METHOD FOR UNDERGROUND GASIFICATION OF A HYDROCARBON-CONTAINING FORMATION

摘要

The invention relates to methods for gasifying hydrocarbons. The present method involves drilling at least two production wells, having vertical-horizontal bores which pass through an underground formation, and at least one gas extraction well, positioning electrodes in the vertical-horizontal wellbores, heating the formation, producing a vapor/gas mixture and extracting same via the gas extraction well. The present invention is novel in that the formation is heated in consecutive thermo-zoned areas; the first area is heated by applying voltage to two electrodes which are positioned in horizontal wellbores; the formation of an electric arc is initiated between said electrodes and is maintained until a thermal breakdown in the inter-electrode zone of the well surface layer is produced and a resistance heating channel is formed between the electrodes in said layer. Subsequent areas of the formation are heated by adjusting the strength of the current fed to the electrodes while simultaneously oppositely displacing the electrodes within the horizontal wellbores at a rate of 1.0-2.5 meters per day. The technical result consists in increasing the specific yield of the produced vapor/gas mixture.