CA2619380A1 - Methods for extracting oil from tar sand - Google Patents
Methods for extracting oil from tar sand Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2619380A1 CA2619380A1 CA002619380A CA2619380A CA2619380A1 CA 2619380 A1 CA2619380 A1 CA 2619380A1 CA 002619380 A CA002619380 A CA 002619380A CA 2619380 A CA2619380 A CA 2619380A CA 2619380 A1 CA2619380 A1 CA 2619380A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- electrodes
- electrical conductors
- graphite
- approximately
- conductive material
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/16—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
- E21B43/24—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection
- E21B43/2401—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection by means of electricity
Abstract
Hydrocarbon containing formations can be processed using an in-situ liquefaction technique. This new technique embodies systematic temperature elevation applied to subsurface formation allowing recoverable hydrocarbons to reach a Newtonian fluid viscosity suitable for extraction.
Claims (27)
1. A method for heating a sub-surface tar sand formation comprising:
making a plurality of boreholes into the tar sand formation;
locating an electrical conductor in each borehole;
conductively connecting the electrical conductors to a source of electrical current; and introducing electrical current to the conductors to resistively heat the tar sand formation.
making a plurality of boreholes into the tar sand formation;
locating an electrical conductor in each borehole;
conductively connecting the electrical conductors to a source of electrical current; and introducing electrical current to the conductors to resistively heat the tar sand formation.
2. The method of claim I wherein the electrical conductors are formed from a compacted bed of powdered or granular conductive material.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical conductors comprise electrodes.
4. The method of claim 2 or 3 wherein the electrical conductors are formed from one or more carbonaceous material selected from the group consisting of graphitic, partially graphitized, and non-graphitic carbonaceous materials.
5. The method of claim 2 or 3 wherein the electrical conductors are formed from one or more materials selected from the group consisting of natural crystalline flake graphite, partially graphitized cokes, calcined coke, green coke, coal, carbon black, synthetic graphite, vein graphite, amorphous graphite, synthetic graphite electrodes, coal tar, petroleum and mesophase pitch-based chemistries, and expanded graphite-based products.
6. The method of claim 2 or 3 wherein the electrical conductors are formed from one or more non-carbonaceous conductive material selected from the group consisting of metals, metal-based alloys, composites, and blends and combinations thereof.
7. The method of claim I wherein the electrical conductors have a resistance of from 1 × 10-3 .OMEGA..cndot.m meters to 1 × 10-8 .OMEGA..cndot.m.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the boreholes have a diameter of from approximately 3.8 cm to approximately 50.8 cm.
9. The method claim 3 wherein the electrodes comprise graphite electrodes having a diameter of from approximately 20.3 cm. to approximately 50.8 cm.
10. The method of claim 3 wherein the electrodes have a diameter smaller than the borehole and the electrodes, when located in their respective boreholes, are surrounded by a granular or powered conductive material.
11. The method of claim 5 wherein the conductive material has an angle of repose of from 30 degrees to 90 degrees.
12. The method of claim 2 wherein the conductors are formed inside the boreholes using a pile driver.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the electric current is 3-phase AC.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein the electric current is DC.
15. A system for heating a sub-surface tar sand formation comprising:
a plurality of boreholes in the tar sand formation;
an electrical conductor in each borehole; and a source of electrical current conductively connected to the conductors.
a plurality of boreholes in the tar sand formation;
an electrical conductor in each borehole; and a source of electrical current conductively connected to the conductors.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the electrical conductors are formed from a compacted bed of powdered or granular conductive material.
17. The system of claim 15 wherein the electrical conductors comprise electrodes.
18. The system of claim 16 or 17 wherein the electrical conductors are formed from one or more carbonaceous material selected from the group consisting of graphitic, partially graphitized, and non-graphitic carbonaceous materials.
19. The system of claim 16 or 17 wherein the electrical conductors are formed from one or more materials selected from the group consisting of natural crystalline flake graphite, partially graphitized cokes, calcined coke, green coke, coal, carbon black, synthetic graphite, vein graphite, amorphous graphite, synthetic graphite electrodes, coal tar, petroleum and mesophase pitch-based chemistries, and expanded graphite-based products.
20. The system of claim 16 or 17 wherein the electrical conductors are formed from one or more non-carbonaceous conductive material selected from the group consisting of metals, metal-based alloys, composites, and blends and combinations thereof.
21. The system of claim 15 wherein the electrical conductors have a resistance of from 1 × 10-3 .OMEGA..cndot.m meters to 1 × 10-8 .OMEGA..cndot.m.
22 The system of claim 15 wherein the boreholes have a diameter of from approximately 3.8 cm to approximately 50.8 cm.
23. The system claim 17 wherein the electrodes comprise graphite electrodes having a diameter of from approximately 20.3 cm. to approximately 50.8 cm.
24. The system of claim 17 wherein the electrodes have a diameter smaller than the borehole and the electrodes, when located in their respective boreholes, are surrounded by a granular or powered conductive material.
