ENHANCED SHALE OIL PRODUCTION BY IN SITU HEATING USING HYDRAULICALLY FRACTURED PRODUCING WELLS

摘要

A method for enhanced production of hydrocarbon fluids from an organic-ri ch rock formation such as an oil shale formation is provided. The method gen erally includes completing at least one heater well in the organic-rich rock formation, and also completing a production well in the organic-rich rock f ormation. The method also includes the steps of hydraulically fracturing the organic-rich rock formation from the production well such that one or more artificial fractures are formed, and heating the organic-rich rock formation from the at least one heater well, thereby pyrolyzing at least a portion of the organic-rich rock into hydrocarbon fluids. Pyrolyzing the organic-rich rock formation creates thermal fractures in the formation due to thermal str esses created by heating. The thermal fractures intersect the artificial fra ctures. As an additional step, hydrocarbon fluids may be produced from the p roduction well. Preferably, the organic-rich rock formation is an oil shale formation.