In situ processing of hydrocarbon-bearing formations with variable frequency dielectric heating
First Claim
1. A method for heating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, comprising:
- testing a first sample of a hydrocarbonaceous material to determine a first impedance of at least one targeted chemical composition at several different temperatures;
storing a resulting impedance vs. temperature information for said targeted chemical composition in a memory of a computer;
flowing a signal through a second sample of said hydrocarbonaceous material, said signal being at a radio frequency not greater than 300 mhz for said targeted chemical compositions;
sensing a second impedance of at least one portion of a second sample;
determining, by operation of said computer, a relationship between a most recently sensed impedance of said hydrocarbonaceous material and a heating rate of said targeted chemical compositions; and
adjusting a heating rate of said targeted chemical composition based on said relationship.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hydrocarbon bearing formation (304) which is heated using a variable frequency capacitive radio frequency dielectric heating (334) 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 (320) in a subterranean reservoir. Hydrocarbons or other substances natural to a hydrocarbonaceous formation are heated by maintaining specific chemical compositions in an alternating current electrical field generated by a radio frequency signal. As the targeted chemical compositions increase in temperature, maximum energy is delivered using variable frequency radio frequency dielectric heating to adjust the rate of the heating process.
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1 Claim
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1. A method for heating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, comprising:
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testing a first sample of a hydrocarbonaceous material to determine a first impedance of at least one targeted chemical composition at several different temperatures; storing a resulting impedance vs. temperature information for said targeted chemical composition in a memory of a computer; flowing a signal through a second sample of said hydrocarbonaceous material, said signal being at a radio frequency not greater than 300 mhz for said targeted chemical compositions; sensing a second impedance of at least one portion of a second sample; determining, by operation of said computer, a relationship between a most recently sensed impedance of said hydrocarbonaceous material and a heating rate of said targeted chemical compositions; and adjusting a heating rate of said targeted chemical composition based on said relationship.
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Specification