Shell Oil Comapny

Charles Robert Keedy

Harold J Vinegar

Eric Pierre De Rouffignac

Thomas David Fowler

Scott Lee Wellington

Robert Charles Ryan

Ilya Emil Berchenko

John Michael Karanikas

Etuan Zhang

Bruce Gerard Hunsucker

Kevin Albert Maher

George Leo Stegemeier

Gordon Thomas Shahin

Ajay M Madgavkar

Frederick Gordon Carl, Jr

Robert Martijn Van Hardeveld

Lanny Gene Schoeling

John Matthew Coles

James Louis Menotti

Fredrick Gordon Carl, Jr

Matthew Lee Holman

Gerald Jacob Daub

Mariela Gertrudis Araujo Fresky

A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing layer in a subsurface formation is described. The method may include removing at most about 20% by weight of the nahcolite from one or more intervals in the hydrocarbon containing layer that include at least about 40% by weight nahcolite. Heat may be provided from a plurality of heaters to the hydrocarbon containing layer such that at least some hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing layer are mobilized. At least some mobilized hydrocarbons may be produced through at least one production well.

Partial solution mining of hydrocarbon containing layers prior to in situ heat treatment

An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat input into the formation may be controlled to raise the temperature of portion at a selected rate during pyrolysis of hydrocarbons within the formation. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. The mixture may be separated into condensable hydrocarbons and non-condensable hydrocarbons. The condensable hydrocarbons removed from the formation may be a high quality oil that has a relatively low olefin content and a relatively high API gravity.

In situ recovery from 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

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 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

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Charles Robert Keedy