IN SITU THERMAL PROCESSING OF A HYDROCARBON CONTAINING FORMATION USING A NATURAL DISTRIBUTED COMBUSTOR

摘要

An in situ process for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation includes providing heat from one or more heat sources to a portion of the formation. Heat sources include a natural distributed combustor. The natural distributed combustor includes an oxidizing fluid source to provide oxidizing fluids to a reaction zone in the formation to generate heat within the reaction zone. The heat is transfered from the reaction zone to a selected section of the formation such that heat from one or more heat sources pyrolyzes some hydrocarbons within the selected section. Hydrocarbons are produced from the formation.