Radio frequency steam flood and gas drive for enhanced subterranean recovery
First Claim
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1. A method for providing a subterranean fluid flow through a permeable formation, comprising:
- drilling an applicator well into a permeable formation containing a material;
placing an electromagnetic device in the applicator well;
autogenically operating the electromagnetic device to radiate energy into the permeable formation to vaporize a portion of the material; and
sustaining autogenic operation of the electromagnetic device to propagate a material displacement bank including hydrocarbon material away from the applicator well.
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Abstract
A method and system is provided for autogenic generation of a subterranean fluid flow, such as may be applied, for example, to enhance oil recovery or pollution abatement. In general, the method and system includes placing an electromagnetic apparatus down the borehole of an applicator well, and radiating energy into a permeable formation to achieve displacement flooding effects.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method for providing a subterranean fluid flow through a permeable formation, comprising:
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drilling an applicator well into a permeable formation containing a material;
placing an electromagnetic device in the applicator well;
autogenically operating the electromagnetic device to radiate energy into the permeable formation to vaporize a portion of the material; and
sustaining autogenic operation of the electromagnetic device to propagate a material displacement bank including hydrocarbon material away from the applicator well. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for providing enhanced recovery subterranean material, comprising:
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placing an antenna down a borehole of an applicator well;
operating the antenna autogenically to radiate a level of energy into a permeable formation containing water and the subterranean material;
sustaining the level of energy autogenically to vaporize the water and provide a steam flood for driving a flow of the subterranean material away from the applicator well; and
using a production well in the path of the abatement material flow to recover the subterranean material from an enhanced subterranean material pool. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of stationing an enhanced pool of subterranean fluid about the site of a production well, comprising:
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using an energy injection well to radiate energy into a subterranean fluid reservoir;
radiating a level of energy into the reservoir to propagate a displacement bank; and
modulating the level of energy to station an outer boundary of the displacement bank at a controllable distance from the energy injection well.
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24. A method for providing a steerable subterranean fluid flow, comprising:
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using an electromagnetic device in a borehole of an applicator well to radiate energy into a fluid reservoir in a permeable formation to vaporize a material within the reservoir to propagate a material displacement bank; and
using a reservoir pressure relief station to reduce a pressure of the reservoir at a selected location to cause an enhanced directional propagation of the material displacement bank.
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25. A system for generating a subterranean fluid flow through a permeable formation containing a material, comprising:
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a sealed casing sized and configured to be positioned within an applicator well and to prevent fluid seepage into the applicator well, the sealed casing formed of a material that is transmissive to electromagnetic energy;
an antenna sized and configured to be positioned within the sealed casing and to radiate the electromagnetic energy into the permeable formation to vaporize a portion of the materials and a directing element configured to direct a portion of the electromagnetic energy radiated by the antenna in a desired direction. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
a plurality of sealed casings, each casing sized and configured to be positioned within an applicator well and to prevent fluid seepage into the applicator well, each sealed casing formed of a material that is transmissive to electromagnetic energy;
a corresponding plurality of antennas, each antenna sized and configured to be positioned within the sealed casing and to radiate the electromagnetic energy into the permeable formation to vaporize a portion of the material;
each of said casings and corresponding antennas positioned to radiate electromagnetic energy in a direction to form an enhanced pool.
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31. A system for generating a subterranean fluid flow through a permeable formation containing a material, the system comprising:
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a sealed casing sized and configured to be positioned within an applicator well and to prevent fluid seepage into the applicator well, the sealed casing formed of a material that is transmissive to electromagnetic energy;
an antenna sized and configured to be positioned within the sealed casing and to radiate the electromagnetic energy into the permeable formation to vaporize a portion of the material; and
a reservoir pressure relief station to reduce a pressure of a fluid reservoir within the permeable formation at a selected location to cause an enhanced directional propagation of the material displacement bank.
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32. A method for providing a subterranean fluid flow through a permeable formation, comprising:
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drilling an applicator well into a permeable formation containing a material;
placing an electromagnetic device in the applicator well;
operating the electromagnetic device to radiate energy into the permeable formation to vaporize a portion of the material;
sustaining operation of the electromagnetic device to propagate a material displacement bank away from the applicator well; and
positioning a directing element in a path of the radiated energy to direct a portion of the radiated energy in a desired direction. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for providing a subterranean fluid flow through a permeable formation, comprising:
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drilling an applicator well into a permeable formation containing a material;
placing an electromagnetic device in the applicator well;
operating the electromagnetic device to radiate energy into the permeable formation to vaporize a portion of the material;
sustaining operation of the electromagnetic device to propagate a material displacement bank away from the applicator well; and
using a reservoir pressure relief station to reduce a pressure of a fluid reservoir within the permeable formation at a selected location to cause an enhanced directional propagation of the material displacement bank. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification