Patent ID: 8739874

Claim:
A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising: forming at least one wellbore in a hydrocarbon containing formation, the wellbore comprising at least two substantially horizontal or inclined portions, a first opening at a first position of the earth's surface and a second opening at a second position of the earth's surface; forming one or more slots in a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein at least one of the slots extends from a side of the wellbore and is perpendicular to the at least two substantially horizontal or inclined portions of the wellbore; providing heat to a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation from one or more heaters placed in at least a portion of one of the slots, wherein one or more of the heaters comprise one or more insulated electrical conductors; allowing the heat to transfer from the heaters to the portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation; and producing hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon containing formation.