In situ processing of hydrocarbon-bearing formations with variable frequency automated capacitive radio frequency dielectric heating
First Claim
1. A method for heating a medium, said medium comprising hydrocarbonaceous material selected from the group consisting of oil shale, tar sand, oil sand, coal, bitumen, and/or kerogen, comprising:
- (a) subjecting said medium to an alternating current electrical field generated by a radio frequency waveform applied at a predetermined frequency range that heats said medium;
(b) measuring an effective load impedance initially dependent upon the impedance of said medium;
(c) comparing said effective load impedance with an output impedance of a signal generating unit that generates said radio frequency waveform; and
(d) automatically adjusting said effective load impedance to match said output impedance of said signal generating unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hydrocarbon bearing formation which is heated using a variable frequency automated capacitive radio frequency dielectric heating in situ process. Hydrocarbons or other substances natural to a hydrocarbonaceous formation may be produced by heating specific chemical compositions with or without the use of a carrier medium. Separation of desired hydrocarbons from less sought-after constituents can occur in carrier medium subterranean reservoir. Hydrocarbon media can be slurry heated using a variable frequency automated capacitive radio frequency dielectric heating method. Slurry heated hydrocarbon media can be ejected to lower depths of carrier medium reservoir to impart hydrostatic pressure onto media. Hydraulic pressure blasted at cavern wall with carrier medium fluid possessing variable frequency automated capacitive radio frequency dielectric heating properties will be used to enlarge cavern size. Explosives can be used to enlarge cavern outer perimeter. The rubble from the hydraulic digging and/or explosion(s) will deposit hydrocarbonaceous substances in cavern carrier medium reservoir for heating and extraction of desired hydrocarbons. Remote vessels can be used in cavern reservoir to direct heating frequencies, for hydraulic mining, and/or for re-circulating carrier medium.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for heating a medium, said medium comprising hydrocarbonaceous material selected from the group consisting of oil shale, tar sand, oil sand, coal, bitumen, and/or kerogen, comprising:
- (a) subjecting said medium to an alternating current electrical field generated by a radio frequency waveform applied at a predetermined frequency range that heats said medium;
(b) measuring an effective load impedance initially dependent upon the impedance of said medium;
(c) comparing said effective load impedance with an output impedance of a signal generating unit that generates said radio frequency waveform; and
(d) automatically adjusting said effective load impedance to match said output impedance of said signal generating unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 23)
- (a) subjecting said medium to an alternating current electrical field generated by a radio frequency waveform applied at a predetermined frequency range that heats said medium;
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17. A method for heating specific chemical compositions that reside in hydrocarbonaceous material selected from the group consisting of oil shale, tar sand, oil sand, coal, bitumen, and/or kerogen, comprising:
- maintaining said hydrocarbonaceous material in an alternating current electrical field provided by a radio frequency signal at a frequency not greater than 300 mhz; and
controllably heating said hydrocarbonaceous material by automatically maintaining an impedance match between an impedance of said hydrocarbonaceous material and a predetermined constant, said predetermined constant comprising an optional fluid carrier medium, which can be unaffected, when desired, by the frequencies being presented to the target elements within the formation. - View Dependent Claims (18)
- maintaining said hydrocarbonaceous material in an alternating current electrical field provided by a radio frequency signal at a frequency not greater than 300 mhz; and
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19. A method for heating a medium, said medium comprising hydrocarbonaceous material contained in a subterranean environment, comprising:
- (a) subjecting said medium to an alternating current electrical field generated by a radio frequency waveform applied at a predetermined frequency range that heats said medium;
(b) measuring an effective load impedance initially dependent upon the impedance of said medium;
(c) comparing said effective load impedance with an output impedance of a signal generating unit that generates said radio frequency waveform; and
(d) automatically adjusting said effective load impedance to match the output impedance of said signal generating unit.
- (a) subjecting said medium to an alternating current electrical field generated by a radio frequency waveform applied at a predetermined frequency range that heats said medium;
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20. A method for heating a medium, said medium comprising hydrocarbonaceous material, comprising:
- (a) exposing said medium to a subterranean reservoir of a carrier medium, said carrier medium being a fluid which allows radio frequency waves to travel to said medium;
(b) subjecting said medium to an alternating current electrical field generated by a radio frequency waveform applied at a predetermined frequency range that heats said medium;
(e) measuring an effective load impedance initially dependent upon the impedance of said medium;
(d) comparing said effective load impedance with the output impedance of a signal generating unit that generates said radio frequency waveform; and
(e) automatically adjusting said effective load impedance to match the output impedance of said signal generating unit. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
- (a) exposing said medium to a subterranean reservoir of a carrier medium, said carrier medium being a fluid which allows radio frequency waves to travel to said medium;
Specification