METHOD OF SELECTING A PRODUCTION WELL LOCATION IN A HYDROCARBON SUBSURFACE FORMATION

Abstract

An in situ process for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is provided. A method for treating a tar sands formation includes providing heat from one or more heaters to a hydrocarbon containing layer in the formation such that at least some hydrocarbons in the layer are mobilized; and producing at least some of the hydrocarbons through one or more production wells located in the hydrocarbon containing layer. At least one of the production wells is located at a selected depth in the hydrocarbon containing layer so that hydrocarbons of a selected quality are produced from a part of the hydrocarbon containing layer.

Claims

1-1477. (canceled)

1478. A method for treating a tar sands formation, comprising: providing heat from one or more heaters to a hydrocarbon containing layer in the formation such that at least some hydrocarbons in the layer are mobilized; and producing at least some of the mobilized hydrocarbons through one or more production wells located in the hydrocarbon containing layer, wherein at least one of the production wells is located at a selected depth in the hydrocarbon containing layer so that hydrocarbons of a selected quality are produced from a part of the hydrocarbon containing layer.

1479. The method of claim 1478, wherein at least a portion of the production wells are located horizontally in the hydrocarbon containing layer.

1480. The method of claim 1478, wherein at least a portion of the heaters are located horizontally in the hydrocarbon containing layer.

1481. The method of claim 1478, wherein at least a portion of the production wells and the heaters are located horizontally in the hydrocarbon containing layer.

1482. The method of claim 1478, wherein at least some hydrocarbons are pyrolyzed in the part of the formation.

1483. The method of claim 1478, wherein the selected quality is an API gravity of the produced hydrocarbons.

1484. The method of claim 1478, further comprising locating the production well near the bottom of the hydrocarbon containing layer so that the produced hydrocarbons comprise a majority of liquid hydrocarbons.

1485. The method of claim 1478, further comprising locating the production well near the bottom of the hydrocarbon containing layer so that the produced hydrocarbons comprise a hydrocarbons having an average API gravity less than about 25.degree..

1486. The method of claim 1478, further comprising locating the production well near the bottom of the hydrocarbon containing layer so that the produced hydrocarbons comprise a majority of liquid hydrocarbons, wherein a portion of the liquid hydrocarbons comprise un-pyrolyzed hydrocarbons.

1487. The method of claim 1478, further comprising locating the production well near the top of the hydrocarbon containing layer so that the produced hydrocarbons comprise a majority of gaseous hydrocarbons.

1488. The method of claim 1478, further comprising locating the production well near the top of the hydrocarbon containing layer so that the produced hydrocarbons comprise a majority hydrocarbons having an average API gravity greater than about 25.degree..

1489. The method of claim 1478, further comprising locating the production well near the top of the hydrocarbon containing layer so that the produced hydrocarbons comprise a majority of gaseous hydrocarbons, wherein a portion of the gaseous hydrocarbons comprise pyrolyzed hydrocarbons.

1490. The method of claim 1478, wherein the selected quality is a percent of olefins in the produced hydrocarbons.

1491. The method of claim 1478, further comprising controlling the pressure in the hydrocarbon containing layer to inhibit production of olefins in the produced hydrocarbons.

1492. The method of claim 1478, wherein a temperature in the part of the formation is about 225.degree. C.

1493. The method of claim 1478, further comprising maintaining an average temperature in bottom portion of the hydrocarbon layer below a hydrocarbon pyrolysis temperature.

1494. The method of claim 1478, further comprising adjusting the heat output of the heaters in the hydrocarbon layer to control the heat distribution in the hydrocarbon containing layer.

1495. The method of claim 1478, further comprising providing steam to the hydrocarbon layer to drive hydrocarbons to at least one production well.

1496. The method of claim 1478, further comprising turning down or off heaters in the hydrocarbon layer after a portion of the mobilized hydrocarbons are produced.

1497. A method for treating a tar sands formation, comprising: providing heat from one or more heaters to a hydrocarbon containing layer in the formation such that at least some hydrocarbons in the layer are mobilized; and producing at least some of the mobilized hydrocarbons through one or more production wells located in the hydrocarbon containing layer, wherein at least one of the production wells is located at a selected depth in the hydrocarbon containing layer so that hydrocarbons of a selected API gravity are produced from a part of the hydrocarbon containing layer.

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