REGULATION AND EVALUATION OF THE PRESSURE REGIME DURING TREATMENT OF BITUMINO SANDS

摘要

A method of treating a tar sands formation includes supplying heat to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon layer in the tar sands formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation. Heat is transferred from the heaters to at least a portion of the formation. The pressure in the specified part of the formation is regulated so as to maintain the pressure below the hydraulic fracturing pressure of the overburden while ensuring the specified part of the formation is heated to a predetermined average temperature of at least about 280 ° C and at most about 300 ° C. The pressure in the specified part of the reservoir is reduced to a predetermined pressure after the specified average temperature is reached in the specified part of the reservoir.