The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 29, 2006
Filed:
Apr. 24, 2001
Eric Pierre DE Rouffignac, Houston, TX (US);
Harold J. Vinegar, Houston, TX (US);
Scott Lee Wellington, Bellaire, TX (US);
John Michael Karanikas, Houston, TX (US);
Ilya Emil Berchenko, Friendswood, TX (US);
George Leo Stegemeier, Houston, TX (US);
Etuan Zhang, Houston, TX (US);
Thomas David Fowler, Katy, TX (US);
Robert Charles Ryan, Houston, TX (US);
Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Houston, TX (US);
Harold J. Vinegar, Houston, TX (US);
Scott Lee Wellington, Bellaire, TX (US);
John Michael Karanikas, Houston, TX (US);
Ilya Emil Berchenko, Friendswood, TX (US);
George Leo Stegemeier, Houston, TX (US);
Etuan Zhang, Houston, TX (US);
Thomas David Fowler, Katy, TX (US);
Robert Charles Ryan, Houston, TX (US);
Shell Oil Company, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A coal formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of 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 may be applied to the formation from heating elements positioned within wellbores. Portions of the heater elements may be free to move within the wellbores to inhibit failure of the heater elements due to thermal expansion.