Heater pattern including heaters powered by wind-electricity for in situ thermal processing of a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention relate to the use of wind-electricity to produce unconventional oil from a kerogen-containing or bitumen-containing subsurface formation. A heater cell may be divided into nested inner and outer zones. In the smaller inner zone, heaters may be arranged at a relatively high spatial density while in the larger surrounding outer zone, a heater spatial density may be significantly lower. Due to the higher heater density, a rate of temperature increase in the smaller inner zone of the subsurface exceeds that of the larger outer zone, and a rate of hydrocarbon fluid production ramps up faster in the inner zone than in the outer zone. In some embodiments, at least a majority of the heaters in the inner zone are powered primarily by fuel combustion and at least a majority of heaters in the outer zone are powered primarily by electricity generated by wind. Alternatively, in other embodiments, at least a majority of the heaters in the inner zone are powered primarily by electricity generated by wind and at least a majority of heaters in the outer zone are powered primarily by fuel combustion.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT / US13 / 38089 filed on Apr. 24, 2013. This application claims priority to U.S. 61 / 729,628 filed on Nov. 25, 2012.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to methods and systems of heating a subsurface formation, for example, in order to produce hydrocarbon fluids therefrom.DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART[0003]Hydrocarbons obtained from subterranean formations are often used as energy resources, as feedstocks, and as consumer products. Concerns over depletion of available hydrocarbon resources and concerns over declining overall quality of produced hydrocarbons have led to development of processes for more efficient recovery, processing and / or use of available hydrocarbon resources. In situ processes may be used to remove hydrocarbon materials from subterranean formations that were previously inaccessible and / or too expensive to extract using available methods. Chemical and / or phys...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]Embodiments of the present invention relate to heater patterns and related methods of producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation (for example, an oil shale formation) where a heater cell may be divided into nested inner and outer zones. One or more heaters of the heater cell are powered primarily by electricity generated by wind. Production wells may be located within one or both zones. In the smaller inner zone, heaters are arranged at a relatively high spatial density while in the larger surrounding outer zone, a heater spatial density is significantly lower. Due to the higher heater density, a rate of temperature increase in the smaller inner zone of the subsurface exceeds that of the larger outer zone, and a rate of hydrocarbon fluid production ramps up significantly faster in the inner zone than in the outer zone.

Problems solved by technology

Mining and upgrading tar sand is usually substantially more expensive than producing lighter hydrocarbons from conventional oil reservoirs.

The quality of oil produced from such retorting may typically be poor, thereby requiring costly upgrading.

Aboveground retorting may also adversely affect environmental and water resources due to mining, transporting, processing, and / or disposing of the retorted material.

Obtaining permeability in an oil shale formation between injection and production wells tends to be difficult because oil shale is often substantially impermeable.

Drilling such wells may be expensive and time consuming.

In some situations, heat in the wells is lost to the overburden.

Using the sensors may decrease the amount of time taken to determine positioning of the drilling systems.

At present, however, there are still many hydrocarbon-containing formations where drilling wellbores is difficult, expensive, and / or time consuming.

At present, however, there are still many hydrocarbon-containing formations from which hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and / or other products cannot be economically produced.

Images