Abstract: An assembly for supporting one or more cables in coiled tubing deployed in a well is described. The assembly includes a receptacle connected to an upper opening of the coiled tubing. A receptacle clamp is connected to the receptacle to provide a circumferential lateral extension surface. A separate extension column having a base portion is supported on the lateral extension surface. The extension column has an upper platform surface separated vertically from the base portion. A cable clamp is supported on the upper platform surface and configured to reversibly grip the one or more cables. The assembly is useful for any process requiring support of cables in coiled tubing deployed in a well, such as a process for assembling a heater for providing underground heat.

Abstract: An assembly for supporting one or more cables in coiled tubing deployed in a well is described. The assembly includes a receptacle connected to an upper opening of the coiled tubing. A receptacle clamp is connected to the receptacle to provide a circumferential lateral extension surface. A separate extension column having a base portion is supported on the lateral extension surface. The extension column has an upper platform surface separated vertically from the base portion. A cable clamp is supported on the upper platform surface and configured to reversibly grip the one or more cables. The assembly is useful for any process requiring support of cables in coiled tubing deployed in a well, such as a process for assembling a heater for providing underground heat.

Abstract: A cable-based heater for providing underground heat and a method of assembly of the cable-based heater are provided. The heater includes a length of coiled tubing having a sealed down-hole end and an open-ended cable support adapter attached to the up-hole end of the coiled tubing. One or more conducting cables are contained within the coiled tubing and a wedging tube is placed in the open end of the adapter for supporting the weight of the one or more cables against the interior sidewall of the adapter when the heater is deployed underground. The wedging tube has an inner surface shaped to conform to the outer shape of the one or more cables and an outer sidewall configured for weight bearing frictional contact with the interior sidewall of the cable support adapter.

Abstract: A cable-based heater for providing underground heat and a method of assembly of the cable-based heater are provided. The heater includes a length of coiled tubing having a sealed down-hole end and an open-ended cable support adapter attached to the up-hole end of the coiled tubing. One or more conducting cables are contained within the coiled tubing and a wedging tube is placed in the open end of the adapter for supporting the weight of the one or more cables against the interior sidewall of the adapter when the heater is deployed underground. The wedging tube has an inner surface shaped to conform to the outer shape of the one or more cables and an outer sidewall configured for weight bearing frictional contact with the interior sidewall of the cable support adapter.

Abstract: A method is described for supporting a bundle of cables in a well or in a length of coiled tubing deployed in a vertical or deviated well during a process for assembly of a well heater which includes steps of injecting the cables from respective spools into the coiled tubing. The method includes the steps of: attaching an open-ended cable support adapter to the up-hole end of the coiled tubing, attaching a cable bundle clamp to the bundle of cables above the cable support adapter; cutting the cables from their respective spools above the cable bundle clamp; clamping a wedging tube carrier to the cable bundle above the cable bundle clamp; raising the cable bundle; removing the cable bundle clamp from the cable bundle; lowering the cables to insert the wedging tube into the adapter; and removing the wedging tube carrier from the bundle of cables.

Abstract: A method for injecting resistive heating cables into a well or into coiled tubing deployed in a well includes providing a coiled tubing injector above the well, the coiled tubing injector having coiled tubing gripper blocks replaced with cable gripper blocks; guiding one or more cables from respective cable reels into the top of the injector; and using the injector to inject the cables into the well or into the coiled tubing deployed in the well with downward vertical movement of the cables driven by gripping and downward vertical movement of the cable gripper blocks.

Abstract: A facility for assembly of well heaters includes a well of sufficient diameter to receive coiled tubing; a scaffold supporting a coiled tubing injector, wherein the injector is configurable for injection of coiled tubing into the well and configurable for injection of one or more resistive heating cables into coiled tubing in the well; a coiled tubing guide system supported by the injector or the scaffold; and one or more cable guides for guiding the resistive heating cables from respective cable reels into the injector, wherein the cable guides are supported by the scaffold.

Abstract: A resistive cable-based well heater for providing heat to an oil or gas bearing formation includes a length of coiled tubing having a sealed down-hole end and an open-ended cable support adapter attached to the up-hole end of the coiled tubing. A bundle of cables is contained within the coiled tubing. The cables extend from the upper opening of the adapter and have free upper ends. A wedging tube is placed in the open end of the adapter to support the cables against the interior sidewall of the adapter when the well heater is deployed in a well. The wedging tube has an inner surface shaped to conform to the shape of one or more of the cables and an outer surface configured for weight bearing frictional contact with the inner sidewall of the cable support adapter.

Abstract: A method for assembly of a well heater including injecting a length of coiled tubing into a well, supporting the coiled tubing in the well and cutting the coiled tubing above the well head; injecting one or more resistive heating cables into the into the coiled tubing; constructing a cable support structure at the cut end of the coiled tubing for supporting the weight of the cables against the inner sidewall of the coiled tubing; cutting the cables and configuring the cut ends of the cables for connection to an electrical source, thereby defining the structure of the well heater; and withdrawing the well heater from the well.

