Patent ID: 6910536
Filing Date: 2005-06-28
Classification: C09K,E21B,Y02C,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ, comprising: heating a portion of the formation to a temperature sufficient to support oxidation of hydrocarbons in the heated portion, wherein the heated portion is located in the formation substantially adjacent to a wellbore; providing an oxidant to a conduit positioned in the wellbore; allowing the oxidant to flow from the conduit to a heat source zone in the heated portion, wherein the heat source zone supports an oxidation reaction between the oxidant and hydrocarbons in the heat source zone; allowing at least a portion of the oxidant to react with hydrocarbons in the heat source zone to generate heat; removing excess oxidant from the heat source zone to inhibit the oxidant from flowing to a pyrolysis zone in the formation; and allowing heat to transfer substantially by conduction to the pyrolysis zone to pyrolyze at least a portion of hydrocarbons in the pyrolysis zone.