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:
Dec. 22, 2009
Filed:
Oct. 19, 2007
John Michael Karanikas, Houston, TX (US);
Tulio Rafael Colmenares, Houston, TX (US);
Etuan Zhang, Houston, TX (US);
Marian Marino, Houston, TX (US);
Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria Roes, Houston, TX (US);
Robert Charles Ryan, Houston, TX (US);
Gary Lee Beer, Houston, TX (US);
Robert James Dombrowski, Houston, TX (US);
Namit Jaiswal, Houston, TX (US);
John Michael Karanikas, Houston, TX (US);
Tulio Rafael Colmenares, Houston, TX (US);
Etuan Zhang, Houston, TX (US);
Marian Marino, Houston, TX (US);
Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria Roes, Houston, TX (US);
Robert Charles Ryan, Houston, TX (US);
Gary Lee Beer, Houston, TX (US);
Robert James Dombrowski, Houston, TX (US);
Namit Jaiswal, Houston, TX (US);
Shell Oil Company, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
Methods for treating a tar sands formation are described herein. Methods may include heating at least a section of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation. The heat may be controlled so that at least a majority of the section reaches an average temperature of between 200° C. and 240° C., which results in visbreaking of at least some hydrocarbons in the section. At least some visbroken hydrocarbon fluids may be produced from the formation.