Methods of Treating Suberranean Formation To Convert Organic Matter Into Producible Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Methods are provided that include the steps of providing wells in a formation, establishing one or more fractures in the formation, such that each fracture intersects at least one of the wells, placing electrically conductive material in the fracture, and applying an electric voltage across the fracture and through the material such that sufficient heat is generated by electrical resistivity within the material to heat and/or pyrolyze organic matter in the formation to form producible hydrocarbons.

1 . A method of treating a subterranean formation that contains solid organic matter, said method comprising:
 (a) providing one or more wells that penetrate a treatment interval within the subterranean formation;   (b) establishing at least one fracture from at least one of said wells, whereby said fracture intersects at least one of said wells;   (c) placing electrically conductive material in said fracture, wherein said electrically conductive material is comprised of a mixture of at least a first material and a second material;   (d) placing two electrodes in contact with the electrically conductive material; and   (e) applying a voltage across the two electrodes causing an electric current to pass through said fracture such that said current passes through at least a portion of said electrically conductive material and sufficient heat is generated by electrical resistivity within said portion of said electrically conductive material to pyrolyze at least a portion of said solid organic matter into producible hydrocarbons.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said subterranean formation comprises oil shale. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first material is cement. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second material is an electrically conductive proppant material. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the cement is substantially non-electrically conductive. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first material is an electrically conductive proppant material. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second material is an elongated material. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second material is a fiber, wirelet, shaving, or platelet. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second material is electrically conductive. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second material is comprised of a metallic material. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the elongated material has an average length that is between 5 and 30 times the average grain size of the proppant material. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the elongated material has an average width that is less than 50 percent of the average grain size of the proppant material. 
   
   
       13 . A method of treating a heavy oil or tar sand subterranean formation containing hydrocarbons, said method comprising:
 (a) providing one or more wells that penetrate a treatment interval within the subterranean formation;   (b) establishing at least one fracture from at least one of said wells, whereby said fracture intersects at least one of said wells;   (c) placing electrically conductive material in said fracture, wherein said electrically conductive material is comprised of a mixture of at least a first material and a second material;   (d) placing two electrodes in contact with the electrically conductive material; and   (e) applying a voltage across the two electrodes causing an electric current to pass through said fracture such that said current passes through at least a portion of said electrically conductive material and sufficient heat is generated by electrical resistivity within said portion of said electrically conductive material to reduce the viscosity of at least a portion of said hydrocarbons.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first material is cement. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second material is an electrically conductive proppant material. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cement is substantially non-electrically conductive. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first material is an electrically conductive proppant material. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the second material is an elongated material. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the second material is a fiber, wirelet, shaving, or platelet. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second material is electrically conductive. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the second material is comprised of a metallic material. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the elongated material has an average length that is between 5 and 30 times the average grain size of the proppant material. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the elongated material has an average width that is less than 50 percent of the average grain size of the proppant material. 
   
   
       24 . A method of producing hydrocarbon fluids, comprising:
 heating a subterranean formation that contains organic matter comprised of solid organic matter, heavy oil, tar sands, or combinations thereof, wherein the heating comprises:
 (a) providing one or more wells that penetrate a treatment interval within the subterranean formation; 
 (b) establishing at least one fracture from at least one of said wells, whereby said fracture intersects at least one of said wells; 
 (c) placing electrically conductive material in said fracture, wherein said electrically conductive material is comprised of a mixture of at least a first material and a second material; 
 (d) placing two electrodes in contact with the electrically conductive material; and 
 (e) applying a voltage across the two electrodes causing an electric current to pass through said fracture such that said current passes through at least a portion of said electrically conductive material and sufficient heat is generated by electrical resistivity within said portion of said electrically conductive material to pyrolyze or reduce the viscosity of at least a portion of said organic matter thereby forming producible hydrocarbons; and 
   producing at least a portion of the producible hydrocarbons to the surface.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the subterranean formation is an oil shale formation.