Patent ID: 8205674
Filing Date: 2012-06-26
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method for extracting hydrocarbons in-situ, the method comprising: positioning an injection tube within a wellbore near a fluid injection point, the fluid injection point substantially at the bottom of a target zone of a hydrocarbon-bearing formation; positioning a production tube near a fluid production point substantially at the top of the target zone; isolating, within the wellbore, the fluid injection point from fluid communication with the fluid production point to direct fluid flowing from the fluid injection point through the target zone and to the fluid production point; and producing hydrocarbons from the top of target zone by: receiving the production fluid at the fluid production point substantially at the top of the target zone; interpreting a composition of the production fluid and adjusting a catalyst target temperature based on the composition of the production fluid; heating, using a product heat exchanger, the production fluid to the catalyst target temperature; and treating, using a catalytic reactor, the production fluid, thereby reducing an average molecular weight of the production fluid.