MICROWAVE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTRINSIC PERMEABILITY ENHANCEMENT AND EXTRACTION OF HYDROCARBONS AND/OR GAS FROM SUBSURFACE DEPOSITS
First Claim
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1. A method of inducing increased permeability at a selected target area downhole in a well comprising lowering to the target area a system including a sheet beam klystron as the source of microwave energy, a recirculator, a dummy load, and a directional antenna.
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Abstract
A system of a radiating antenna and a sheet beam klystron, as a microwave source, coupled to the antenna by a short waveguide and the method of locating the antenna downhole in a well at a selected target zone by use of a dual chamber flexible tube and applying power to the source to heat and fracture the rock in the target zone and created a migrating phase boundary that radiates out from the antenna 25 meters or more to release the hydrocarbons in the rock.
42 Citations
21 Claims
- 1. A method of inducing increased permeability at a selected target area downhole in a well comprising lowering to the target area a system including a sheet beam klystron as the source of microwave energy, a recirculator, a dummy load, and a directional antenna.
- 6. A method of intrinsic permeability enhancement at a selected subsurface level to release hydrocarbon liquids and gases at the selected subsurface level by employing a sheet beam klystron as the source of microwave energy coupled to a directional antenna, the method comprising positioning the source downhole near the directional antenna and positioning the directional antenna at the selected subsurface level and applying power to the source of microwave energy.
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18. A system for in-situ extraction of hydrocarbons from a target formation in a well comprising:
- a casing in the well, a well screen of low dielectric material at the lower end of the casing in the target formation, a source of microwave energy and a radiating antenna positioned in the casing at the target formation, and a short waveguide coupling the source of microwave energy to the antenna.
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19. A system for creating a subsurface permeable cylinder by fracturing an unfractured rock at selected depths comprising a radiating antenna and a source of microwave energy near the antenna to expose a large surface area of unfractured rock to allow low hydrocarbon desorption rates that are compensated with large cross sectional areas for efficient and productive gas wells.
- 20. A method of creating a subsurface permeable cylinder as a reservoir comprising fracturing the rock at selected depths by a downhole system including a radiating antenna and a source near the antenna to expose a large surface area of unfractured rock to provide a reservoir and sequestering carbon in the reservoir.
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