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a desired temperature. A heat transfer fluid may be circulated within wellbores of some heat sources to heat the formation. The heat transfer fluid may be combustion gas from burners.

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Katy, TX, United States of America

Bruce Gerard Hunsucker