Abstract: A method for producing bitumen or heavy oil from a reservoir, the method comprising: defining at least one lateral section of the reservoir for placement of patterns of heater wells above a producer well; placing the producer well at a substantially centered location at or adjacent to the bottom of the reservoir within each of the lateral sections; placing a triangular pattern of heater wells above the producer well; placing a regular or non-regular pentagonal pattern of heater wells, or a portion thereof, at or above the triangular pattern of heater wells; heating the reservoir with the triangular and pentagonal patterns of heater wells to conductively heat the reservoir and reduce the viscosity of the bitumen or heavy oil; and producing bitumen or heavy oil with the producer well.

Abstract: A method for injecting resistive heating cables into a well or into coiled tubing deployed in a well includes providing a coiled tubing injector above the well, the coiled tubing injector having coiled tubing gripper blocks replaced with cable gripper blocks; guiding one or more cables from respective cable reels into the top of the injector; and using the injector to inject the cables into the well or into the coiled tubing deployed in the well with downward vertical movement of the cables driven by gripping and downward vertical movement of the cable gripper blocks.

Abstract: A method for assembly of a well heater including injecting a length of coiled tubing into a well, supporting the coiled tubing in the well and cutting the coiled tubing above the well head; injecting one or more resistive heating cables into the into the coiled tubing; constructing a cable support structure at the cut end of the coiled tubing for supporting the weight of the cables against the inner sidewall of the coiled tubing; cutting the cables and configuring the cut ends of the cables for connection to an electrical source, thereby defining the structure of the well heater; and withdrawing the well heater from the well.

Abstract: A facility for assembly of well heaters includes a well of sufficient diameter to receive coiled tubing; a scaffold supporting a coiled tubing injector, wherein the injector is configurable for injection of coiled tubing into the well and configurable for injection of one or more resistive heating cables into coiled tubing in the well; a coiled tubing guide system supported by the injector or the scaffold; and one or more cable guides for guiding the resistive heating cables from respective cable reels into the injector, wherein the cable guides are supported by the scaffold.

Abstract: A method is described for supporting a bundle of cables in a well or in a length of coiled tubing deployed in a vertical or deviated well during a process for assembly of a well heater which includes steps of injecting the cables from respective spools into the coiled tubing. The method includes the steps of: attaching an open-ended cable support adapter to the up-hole end of the coiled tubing, attaching a cable bundle clamp to the bundle of cables above the cable support adapter; cutting the cables from their respective spools above the cable bundle clamp; clamping a wedging tube carrier to the cable bundle above the cable bundle clamp; raising the cable bundle; removing the cable bundle clamp from the cable bundle; lowering the cables to insert the wedging tube into the adapter; and removing the wedging tube carrier from the bundle of cables.

Abstract: A resistive cable-based well heater for providing heat to an oil or gas bearing formation includes a length of coiled tubing having a sealed down-hole end and an open-ended cable support adapter attached to the up-hole end of the coiled tubing. A bundle of cables is contained within the coiled tubing. The cables extend from the upper opening of the adapter and have free upper ends. A wedging tube is placed in the open end of the adapter to support the cables against the interior sidewall of the adapter when the well heater is deployed in a well. The wedging tube has an inner surface shaped to conform to the shape of one or more of the cables and an outer surface configured for weight bearing frictional contact with the inner sidewall of the cable support adapter.

Abstract: A system and method for producing bitumen or heavy oil from a clastic or carbonate reservoir. The mobility of the bitumen or heavy oil is increased by conductive heating to reduce the viscosity. The bitumen or heavy oil is heated to temperatures below the thermal cracking temperature of the bitumen or heavy oil. As the bitumen or heavy oil is produced, evolved gases or evaporated connate water or both form a gas chamber which acts to replace the volume of the produced fluid required for the gravity drainage process.

Abstract: A method for producing bitumen or heavy oil from a reservoir, the method comprising: defining at least one lateral section of the reservoir for placement of patterns of heater wells above a producer well; placing the producer well at a substantially centered location at or adjacent to the bottom of the reservoir within each of the lateral sections; placing a triangular pattern of heater wells above the producer well; placing a regular or non-regular pentagonal pattern of heater wells, or a portion thereof, at or above the triangular pattern of heater wells; heating the reservoir with the triangular and pentagonal patterns of heater wells to conductively heat the reservoir and reduce the viscosity of the bitumen or heavy oil; and producing bitumen or heavy oil with the producer well.

Abstract: A system and method for producing bitumen or heavy oil from a clastic or carbonate reservoir. The mobility of the bitumen or heavy oil is increased by conductive heating to reduce the viscosity. The bitumen or heavy oil is heated to temperatures below the thermal cracking temperature of the bitumen or heavy oil. As the bitumen or heavy oil is produced, evolved gases or evaporated connate water or both form a gas chamber to at least partially the voids left by the produced bitumen or heavy oil.