Controlling and assessing pressure conditions during treatment of tar sands formations

A method for treating a tar sands formation includes providing heat to at least part of a hydrocarbon layer in the tar sands formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation. Heat is allowed to transfer from the heaters to at least a portion of the formation. A pressure in the portion...

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser:	BEER, GARY LEE, ZHANG, ETUAN
Format:	Patent
Sprache:	eng
Schlagworte:	EARTH DRILLING EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS MINING OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:	A method for treating a tar sands formation includes providing heat to at least part of a hydrocarbon layer in the tar sands formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation. Heat is allowed to transfer from the heaters to at least a portion of the formation. A pressure in the portion of the formation is controlled such that the pressure remains below a fracture pressure of the formation overburden while allowing the portion of the formation to heat to a selected average temperature of at least about 280 °C and at most about 300 °C. The pressure in the portion of the formation is reduced to a selected pressure after the portion of the formation reaches the selected average temperature.