In situ thermal processing and remediation of an oil shale formation
An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be provided to a portion of the formation from one or more heat sources. Heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat sources to a selection of the formation. Hydrocarbons, H 2 , and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. A recovery fluid may be provided to the formation to recover one or more components remaining in the portion.
1. A method of treating an oil shale formation, comprising:
providing heat from heaters to a part of the oil shale formation;
transferring heat from the heaters to the part to raise a temperature of a section of the oil shale formation to a temperature above a pyrolysis temperature of the oil shale;
pyrolyzing oil shale in the section to produce a mixture;
producing a portion of the mixture from the section;
introducing a heat recovery fluid into the section, wherein an average temperature of the section prior to introduction of heat recovery fluid is greater than about 300° C.;
transferring heat from the section to the heat recovery fluid; and
producing fluid from the section.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heat recovery fluid comprises water.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heat recovery fluid comprises saline water.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heat recovery fluid comprises non-potable water.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heat recovery fluid comprises alkaline water.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heat recovery fluid comprises hydrocarbons.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heat recovery fluid comprises carbon dioxide.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises hydrocarbons.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reducing an average temperature of the section with heat recovery fluid to a temperature less than a boiling temperature of water at a pressure of the heated oil shale formation.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing at least some of the produced fluids to a heat exchange mechanism.
11. A method of treating an oil shale formation, comprising:
providing heat from heaters to a part of the oil shale formation to heat a section of the oil shale formation at a rate sufficient to increase permeability of the section and allow for production of a pyrolysis fluid from the formation;
introducing a heat recovery fluid into the section so that heat transfers from the formation to the heat recovery fluid to produce a heated fluid, wherein an average temperature of the section prior to introduction of heat recovery fluid is greater than about 300° C.; and
removing at least a portion of the heated fluid from the formation.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the heat recovery fluid comprises water.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the heat recovery fluid comprises saline water.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the heat recovery fluid comprises saline water, and further comprising:
providing carbon dioxide to the portion of the formation; and
precipitating carbonate compounds.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the heat recovery fluid comprises non-potable water.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the heat recovery fluid comprises alkaline water.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the heat recovery fluid comprises hydrocarbons.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the heat recovery fluid comprises carbon dioxide.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the portion of the heated fluid removed from the formation comprises hydrocarbons.
20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising reducing an average temperature of the section with heat recovery fluid to a temperature less than a boiling temperature of water at a pressure of the heated oil shale formation.
21. The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing at least some of the produced fluids to a heat exchange mechanism.
22. A method of treating an oil shale formation, comprising:
providing heat from heaters to a part of the oil shale formation;
transferring heat from the heaters to the part to raise a temperature of a section of the oil shale formation to a temperature above a pyrolysis temperature of the oil shale;
pyrolyzing oil shale in the section to produce a mixture;
producing a portion of the mixture from the section;
introducing saline water to the section as a heat recovery fluid;
transferring heat from the section to the saline water; and
producing fluid from the section;
providing carbon dioxide to the portion of the formation; and
precipitating carbonate compounds.
23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising providing at least some of the produced fluid to a heat exchange mechanism.
24. The method of claim 22 , further comprising reducing an average temperature of the section with the saline water to a temperature less than a boiling temperature of water at a pressure of the section.
25. The method of claim 22 , further comprising providing at least some of the saline water to the section through a heater well.
26. The method of claim 22 , further comprising producing fluid from the section through one or more production wells.
27. The method of claim 22 , further comprising providing at least some of the produced fluid to a power generating unit.
28. The method of claim 22 , further comprising providing at least some of the produced fluid to a steam cracking unit.
29. The method of claim 22 , further comprising providing at least some of the produced fluid to a hydrotreating unit.
30. The method of claim 22 , wherein the produced fluid comprises steam.
31. The method of claim 22 , wherein the produced fluid comprises hydrocarbons.