25. The system of claim 19 wherein the conductive material has an angle of repose of from 30 degrees to 90 degrees.
26. The system of claim 15 wherein the electric current is 3-phase AC.
27. The system of claim 15 wherein the electric current is DC.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US11/671,135 US7617869B2 (en) | 2007-02-05 | 2007-02-05 | Methods for extracting oil from tar sand |
| US11/671,135 | 2007-02-05 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2619380A1 true CA2619380A1 (en) | 2008-08-05 |
| CA2619380C CA2619380C (en) | 2010-11-09 |
Family
ID=39675182
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2619380A Expired - Fee Related CA2619380C (en) | 2007-02-05 | 2008-02-24 | Methods for extracting oil from tar sand |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US7617869B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2619380C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN116988792A (en) * | 2023-09-25 | 2023-11-03 | 太原理工大学 | Comprehensive mechanized mining process for subcoal hard gibbsite |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7644993B2 (en) | 2006-04-21 | 2010-01-12 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | In situ co-development of oil shale with mineral recovery |
| CN101563524B (en) | 2006-10-13 | 2013-02-27 | 埃克森美孚上游研究公司 | Combined development of oil shale by in situ heating with a deeper hydrocarbon resource |
| JO2982B1 (en) | 2006-10-13 | 2016-03-15 | Exxonmobil Upstream Res Co | Optimized well spacing for in situ shale oil development |
| WO2008048453A2 (en) | 2006-10-13 | 2008-04-24 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Improved method of developing a subsurface freeze zone using formation fractures |
| WO2008115359A1 (en) * | 2007-03-22 | 2008-09-25 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Granular electrical connections for in situ formation heating |
| CN101636555A (en) | 2007-03-22 | 2010-01-27 | 埃克森美孚上游研究公司 | Resistive heater for in situ formation heating |
| CA2682687C (en) | 2007-05-15 | 2013-11-05 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Downhole burner wells for in situ conversion of organic-rich rock formations |
| BRPI0810761A2 (en) | 2007-05-15 | 2014-10-21 | Exxonmobil Upstream Res Co | METHOD FOR HEATING IN SITU OF A SELECTED PORTION OF A ROCK FORMATION RICH IN ORGANIC COMPOUND, AND TO PRODUCE A HYDROCARBON FLUID, AND, WELL HEATER. |
| WO2008153697A1 (en) | 2007-05-25 | 2008-12-18 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | A process for producing hydrocarbon fluids combining in situ heating, a power plant and a gas plant |
| US8146664B2 (en) | 2007-05-25 | 2012-04-03 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Utilization of low BTU gas generated during in situ heating of organic-rich rock |
| US8082995B2 (en) | 2007-12-10 | 2011-12-27 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Optimization of untreated oil shale geometry to control subsidence |
| BRPI0911530A2 (en) | 2008-05-23 | 2016-07-05 | Exxonmobil Upstream Res Co | methods for producing hydrocarbon fluids from an organic rich rock formation, and for using gas produced from an in situ conversion process in a hydrocarbon development area |
| US8616279B2 (en) | 2009-02-23 | 2013-12-31 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Water treatment following shale oil production by in situ heating |
| WO2010129174A1 (en) | 2009-05-05 | 2010-11-11 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Converting organic matter from a subterranean formation into producible hydrocarbons by controlling production operations based on availability of one or more production resources |
| CA2713703C (en) * | 2009-09-24 | 2013-06-25 | Conocophillips Company | A fishbone well configuration for in situ combustion |
| US8863839B2 (en) | 2009-12-17 | 2014-10-21 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Enhanced convection for in situ pyrolysis of organic-rich rock formations |
| WO2012030426A1 (en) | 2010-08-30 | 2012-03-08 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Olefin reduction for in situ pyrolysis oil generation |
| CN103069104A (en) | 2010-08-30 | 2013-04-24 | 埃克森美孚上游研究公司 | Wellbore mechanical integrity for in situ pyrolysis |
| WO2013066772A1 (en) | 2011-11-04 | 2013-05-10 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Multiple electrical connections to optimize heating for in situ pyrolysis |
| US8770284B2 (en) | 2012-05-04 | 2014-07-08 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Systems and methods of detecting an intersection between a wellbore and a subterranean structure that includes a marker material |
| US9512699B2 (en) | 2013-10-22 | 2016-12-06 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Systems and methods for regulating an in situ pyrolysis process |
| US9394772B2 (en) | 2013-11-07 | 2016-07-19 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Systems and methods for in situ resistive heating of organic matter in a subterranean formation |
| US10480288B2 (en) * | 2014-10-15 | 2019-11-19 | Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, Llc | Articles containing carbon composites and methods of manufacture |
| WO2016081104A1 (en) | 2014-11-21 | 2016-05-26 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Method of recovering hydrocarbons within a subsurface formation |
| CN106223916B (en) * | 2016-10-14 | 2018-09-07 | 中国地质大学（北京） | Resistance wire type coal seam heating device |
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-
2007
- 2007-02-05 US US11/671,135 patent/US7617869B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2008
- 2008-02-24 CA CA2619380A patent/CA2619380C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN116988792A (en) * | 2023-09-25 | 2023-11-03 | 太原理工大学 | Comprehensive mechanized mining process for subcoal hard gibbsite |
| CN116988792B (en) * | 2023-09-25 | 2023-12-15 | 太原理工大学 | Comprehensive mechanized mining process for subcoal hard gibbsite |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US7617869B2 (en) | 2009-11-17 |
| CA2619380C (en) | 2010-11-09 |
| US20080185145A1 (en) | 2008-08-07 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20210224 |