Patent ID: 8176982
Filing Date: 2012-05-15
Classification: E21B,Y02C

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: (a) providing a plurality of mobilizing wells for mobilizing hydrocarbons and a plurality of recovery wells to recover mobilized hydrocarbons, the mobilizing and recovery wells defining a portion of an underground deposit, the defined portion comprising solid, liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons, wherein at least some of the mobilizing wells and/or recovery wells extend from an underground manned excavation; (b) for a selected time interval, mobilizing, by the mobilizing wells, hydrocarbons from the defined portion while removing hydrocarbons from the defined portion, wherein, during mobilization, the defined portion is at a first temperature of no more than about 350° C.; (c) after a selected time interval, heating a first zone of the defined portion of the deposit to a temperature above 350° C. and sufficient to convert at least a portion of the remaining solid and/or liquid hydrocarbons into at least one of asphaltenes, jet fuel, diesel fuel, and heavy vacuum gas oil; and (d) removing the at least one of asphaltenes, jet fuel, diesel fuel, heavy vacuum gas oil and gaseous hydrocarbons from the underground deposit.