Patent ID: 6722431
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: C09K,E21B,Y02C,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing permeable formation in situ, comprising:providing heat from one or more heat sources to at least one portion of the permeable formation; allowing the heat to transfer from the one or more heat sources to a selected mobilization section of the permeable formation such that the heat from the one or more heat sources can mobilize at least some of the hydrocarbons in the selected mobilization section of the permeable formation; controlling the heat from the one or more heat sources such that an average temperature in at least a majority of the selected mobilization section of the permeable formation is less than about 150Â° C.; allowing the heat to transfer from the one or more heat sources to a selected pyrolyzation section of the permeable formation such that the heat from the one or more heat sources can pyrolyze at least some of the hydrocarbons in the selected pyrolyzation section of the permeable formation; controlling the heat from the one or more heat sources such that an average temperature in at least a majority of the selected pyrolyzation section of the permeable formation is less than about 375Â° C.; and producing a mixture from the permeable formation.