Patent ID: 6056057
Filing Date: 2000-05-02
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
A method to heat a formation, the method comprising the steps of:providing a plurality of wellbores within the formation to be heated, each of the wellbores comprising a combustion gas flowpath through which a fluid can be routed, the combustion gas flowpath having an inlet and an outlet;supplying to an inlet of a first wellbore combustion gas flowpath a flow of air;burning an amount of fuel in the flow of air, thereby forming a stream of combustion products, the amount of fuel resulting in the stream of combustion products being at a first initial temperature;passing the stream of combustion products through the first wellbore combustion gas flowpath, thereby transferring heat from the stream of combustion products to the formation, and decreasing the temperature of the stream of combustion products from the first initial temperature to a first final temperature;routing the stream of combustion products to a second wellbore combustion gas flowpath inlet;burning a second amount of fuel in the stream of combustion products, thereby forming a second stream of combustion products, the second amount of fuel resulting in the second stream of combustion products being at a second initial temperature; andpassing the second stream of combustion products through the second wellbore combustion gas flowpath, thereby transferring heat from the second stream of combustion products to the formation, and decreasing the temperature of the second stream of combustion products from the second initial temperature to a second final temperature.