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:
May. 18, 2010
Filed:
Oct. 19, 2007
George Leo Stegemeier, Houston, TX (US);
Ramesh Raju Mudunuri, Houston, TX (US);
Harold J. Vinegar, Bellaire, TX (US);
John Michael Karanikas, Houston, TX (US);
Namit Jaiswal, Houston, TX (US);
Weijian MO, Sugar Land, TX (US);
George Leo Stegemeier, Houston, TX (US);
Ramesh Raju Mudunuri, Houston, TX (US);
Harold J. Vinegar, Bellaire, TX (US);
John Michael Karanikas, Houston, TX (US);
Namit Jaiswal, Houston, TX (US);
Weijian Mo, Sugar Land, TX (US);
Shell Oil Company, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A method for treating a tar sands formation is disclosed. The method includes heating a first portion of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from one or more heaters located in the first portion. The heat is controlled to increase a fluid injectivity of the first portion. A drive fluid and/or an oxidizing fluid is injected and/or created in the first portion to cause at least some hydrocarbons to move from a second portion of the hydrocarbon layer to a third portion of the hydrocarbon layer. The second portion is between the first portion and the third portion. The first, second, and third portions are horizontally displaced from each other. The third portion is heated from one or more heaters located in the third portion. Hydrocarbons are produced from the third portion of the formation. The hydrocarbons include at least some hydrocarbons from the second portion of the formation.