Inhibiting effects of sloughing in wellbores

Abstract

Certain embodiments provide a heater. A heater device includes a skin effect component having at least one insulated electrical core conductor in electrical communication with an adjacent and substantially parallel, elongated ferromagnetic shape having a reduction and localization of the depth and width of the effective conductor path in the cross-section of the ferromagnetic wall; and, an inorganic ceramic insulation component.

1 - 137 . (canceled) 
     
     
         138 . A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
 providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation;   allowing the heat to transfer from one or more of the heaters to one or more zones of the formation; and   controlling heating of the zones of the formation such that a heating rate of one or more zones is maintained below 20° C./day for at least about 15 days, thereby inhibiting sloughing of material proximate the heater during and/or subsequent to the heating.   
     
     
         139 . A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
 providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation, wherein at least one of the heaters is in at least one wellbore in the formation, wherein at least one of the wellbores has a liner placed between the heater in the wellbore and the formation, wherein the liner comprises openings that are sized such that fluids can pass through the liner but particles of a selected size cannot pass through the liner;   allowing the heat to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation; and   producing a mixture from the formation.   
     
     
         140 . A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
 providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation, wherein one or more of the heaters are in one or more of wellbores sized, at least in part, such that a space between the wellbore and one of the heaters in the wellbore has a width that inhibits particles of a selected size from freely moving in the space;   allowing the heat to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation; and   producing a mixture from the formation.   
     
     
         141 - 536 . (canceled) 
     
     
         537 . The method of  claim 138 , wherein heating is controlled within about 3 m of at least one wellbore. 
     
     
         538 . The method of  claim 138 , further comprising heating at least some hydrocarbons in the formation such that at least some of the hydrocarbons are pyrolyzed. 
     
     
         539 . The method of  claim 138 , further comprising producing a mixture from the formation, wherein the produced mixture comprises condensable hydrocarbons having an API gravity of at least 25°. 
     
     
         540 . The method of  claim 138 , further comprising heating the portion of the formation to at least a minimum pyrolysis temperature of about 270° C. 
     
     
         541 . The method of  claim 140 , wherein at least one of the wellbores has a liner placed between the heater in the wellbore and the formation, and wherein the liner comprises openings that are sized such that fluids can pass through the liner but particles of a selected size cannot to pass through the liner. 
     
     
         542 . The method of  claim 139 , wherein the liner is an expandable tubular. 
     
     
         543 . The method of  claim 139 , wherein the liner is an expandable screen. 
     
     
         544 . The method of  claim 139 , further comprising allowing heat to transfer from the one or more heaters to the one or more zones of the formation. 
     
     
         545 . The method of  claim 544 , further comprising controlling heating of the zones of the formation such that an initial heating rate of one or more of the zones is maintained below 20° C./day for at least about 15 days. 
     
     
         546 . The method of  claim 139 , further comprising heating at least some hydrocarbons in the formation such that at least some of the hydrocarbons are pyrolyzed. 
     
     
         547 . The method of  claim 139 , further comprising producing a mixture from the formation, wherein the produced mixture comprises condensable hydrocarbons having an API gravity of at least 25°. 
     
     
         548 . The method of  claim 139 , further comprising heating the portion of the formation to at least a minimum pyrolysis temperature of about 270° C. 
     
     
         549 . The method of  claim 140 , wherein a width of the space is at most about 2.5 cm. 
     
     
         550 . The method of  claim 140 , further comprising heating at least some hydrocarbons in the formation such that at least some of the hydrocarbons are pyrolyzed. 
     
     
         551 . The method of  claim 140 , further comprising producing a mixture from the formation, wherein the produced mixture comprises condensable hydrocarbons having an API gravity of at least 25°. 
     
     
         552 . The method of  claim 140 , further comprising heating the portion of the formation to at least a minimum pyrolysis temperature of about 270° C. 
     
     
         553 . The method of  claim 140 , wherein at least one of the wellbores has a liner placed between the heater in the wellbore and the formation, and wherein the liner comprises openings that are sized such that fluids can pass through the liner but particles of a selected size cannot to pass through the liner.