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4. Possible changes in the structural strength of the crown due to heating <br />5. Extent of temperature and pressure front propagation during heating <br />6. Static geomechanical conditions <br />7. Heating induced changes in geomechanical conditions. <br />The intervals to be heated were selected to test Shell's heating technology under different subsurface <br />conditions (i.e., kerogen richness, nahcolite and other mineral concentration, and clay content). The <br />goal is to assess the impact of different subsurface environments on heater performance and the <br />temperature variation along the heated section. <br />The top heated section has a crown thickness (distance from dissolution surface) of 180 ft. To <br />minimize production and temperature (and consequent pressure) rise, the heated sections are placed <br />far apart from each other (more than 50 ft) such that there is no temperature superposition between <br />the three heated zones. <br />Nahcolite (NaHCO near the upper most heater will begin to convert above —200 °F to soda ash <br />(Na with water (steam) and CO being released as a result of the mineral decomposition. <br />Initially, kerogen will swell as bitumen is generated during the early, lower temperature phase of <br />pyrolysis. With further heating, kerogen conversion will release water, gas, and liquid hydrocarbons. <br />The volume of nahcolite converted to soda ash along the uppermost heater is estimated to be <br />approximately 1,200 to 1,500 tons. The soda ash will remain in place and could be recovered later. <br />The lower two heaters will be located in intervals with only minor amounts of nahcolite being <br />present. As such, the additional volume of nahcolite converted to soda ash in these intervals is <br />considered to be insignificant. <br />The ELHT predictive reservoir modeling suggests the pyrolysis zone extends to about 2 ft around <br />the individual heaters. Minimal production is expected. The average reservoir pressures in the heated <br />zones will be below the fracture propagation pressure. In addition, the depth of the heaters ( >2,220 <br />ft) provides sufficient crown thickness (180 ft) for containment. Hence crown integrity risks are <br />negligible for the ELHT pilot. <br />5.53 Production Monitoring <br />The heater wells and the observer /producer well will be instrumented with pressure gauges and <br />temperature sensors. Progress of heating will be monitored by temperature sensors along each <br />heater well. The heater package installed in each heater well consists of MI heater cables attached to <br />an electric cable and instrumentation to measure the temperature along the heater conveyed <br />downhole inside a metal canister. Heaters will be activated and controlled from surface with <br />electrical power supplied via a high voltage substation. <br />During the ELHT oil production is estimated to be small in volume. The observer /producer will be <br />equipped with an artificial lift system to remove accumulated liquids (oil and water). Produced <br />2 Water in the form of Steam and CO2 will report to the gas phase of the separator at the East RDD, at surface where steam will cool <br />to water and CO2 will be vented. <br />13 <br />