Patent ID: 8851170
Filing Date: 2014-10-07
Classification: E21B,H05B

Abstract:
1. A method for treating a tar sands formation, comprising: providing heat from a substantially horizontal portion of a first heater, wherein the substantially horizontal portion of the first heater is located between a substantially horizontal portion of a steam injection well and a substantially horizontal portion of a production well in a hydrocarbon containing layer of the formation; providing heat from a substantially horizontal portion of a second heater horizontally offset from the first heater, the substantially horizontal portion of the second heater being located vertically above an injection/production well in the hydrocarbon containing layer; injecting steam into the hydrocarbon containing layer through the substantially horizontal portion of the steam injection well after a selected amount of heat is provided from the substantially horizontal portion of the first heater; producing hydrocarbons from the layer through the substantially horizontal portion of the production well; and alternately injecting additional steam and producing additional hydrocarbons through the injection/production well after a selected amount of heat is provided from the substantially horizontal portion of the second heater.