Hydrocarbon stratum retorting means and method
First Claim
1. A system for in-situ retorting of a hydrocarbon stratum, having a borehole traversing it, with RF energy comprising:
- source means for providing RF energy;
means connected to said source means and having an outer conductor and an inner conductor for conducting the RF energy from the source means downhole;
a first plurality of electrodes, inserted into said hydrocarbon stratum and arranged in a radial pattern;
first connecting means for commonly connecting the first plurality of electrodes;
a second plurality of electrodes inserted into said hydrocarbon stratum, spatially related to said first plurality of electrodes in a predetermined manner, and arranged in a radial pattern;
second connecting means for commonly connecting the second plurality of electrodes;
first contact means, affixed to the outer conductor of the conducting means and adapted to pass through any connecting means, for making electrical contact between the outer conductor of the conducting means and the first connecting means; and
second contact means, affixed to the inner conductor of the conducting means and adapted to pass through any connecting means, for making electrical contact between the inner conductor of the conducting means and the second connecting means so that the rf energy is applied across that portion of the hydrocarbon stratum between the two pluralities of electrodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The system and the method of the present invention for the in-situ retorting of a hydrocarbon stratum, having a borehole traversing it, with electrical energy at a radio frequency (hereinafter referred to as rf energy) includes apparatus for conducting the rf energy from an rf energy source down a borehole. The apparatus has an outer conductor and inner conductor. A first plurality of electrodes is inserted into the hydrocarbon stratum. A second plurality of electrodes spatially related to the first plurality of electrodes, is also inserted into a hydrocarbon stratum. A first conductive device makes contact between the outer conductor of the apparatus and the first plurality of electrodes. A second conductive device makes electrical contact between the inner conductor of the apparatus and the second plurality of electrodes so that when the rf source provides the rf energy, the rf energy is applied acorss that portion of the hydrocarbon stratum between the two pluralities of electrodes.
319 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for in-situ retorting of a hydrocarbon stratum, having a borehole traversing it, with RF energy comprising:
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source means for providing RF energy; means connected to said source means and having an outer conductor and an inner conductor for conducting the RF energy from the source means downhole; a first plurality of electrodes, inserted into said hydrocarbon stratum and arranged in a radial pattern; first connecting means for commonly connecting the first plurality of electrodes; a second plurality of electrodes inserted into said hydrocarbon stratum, spatially related to said first plurality of electrodes in a predetermined manner, and arranged in a radial pattern; second connecting means for commonly connecting the second plurality of electrodes; first contact means, affixed to the outer conductor of the conducting means and adapted to pass through any connecting means, for making electrical contact between the outer conductor of the conducting means and the first connecting means; and second contact means, affixed to the inner conductor of the conducting means and adapted to pass through any connecting means, for making electrical contact between the inner conductor of the conducting means and the second connecting means so that the rf energy is applied across that portion of the hydrocarbon stratum between the two pluralities of electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for the in-situ retorting of a hydrocarbon stratum, having a borehole traversing it, with rf energy comprising the steps of:
providing rf energy, conducting the rf energy down the borehole; and
applying the rf energy in the borehole to two pluralities of electrodes, each plurality of electrodes being arranged in a radial pattern and spatially related to each other such that one plurality of electrodes is separated from the other plurality of electrodes by a distance S which is substantially smaller than a distance R from the center line of the borehole to the end of an electrode furthermost from the center line of the borehole which are inserted into the hydrocarbon stratum so that the rf energy is applied across that portion of the hydrocarbon stratum between the two pluralities of electrodes.- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
Specification