Treatment of a hydrocarbon containing formation after heating
A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is provided. In one embodiment, heat from one or more heaters may be provided to at least a portion of the formation. Heat may be allowed to transfer from the one or more heaters to at least a part of the formation. In certain embodiments, the heat from the one or more heaters may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in the formation. In an embodiment, a first fluid may be introduced into at least a portion of the formation. The portion may have previously undergone an in situ conversion process. A mixture of the first fluid and a second fluid may be produced from the formation. Such mixture may, in some embodiments, be treated or burned.
1. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
introducing a first fluid into at least a portion of the formation, wherein the first fluid comprises a hydrocarbon fluid, and wherein the portion has previously undergone an in situ conversion process;
producing a mixture of the first fluid and a second fluid from the formation; and
providing at least a portion of the mixture to an energy producing unit.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid is selected to recover heat from the formation.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid is selected to recover heavy metals from the formation.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid is selected to recover hydrocarbons from the formation.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture comprises an oxidizable heat recovery fluid.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein producing the mixture remediates the portion of the formation by removing contaminants from the formation in the mixture.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid comprises methane.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid comprises ethane.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid further comprises molecular hydrogen.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy producing unit comprises a turbine, and generating electricity by passing mixture through the energy producing unit.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising heating the first fluid before introducing the first fluid into at least the portion of the formation.
12. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
introducing a first fluid into at least a portion of the formation, wherein the first fluid comprises a hydrocarbon fluid, and wherein the portion has previously undergone an in situ conversion process;
producing a mixture of the first fluid and a second fluid from the formation;
inhibiting spread of the mixture from the portion of the formation with a barrier; and
providing at least a portion of the mixture to an energy producing unit.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first fluid is selected to recover heavy metals from the formation.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein producing the mixture remediates the portion of the formation by removing contaminants from the formation in the mixture.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first fluid comprises methane.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first fluid comprises ethane.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first fluid further comprises molecular hydrogen.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the energy producing unit comprises a turbine, and generating electricity by passing mixture through the energy producing unit.
19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising combusting the mixture in the energy producing unit.
20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising heating the first fluid before introducing the first fluid into at least the portion of the formation.
21. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first fluid is selected to recover heat from the formation.
22. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first fluid is selected to recover hydrocarbons from the formation.
23. The method of claim 12 , wherein the mixture comprises an oxidizable heat recovery fluid.
24. A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
introducing a first fluid into at least a portion of the formation, wherein the first fluid comprises a hydrocarbon fluid, and wherein the portion has previously undergone an in situ conversion process;
producing a mixture of the first fluid and a second fluid from the formation;
providing at least a portion of the mixture to an energy producing unit; and
combusting at least a portion of the mixture in the energy producing unit.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first fluid is selected to recover heavy metals from the formation.
26. The method of claim 24 , wherein producing the mixture remediates the portion of the formation by removing contaminants from the formation in the mixture.
27. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first fluid comprises methane.
28. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first fluid comprises ethane.
29. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first fluid further comprises molecular hydrogen.
30. The method of claim 24 , wherein the energy producing unit comprises a turbine, and generating electricity by passing at least a portion of the mixture through the turbine.
31. The method of claim 24 , further comprising heating the first fluid before introducing the first fluid into at least the portion of the formation.
32. The method of claim 24 , further wherein the first fluid is selected to recover heat from the formation.
33. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first fluid is selected to recover hydrocarbons from the formation.
34. The method of claim 24 , wherein the mixture comprises an oxidizable heat recovery fluid.