Heater pattern including heaters powered by wind-electricity for in situ thermal processing of a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention relate to the use of wind-electricity to produce unconventional oil from a kerogen-containing or bitumen-containing subsurface formation. A heater cell may be divided into nested inner and outer zones. In the smaller inner zone, heaters may be arranged at a relatively high spatial density while in the larger surrounding outer zone, a heater spatial density may be significantly lower. Due to the higher heater density, a rate of temperature increase in the smaller inner zone of the subsurface exceeds that of the larger outer zone, and a rate of hydrocarbon fluid production ramps up faster in the inner zone than in the outer zone. In some embodiments, at least a majority of the heaters in the inner zone are powered primarily by fuel combustion and at least a majority of heaters in the outer zone are powered primarily by electricity generated by wind. Alternatively, in other embodiments, at least a majority of the heaters in the inner zone are powered primarily by electricity generated by wind and at least a majority of heaters in the outer zone are powered primarily by fuel combustion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for in-situ production of hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation, the system comprising:
 a heater cell divided into nested inner and outer zones such that an enclosed area ratio between respective areas enclosed by substantially-convex polygon-shaped perimeters of the outer and inner zones is between two and seven, heaters being located at all polygon vertices of inner and outer zone perimeters, inner zone and outer zone heaters being respectively distributed around inner and outer zone centroids such that an average heater spacing in outer zone significantly exceeds that of inner zone, at least a majority of the heaters in the inner zone being powered primarily by fuel combustion and at least a majority of heaters in the outer zone being powered primarily by electricity generated by wind.   
     
     
         2 . A system for in-situ production of hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation, the system comprising:
 a heater cell divided into nested inner and outer zones such that an enclosed area ratio between respective areas enclosed by substantially-convex polygon-shaped perimeters of the outer and inner zones is between two and seven, heaters being located at all polygon vertices of inner and outer zone perimeters, inner zone and outer zone heaters being respectively distributed around inner and outer zone centroids such that an average heater spacing in outer zone significantly exceeds that of inner zone, at least a majority of the heaters in the inner zone being powered primarily by fuel combustion and at least a majority of heaters in the outer zone being powered primarily by electricity generated by wind.   
     
     
         3 . A system for in-situ production of hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation, the system comprising:
 a heater cell divided into nested inner and outer zones such that an enclosed area ratio between respective areas enclosed by substantially-convex polygon-shaped perimeters of the outer and inner zones is between two and seven, heaters being located at all polygon vertices of inner and outer zone perimeters, inner zone and outer zone heaters being respectively distributed around inner and outer zone centroids such that a heater spatial density in inner zone significantly exceeds that of outer zone, at least a majority of the heaters in the inner zone being powered primarily by fuel combustion and at least a majority of heaters in the outer zone being powered primarily by electricity generated by wind.   
     
     
         4 . A system for in-situ production of hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation, the system comprising:
 heaters arranged in a target portion of the formation, the target portion being divided into nested inner and outer zones heaters so that inner zone and outer zone heaters are respectively distributed around inner and outer zone centroids, at least a majority of the heaters in the inner zone being powered primarily by fuel combustion and at least a majority of heaters in the outer zone being powered primarily by electricity generated by wind.   
     
     
         5 . A system for in-situ production of hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface formation, the system comprising:
 (i) heaters powered primarily by fuel combustion and (ii) heaters powered primarily by electricity generated by wind arranged within a target portion of the sub-surface formation.   
     
     
         6 . The system of any previous claim wherein, within the target formation, a first heater that is powered primarily by fuel combustion is located at most 50 meters from a second heater that is powered primarily by electricity generated by wind. 
     
     
         7 . The system of any previous claim wherein, within the target formation, a first heater that is powered primarily by fuel combustion is located at most 35 meters from a second heater that is powered primarily by electricity generated by wind. 
     
     
         8 . The system of any previous claim wherein, within the target formation, a first heater that is powered primarily by fuel combustion is located at most 20 meters from a second heater that is powered primarily by electricity generated by wind. 
     
     
         9 . The system of any previous claim wherein, within the target formation, a first heater that is powered primarily by fuel combustion is located at most 10 meters from a second heater that is powered primarily by electricity generated by wind. 
     
     
         10 . The system of any previous claim wherein, within the target formation, a first heater that is powered primarily by fuel combustion is located at most 5 meters from a second heater that is powered primarily by electricity generated by wind. 
     
     
         11 . The system of any previous claim wherein, within the target formation, the average separation distance between neighboring heaters that are each powered primarily by electricity generated by wind exceeds the average separation distance between neighboring heaters that are each powered primarily by fuel combustion. 
     
