Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for controlling delivery of heat to a subsurface formation that includes (a) heating a first heater pattern; (b) determining an expected electrical conductivity; (c) calculating an estimated electrical conductivity; (d) comparing an estimated electrical conductivity to the expected electrical conductivity until the estimated electrical conductivity equals the expected electrical conductivity; (e) determining a first heater pattern reaction extent when the estimated electrical conductivity equals the expected electrical conductivity; and (f) when the first heater pattern reaction extent is within a target coke first heater pattern reaction extent range, one of (i) heating a second heater pattern instead of the first heater pattern and (ii) modifying the heating of the first heater pattern, and when the first heater pattern reaction extent is outside of the target coke first heater pattern reaction extent range repeating steps (a)-(e).

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons includes forming a first electrode by creating a first hydraulic fracture within the subsurface formation and pumping a first electrically conductive material into the first hydraulic fracture; forming a second electrode by creating a second hydraulic fracture within the subsurface formation and pumping a second electrically conductive material into the second hydraulic fracture; electrically connecting a first power transmitting mechanism to the first electrode; electrically connecting a second power transmitting mechanism to the second electrode; and heating the subsurface formation between the first electrode and the second electrode by transmitting an electrical current via the first power transmitting mechanism to the first electrode and via the second power transmitting mechanism to the second electrode and by flowing the electrical current from the first electrode to the second electrode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for bulk heating of a subsurface formation with at least a pair of electrode assemblies in the subsurface formation are disclosed. The method may include electrically powering the pair of electrode assemblies to resistively heat a subsurface region between the pair of electrode assemblies with electrical current flowing through the subsurface region between the pair of electrode assemblies; flowing a shunt mitigator into at least one of the pair of electrode assemblies; and mitigating a subsurface shunt between the pair of electrode assemblies with the shunt mitigator. Mitigating may be responsive to a shunt indicator that indicates a presence of the subsurface shunt.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons includes forming a first electrode by creating a first hydraulic fracture within the subsurface formation and pumping a first electrically conductive material into the first hydraulic fracture; forming a second electrode by creating a second hydraulic fracture within the subsurface formation and pumping a second electrically conductive material into the second hydraulic fracture; electrically connecting a first power transmitting mechanism to the first electrode; electrically connecting a second power transmitting mechanism to the second electrode; and heating the subsurface formation between the first electrode and the second electrode by transmitting an electrical current via the first power transmitting mechanism to the first electrode and via the second power transmitting mechanism to the second electrode and by flowing the electrical current from the first electrode to the second electrode.