Apparatus and method for in situ heat processing of hydrocarbonaceous formations
First Claim
1. A system for in situ heat processing of hydrocarbonaceous earth formations, comprising:
- a plurality of conductive means inserted in said formations and bounding a particular volume of said formations;
electrical excitation means for establishing alternating electric fields in said volume;
the frequency of said excitation means being selected as a function of the volume dimensions so as to establish substantially non-radiating electric fields which are substantially confined in said volume;
whereby volumetric dielectric heating of the formations will occur to effect approximately uniform heating of said volume.
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Abstract
The disclosure describes a technique for uniform heating of relatively large blocks of hydrocarbonaceous formations in situ using radio frequency (RF) electrical energy that is substantially confined to the volume to be heated and effects of dielectric heating of the formations. An important aspect of the disclosure relates to the fact that certain hydrocarbonaceous earth formations, for example raw unheated oil shale, exhibit dielectric absorption characteristics in the radio frequency range. In accordance with the system of the invention, a plurality of conductors are inserted in the formations and bound a particular volume of the formations. The phrase "bounding a particular volume" is intended to mean that the volume is enclosed on at least two sides thereof. Electrical excitation is provided for establishing alternating electric fields in the volume. The frequency of the excitation is selected as a function of the dimensions of the volume so as to establish a substantially non-radiating electric field which is substantially confined in the volume. In this manner, volumetric dielectric heating of the formations will occur to effect approximately uniform controlled heating of the volume.
515 Citations
70 Claims
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1. A system for in situ heat processing of hydrocarbonaceous earth formations, comprising:
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a plurality of conductive means inserted in said formations and bounding a particular volume of said formations; electrical excitation means for establishing alternating electric fields in said volume; the frequency of said excitation means being selected as a function of the volume dimensions so as to establish substantially non-radiating electric fields which are substantially confined in said volume; whereby volumetric dielectric heating of the formations will occur to effect approximately uniform heating of said volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method for in situ heating of hydrocarbonaceous earth formations, comprising the steps of:
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forming a plurality of boreholes which bound a particular volume of said formations; inserting elongated electrical conductors in said boreholes; and introducing electrical excitation to said formations to establish alternating electric fields in said volume; the frequency of said excitation being selected as a function of the volume dimensions so as to establish substantially non-radiating electric fields which are substantially confined in said volume; whereby volumetric dielectric heating of the formations will occur to effect approximately uniform heating of said volume. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A system for in situ heat processing of an oil shale bed, comprising:
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a plurality of conductive means bounding a particular volume of said bed; electrical excitation means for establishing alternating electric fields in said volume; the frequency of said excitation means being selected as a function of the volume dimensions so as to establish substantially non-radiating electric fields which are substantially confined in said volume; whereby volumetric dielectric heating of the bed will occur to effect approximately uniform heating of said volume. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A system for in situ heat processing of a tar sand deposit, comprising:
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a plurality of conductive means inserted in said deposit and bounding a particular volume of said deposit; electrical excitation means for establishing alternating electric fields in said volume; the frequency of said excitation means being selected as a function of the volume dimensions so as to establish substantially non-radiating electric fields which are substantially confined in said volume; whereby volumetric dielectric heating of the deposit will occur to effect approximately uniform heating of said volume. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70)
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Specification