     
         12 . The system of any previous claim wherein, within the target formation, the average separation distance between neighboring heaters that are each powered primarily by electricity generated by wind significantly exceeds the average separation distance between neighboring heaters that are each powered primarily by fuel combustion. 
     
     
         13 . The system of any previous claim wherein, within the target formation, the average separation distance between neighboring heaters that are each powered primarily by electricity generated by wind significantly is about twice the average separation distance between neighboring heaters that are each powered primarily by fuel combustion. 
     
     
         14 . The system of any of  claims 5 - 13  wherein at least some, or at least a majority, or at least two-thirds of the heaters powered primarily by fuel combustion are electrical heaters that are powered primarily by electricity generated by fuel combustion. 
     
     
         15 . The system of any of  claims 5 - 14  wherein at least some, or at least a majority, or at least two-thirds of the heaters powered primarily by fuel combustion are combustion heaters where a combusted gas is circulated in the subsurface. 
     
     
         16 . The system of any of  claims 5 - 17  wherein at least some, or at least a majority, or at least two-thirds of the heaters powered primarily by fuel combustion are electrical heaters wherein a material is resistively heated by electricity generated by fuel combustion. 
     
     
         17 . The system of any of  claims 5 - 18  wherein at least some, or at least a majority, or at least two-thirds of the heaters powered primarily by fuel combustion are advection heaters where a material, that is in thermal communication with a circulating heat transfer fluid flowing in the subsurface, is heated resistively by electricity generated by fuel combustion. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the resistively heated material is in the subsurface. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the resistively heated material is above the surface. 
     
     
         20 . The system of any of  claims 5 - 19  wherein at least some, or at least a majority, or at least two-thirds of the heaters powered primarily by electricity generated by wind are electrical heaters wherein a material is resistively heated by electricity generated by wind. 
     
     
         21 . The system of any of  claims 5 - 20  wherein at least some, or at least a majority, or at least two-thirds of the heaters powered primarily by electricity generated by wind are advection heaters where a material, that is in thermal communication with a circulating heat transfer fluid flowing in the subsurface, is heated resistively by electricity generated by wind. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the resistively heated material is in the subsurface. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the resistively heated material is above the surface. 
     
     
         24 . The system of any of  claims 1 - 16  wherein two-thirds of the heaters in the inner zone are powered primarily by fuel combustion and at least two-thirds of heaters in the outer zone are powered primarily by electricity generated by wind. 
     
     
         25 . A method of in-situ production of hydrocarbon fluids in a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation, the method comprising:
 a. during an earlier stage of production, producing hydrocarbon fluids primarily in a first portion of the target region that is heated primarily by thermal energy derived from combustion of fuel; and   b. during a later stage of production, producing hydrocarbon fluid primarily in a second portion of the target region that is heated primarily by thermal energy derived from electricity generated by wind,   wherein at least some of the thermal energy required for hydrocarbon fluid production in the second portion of the target region is supplied by outward migration of thermal energy from the first portion to the second portion of the target region.   
     
     
         26 . A method of in-situ production of hydrocarbon fluids in a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation, the method comprising:
 a. during an earlier stage of production, producing hydrocarbon fluids primarily in a first portion of the target region that is heated primarily by thermal energy derived from electricity generated by wind and   b. during a later stage of production, producing hydrocarbon fluid primarily in a second portion of the target region that is heated primarily by thermal energy derived from combustion of fuel wherein at least some of the thermal energy required for hydrocarbon fluid production in the second portion of the target region is supplied by outward migration of thermal energy from the first portion to the second portion of the target region.   
     
     
         27 . A system for in-situ production of hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation, the system comprising:
 a heater cell divided into nested inner and outer zones such that an enclosed area ratio between respective areas enclosed by substantially-convex polygon-shaped perimeters of the outer and inner zones is between two and seven, heaters being located at all polygon vertices of inner and outer zone perimeters, inner zone and outer zone heaters being respectively distributed around inner and outer zone centroids such that an average heater spacing in outer zone significantly exceeds that of inner zone, at least a majority of the heaters in the inner zone being powered primarily by electricity generated by wind and at least a majority of heaters in the outer zone being powered primarily by fuel combustion.   
     
