Method for reducing power loss associated with electrical heating of a subterranean formation

• US 4,010,799 A
• Filed: 09/15/1975
• Issued: 03/08/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canada-Cities Service Limited, Imperial Oil Limited (Exxon Mobil Corporation), Petro-Canada Exploration Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Canada-Cities Service Limited, Imperial Oil Limited (Exxon Mobil Corporation), Petro-Canada Exploration Incorporated
• Inventors: Perkins, Thomas K., Kern, Loyd R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US05/540,434
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 166/248, 166/60, 166/65, 321/2, 321/4, 321/60, 307/147, 174/47, 174/108, 174/115
• US Class Current: 166/248
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2401 by means of electricity

Abstract

Method for reducing the loss of power accompanying the transmission of electrical energy down a wellbore to heat a subterranean formation via electrical conduction between a plurality of wells completed therein, characterized by providing a low frequency alternating current to the conductors in the wellbore. Also disclosed are specific embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. Method of reducing power losses associated with transmission of electrical energy down a wellbore to heat a subterranean formation via electrical conduction between a plurality of wells completed therein, which comprises, passing an alternating current having a frequency of from about 0.10 to about 5.0 cycles per second through the conductors in said wellbore.