In situ recovery from residually heated sections in a hydrocarbon containing formation

Abstract

Methods of treating a tar sands formation is described herein. The methods may include providing heat to a first section of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the first section of the formation. Heat is transferred from the heaters so that at least a first section of the formation reaches a selected temperature. At least a portion of residual heat from the first section transfers from the first section to a second section of the formation. At least a portion of hydrocarbons in the second section are mobilized by providing a solvation fluid and/or a pressurizing fluid to the second section of the formation.

1 - 1300 . (canceled) 
     
     
         1301 . A method of treating a tar sands formation, comprising:
 providing heat to at least part of the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation;   allowing the heat to transfer from the heaters so that at least a portion of the formation reaches a selected temperature;   allowing fluids to gravity drain to a bottom portion of the formation;   producing a substantial portion of the drained fluids from one or more production wells located at or proximate the bottom portion of the formation, wherein at least a majority of the produced fluids are condensable hydrocarbons;   reducing the pressure in the formation to a selected pressure after the portion of the formation reaches the selected temperature and after producing a majority of the condensable hydrocarbons in the portion of the formation;   providing a solvation fluid and/or a pressurizing fluid to the portion of the formation, wherein the solvation fluid solvates at least a portion of remaining condensable hydrocarbons in the part of the formation to form a mixture of solvation fluid and condensable hydrocarbons; and   mobilizing the mixture.   
     
     
         1302 . The method of  claim 1301 , wherein the selected temperature is between 250° C. and 400° C. 
     
     
         1303 . The method of  claim 1301 , wherein the solvation fluid comprises carbon disulfide, water, hydrocarbons, surfactants, polymers, caustic, alkaline water solutions, sodium carbonate solutions, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         1304 . The method of  claim 1301 , wherein the pressurizing fluid comprises carbon dioxide and/or methane. 
     
     
         1305 . The method of  claim 1301 , further comprising producing at least some of the mobilized mixture, and wherein the mobilized mixture comprises bitumen. 
     
     
         1306 . A hydrocarbon composition having:
 an API gravity between 19° and 25°;   a viscosity of at most 350 cp at 5° C.;   a P-value of at least 1.1, wherein P-value is determined using ASTM Method D7060; and   wherein the hydrocarbon composition comprises hydrocarbons having boiling range distribution between 204° C. and 343° C. having a bromine number of at most 2%, and wherein bromine number is determined by ASTM Method D1159.   
     
     
         1307 . The hydrocarbon composition of  claim 1306 , wherein the hydrocarbon composition is produced by a method, comprising:
 providing heat to a first section of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the first section of the formation;   allowing the heat to transfer from the heaters so that at least a first section of the formation reaches a selected temperature;   allowing at least a portion of residual heat from the first section to transfer from the first section to a second section of the formation; and   mobilizing at least a portion of hydrocarbons in the second section by providing a solvation fluid and/or a pressurizing fluid to the second section of the formation.   
     
     
         1308 . A hydrocarbon composition having:
 an API gravity between 19° and 25° as determined by ASTM Method D1298;   a viscosity ranging at most 350 cp at 5° C.;   a Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers number of at most 2% as 1-decene equivalent; and   a P-value of at least 1.1, wherein P-value is determined using ASTM Method D7060.   
     
     
         1309 . The hydrocarbon composition of  claim 1308 , wherein the hydrocarbon composition is produced by a method, comprising:
 providing heat to a first section of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the first section of the formation;   allowing the heat to transfer from the heaters so that at least a first section of the formation reaches a selected temperature;   allowing at least a portion of residual heat from the first section to transfer from the first section to a second section of the formation; and   mobilizing at least a portion of hydrocarbons in the second section by providing a solvation fluid and/or a pressurizing fluid to the second section of the formation.   
     
     
         1310 . A method for treating a hydrocarbon formation, comprising:
 providing heat to a portion of the formation from one or more heaters located in the formation;   introducing a hydrogen donating solvation fluid to the portion of the formation;   contacting at least a portion of the formation fluids with the hydrogen donating solvation fluid at a temperature of at least 175° C. to produce a mixture comprising upgraded hydrocarbons, formation fluids, hydrogen donating solvation, and dehydrogenated solvation fluid; and   producing at least some of the mixture from the formation.   
     
     
         1311 - 1936 . (canceled) 
     
     
         1937 . The method of  claim 1301 , wherein the produced mixture comprises a hydrocarbon composition having:
 an API gravity between 19° and 25°;   a viscosity of at most 350 cp at 5° C.;   a P-value of at least 1.1, wherein P-value is determined using ASTM Method D7060; and   wherein the hydrocarbon composition comprises hydrocarbons having boiling range distribution between 204° C. and 343° C. having a bromine number of at most 2%, and wherein bromine number is determined by ASTM Method D1159.   
     
     
         1938 . The method of  claim 1301 , wherein the produced mixture comprises a hydrocarbon composition having:
 an API gravity between 19° and 25° as determined by ASTM Method D1298;   a viscosity ranging at most 350 cp at 5° C.;   a Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers number of at most 2% as 1-decene equivalent; and   a P-value of at least 1.1, wherein P-value is determined using ASTM Method D7060.   
     
     
         1939 . The method of  claim 1310 , further comprising heating the portion of the formation to a temperature between 250° C. and 400° C. 
     
     
         1940 . The method of  claim 1310 , wherein the solvation fluid comprises carbon disulfide, water, hydrocarbons, surfactants, polymers, caustic, alkaline water solutions, sodium carbonate solutions, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         1941 . The method of  claim 1310 , wherein at least some of the produced mixture comprises bitumen. 
     
     
         1942 . The method of  claim 1310 , wherein the produced mixture comprises a hydrocarbon composition having:
 an API gravity between 19° and 25°;   a viscosity of at most 350 cp at 5° C.;   a P-value of at least 1.1, wherein P-value is determined using ASTM Method D7060; and   wherein the hydrocarbon composition comprises hydrocarbons having boiling range distribution between 204° C. and 343° C. having a bromine number of at most 2%, and wherein bromine number is determined by ASTM Method D1159.   
     
     
         1943 . The method of  claim 1310 , wherein the produced mixture comprises a hydrocarbon composition having:
 an API gravity between 19° and 25° as determined by ASTM Method D1298;   a viscosity ranging at most 350 cp at 5° C.;   a Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers number of at most 2% as 1-decene equivalent; and   a P-value of at least 1.1, wherein P-value is determined using ASTM Method D7060.