     
         28 . A system for in-situ production of hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation, the system comprising:
 a heater cell divided into nested inner and outer zones such that an enclosed area ratio between respective areas enclosed by substantially-convex polygon-shaped perimeters of the outer and inner zones is between two and seven, heaters being located at all polygon vertices of inner and outer zone perimeters, inner zone and outer zone heaters being respectively distributed around inner and outer zone centroids such that an average heater spacing in outer zone significantly exceeds that of inner zone, at least a majority of the heaters in the inner zone being powered primarily by electricity generated by wind and at least a majority of heaters in the outer zone being powered primarily by fuel combustion.   
     
     
         29 . A system for in-situ production of hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation, the system comprising:
 a heater cell divided into nested inner and outer zones such that an enclosed area ratio between respective areas enclosed by substantially-convex polygon-shaped perimeters of the outer and inner zones is between two and seven, heaters being located at all polygon vertices of inner and outer zone perimeters, inner zone and outer zone heaters being respectively distributed around inner and outer zone centroids such that a heater spatial density in inner zone significantly exceeds that of outer zone, at least a majority of the heaters in the inner zone being powered primarily by electricity generated by wind and at least a majority of heaters in the outer zone being powered primarily by fuel combustion.   
     
     
         30 . A system for in-situ production of hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation, the system comprising:
 heaters arranged in a target portion of the formation, the target portion being divided into nested inner and outer zones heaters so that inner zone and outer zone heaters are respectively distributed around inner and outer zone centroids, at least a majority of the heaters in the inner zone being powered primarily by electricity generated by wind and at least a majority of heaters in the outer zone being powered primarily by fuel combustion.   
     
     
         31 . The system of any of  claims 27 - 30  wherein at least two-thirds of the heaters in the inner zone are powered primarily by electricity generated by wind and at least two-thirds of heaters in the outer zone being powered primarily by fuel combustion. 
     
     
         32 . A system for in-situ production of hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation, the system comprising:
 a heater cell divided into nested inner and outer zones such that an enclosed area ratio between respective areas enclosed by substantially-convex polygon-shaped perimeters of the outer and inner zones is between two and seven, heaters being located at all polygon vertices of inner and outer zone perimeters, inner zone and outer zone heaters being respectively distributed around inner and outer zone centroids such that an average heater spacing in outer zone significantly exceeds that of inner zone, at least one heater in the inner zone and/or at least one heater in the outer zone being powered primarily by electricity generated by wind.   
     
     
         33 . A system for in-situ production of hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation, the system comprising:
 a heater cell divided into nested inner and outer zones such that an enclosed area ratio between respective areas enclosed by substantially-convex polygon-shaped perimeters of the outer and inner zones is between two and seven, heaters being located at all polygon vertices of inner and outer zone perimeters, inner zone and outer zone heaters being respectively distributed around inner and outer zone centroids such that an average heater spacing in outer zone significantly exceeds that of inner zone, at least one heater in the inner zone and/or at least one heater in the outer zone being powered primarily by electricity generated by wind.   
     
     
         34 . A system for in-situ production of hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation, the system comprising:
 a heater cell divided into nested inner and outer zones such that an enclosed area ratio between respective areas enclosed by substantially-convex polygon-shaped perimeters of the outer and inner zones is between two and seven, heaters being located at all polygon vertices of inner and outer zone perimeters, inner zone and outer zone heaters being respectively distributed around inner and outer zone centroids such that a heater spatial density in inner zone significantly exceeds that of outer zone, at least one heater in the inner zone and/or at least one heater in the outer zone being powered primarily by electricity generated by wind.   
     
     
         35 . The system of any previous claim wherein an area of a region enclosed by a perimeter of the outer zone is at least three times that enclosed by a perimeter of the inner zone. 
     
     
         36 . The system of any previous claim wherein an area of a region enclosed by a perimeter of the outer zone is at most six times that enclosed by a perimeter of the inner zone. 
     
     
         37 . The system of any previous claim wherein an area of a region enclosed by a perimeter of the outer zone is at most five times that enclosed by a perimeter of the inner zone. 
     
     
         38 . The system of any preceding claim wherein a heater spatial density in the inner zone is at least about twice that of outer zone. 
     
     
         39 . The system of any preceding claim wherein a heater spatial density in the inner zone is at least twice that of the outer zone. 
     
     
         40 . The system of any preceding claim wherein a heater spatial density in the inner zone is at least about three times that of the outer zone. 
     
     
         41 . Use of the system of any of  claims 1 - 40  to pyrolyze kerogen or to pyrolyze bitumen of the subsurface formation. 
     
     
         42 . Use of the system of any of  claims 1 - 40  to mobilize bitumen of the subsurface formation. 
     
     
         43 . Use of the system of any of  claims 1 - 40  for in-situ production of hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation.