Methods of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation

Abstract

Methods of generating subsurface heat for treatment of a hydrocarbon containing formation are described herein. Methods include providing water through one or more wellbores to at least a portion of a hydrocarbon containing formation and combusting at least a portion of a fuel stream comprising hydrogen sulfide in the presence of an oxygen source in one or more heaters positioned in one of the wellbores to produce a combustion by-products stream. Heat from the combustion is transferred to a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation. The combustion by-products stream includes one or more sulfur oxides. Heat of solution is released by contacting at least a portion of the combustion by-products stream with a portion of the water and/or a portion of water in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

1 . A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
 providing water through one or more wellbores to at least a portion of a hydrocarbon containing formation;   combusting at least a portion of a fuel stream comprising hydrogen sulfide in the presence of an oxidant in one or more heaters positioned in one or more of the wellbores to produce a combustion by-products stream, wherein the combustion by-products stream comprises one or more sulfur oxides;   transferring heat from the combustion to a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation; and   contacting at least a portion of the combustion by-products stream with water in the hydrocarbon formation to release a heat of solution, where water contacted with the combustion by-products stream in the hydrocarbon formation may be the water provided to the hydrocarbon formation or may be water present in the hydrocarbon formation.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the combustion by-products stream comprises sulfuric acid, and wherein contacting of water with at least a portion of the combustion by-products stream comprising sulfuric acid generates heat by contact of water with sulfuric acid. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sulfur oxides comprises sulfur dioxide and/or sulfur trioxide. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the fuel stream is produced from formation fluids from the hydrocarbon formation. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the heaters comprises a flameless distributed combustor and/or a burner. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transferring at least a portion of the combustion by-products stream comprising sulfur oxides into the formation such that at least a portion of the sulfur oxides reduces the viscosity of hydrocarbons in the formation. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of water heated by contact with the combustion by-products stream and/or at least a portion of the combustion by-products stream provide a driving force for mobilization of at least a portion of the formation fluids. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the water provided to the wellbores is in the form of steam and the steam heats a mixture formed from the fuel and the oxidant to at or above the auto-ignition temperature of the mixture. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the water is provided in an first portion of a wellbore, and wherein combustion occurs in a second portion of the wellbore in which the water is provided, where the second portion of the wellbore communicates thermally with the first portion of the wellbore such that at least a portion of the heat generated by combustion is transferred to a portion of the water. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the water heated by the heat generated by combustion communicates thermally with a portion of the hydrocarbon formation to transfer heat to the portion of the hydrocarbon formation. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel stream is provided to one or more fuel conduits in at least one of the heaters, wherein at least one of the conduits provides a portion of the fuel comprising hydrogen sulfide and at least one of the conduits provides another fuel.