HEATING TAR SANDS FORMATIONS TO VISBREAKING TEMPERATURES

摘要

A method for treating a tar sands formation is disclosed. The method includes heating at least a section of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation. The heat is controlled so that at least a majority of the section reaches an average temperature of between 200 °C and 240 °C, which results in visbreaking of at least some hydrocarbons in the section. At least some visbroken hydrocarbon fluids are produced from the formation.