STEAM GENERATION

• US 20140166301A1
• Filed: 07/17/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Total SA (Cook Composites and Polymers)
• Original Assignee: Total SA (Cook Composites and Polymers)
• Inventors: Corre, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US14/234,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20140166301A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/372
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/04 using electrical heaters
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2401 by means of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2406 Steam assisted gravity drainage [SAGD]
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/281 other than by electrical resistances or electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/282 with water or steam circulating in tubes or ducts
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 37/103 Internally ribbed tubes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/107 for continuous movement of material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/108 for heating a fluid

Abstract

A steam generation device and a method for generating steam using the device are disclosed. The device includes a fluid circulation pipe containing electrically and thermally conductive material, and at least one inductive cable made from an electrically conductive material wound around the pipe. The device and method allow for improved steam generation.

Claims

1. A steam generating device for producing hydrocarbons, wherein the device comprises:

a fluid circulation pipe containing electrically and thermally conductive material; and

at least one inductive cable made from an electrically conductive material wound around the pipe.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pipe has at least one protuberance on an inner wall.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the pipe is cylindrical and the protuberance is a helical ramp along the pipe.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the ramp is continuous.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device also comprises a shell made from a ferromagnetic material around the inductive cable.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inductive cable forms a solenoid.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inductive cable is hollow.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pipe has a diameter smaller than 20 cm.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pipe has a length smaller than 30 m.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device also comprises an electricity source supplying the cable.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the electricity source delivers a current with an intensity greater than 500 A.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises several water circulation pipes connected to one another.

13. A hydrocarbon production facility, comprising a steam generating device operably producing hydrocarbons, wherein the device comprises:

a fluid circulation pipe containing electrically and thermally conductive material; and

at least one inductive cable made from an electrically conductive material wound around the pipe.

14. A hydrocarbon production method comprising:

generating steam;

producing hydrocarbons with a steam generator, wherein the steam generator comprises a fluid circulation pipe containing electrically and thermally conductive material, and at least one inductive cable made from an electrically conductive material wound around the pipe; and

circulating water in the pipe, and, at the same time, supplying electricity to the cable.