Patent ID: 8113281
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method for the in situ extraction of bitumen or very heavy oil from oil sand seams close to the Earth's surface where thermal energy is supplied to a seam to reduce a viscosity of the bitumen or very heavy oil, the method comprising: providing a first injection pipe to introduce energy; providing an extraction pipe, located below the first injection pipe, to recover the liquefied bitumen or very heavy oil; introducing the thermal energy in each instance in a predetermined section of the seam using at least two separate elements, a predetermined geometry of the elements being maintained in relation to the extraction pipe, and wherein the introducing uses a further pipe as a separate element to introduce steam and/or as an electrode for energization, wherein the injection pipe and the further pipe are connected in a manner of an electrical conductor loop, wherein a plurality of outer regions of the seam are also supplied with thermal energy at least by way of the further pipe, and wherein the first injection pipe and the extraction pipe are disposed one on top of the other, wherein an element unit of the seam includes a cross-section of a width multiplied by a height, and wherein an upward distance of the injection pipe from the extraction pipe is between 0.2 multiplied by the height and 0.9 multiplied by the height.