Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100206570 | CIRCULATED HEATED TRANSFER FLUID SYSTEMS USED TO TREAT A SUBSURFACE FORMATION - A method for heating a subsurface formation includes applying heat from a plurality of heaters to at least a portion of the subsurface formation. A portion of one or more of the heaters are allowed to move relative to the heaters respective wellhead using sliding seals to accommodate thermal expansion of the heaters. | 08-19-2010 |
20110247810 | METHODS FOR HEATING WITH SLOTS IN HYDROCARBON FORMATIONS - Systems and methods for treating a subsurface formation are described herein. Some embodiments generally relate to systems, methods, and/or processes for treating fluid produced from the subsurface formation. Some methods include providing heat to a first section of the hydrocarbon containing formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation; allowing the heat to transfer from the heaters to heat a portion of the first section to mobilize formation fluid; and producing formation fluid from the formation. | 10-13-2011 |
20130087337 | THERMAL EXPANSION ACCOMMODATION FOR CIRCULATED FLUID SYSTEMS USED TO HEAT SUBSURFACE FORMATIONS - A method for accommodating thermal expansion of a heater in a formation includes flowing a heat transfer fluid through a conduit to provide heat to the formation and providing substantially constant tension to an end portion of the conduit that extends outside the formation. At least a portion of the end portion of the conduit is wound around a movable wheel used to apply tension to the conduit. | 04-11-2013 |
20130255936 | ELECTROFRACTURING FORMATIONS - A method is provided to produce hydrocarbons from a formation, the method includes the steps of: placing a pair of electrodes within a formation; applying differential voltages between pairs of electrodes wherein the voltage differences between the electrodes is greater than at least 10,000 volts; and producing hydrocarbons from the formation or an adjacent formation wherein the formation has an initial permeability of less than ten millidarcy. The invention also includes an apparatus effective to release pulses of electrical energy into the formation as this frequency and voltage at least until the formation has reached a point where the electrical potential arcs from one electrode to at least one other electrode. | 10-03-2013 |
20150075784 | PHASED STIMULATION METHODS - A method of stimulating a subterranean formation is provided. The method includes determining a final fracture spacing. The method includes creating a first set of fractures at a first fracture spacing, the first fracture spacing being larger than the final fracture spacing. The method includes allowing production of fluids from the formation through the well bore via the first set of fractures for a period of time. The method includes, after the period of time, creating a second set of fractures. The final fracture spacing is less than or equal to an average fracture spacing between the first set of fractures and the second set of fractures. | 03-19-2015 |
20150083405 | METHOD OF CONDUCTING DIAGNOSTICS ON A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION - A method including providing sensors in injection and observation wells; increasing pressure within the injection well until a fracture extends from an initiation location through a portion of a subterranean formation to an intersection location in the observation well, wherein increasing pressure within the injection well comprises introducing fluid into the injection well; obtaining a measurement indicative of fracture initiation from the first sensor; determining a height of the fracture at the injection well; obtaining a measurement indicative of fracture intersection from the second sensor; determining a volume of fluid introduced between the fracture initiation and the fracture intersection; determining a distance between the initiation location and the intersection location; determining a time lapse between the fracture initiation and the fracture intersection; and using the determined values, calculating a hydraulic fracturing characteristic. | 03-26-2015 |
20150096806 | MECHANIZED SLOT DRILLING - A system and method are provided for providing access to surfaces within a formation is provided, the method including: providing a wellbore from a first surface location to a second surface location; inserting into the wellbore a cylindrical cutting assembly connected to at least two wellbore tubulars, one of the wellbore tubular extending to each of the first surface location and the second surface location; and rotating the radial cylindrical cutting element. | 04-09-2015 |
20150252669 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RESERVOIR TESTING AND MONITORING - An apparatus may include a tubular, a first isolator connected to the tubular and configured to engage an interior surface of the wellbore, a first pressure gauge connected to the tubular and configured to take multiple pressure readings over a period of time, and a first perforation gun connected to the tubular without compromising the communication of fluid through an inner flow channel of the tubular. A method may include placing the apparatus in a wellbore, and actuating the isolator to provide isolation of a first zone in a formation. The method may include activating the perforation gun to provide fluid communication between an annulus of the wellbore and the zone in the formation. The method may include allowing the pressure gauge to take a plurality of pressure readings over a period of time. Based on the pressure readings, the method may include determining a formation characteristic. | 09-10-2015 |