Conductor-in-conduit temperature limited heaters
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A heater, comprising:
- an electrical conductor configured to generate an electrically resistive heat output during application of AC to the electrical conductor, wherein the electrical conductor comprises an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material at least partially surrounding a non-ferromagnetic material such that the heater provides a reduced amount of heat above or near a selected temperature;
a conduit at least partially surrounding the electrical conductor;
a centralizer configured to maintain a separation distance between the electrical conductor and the conduit; and
wherein the heater is configured to be placed in an opening in a subsurface formation.
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Abstract
A heater may include an electrical conductor. Applying alternating current to the electrical conductor may generate resistively heat the electrical conductor. The electrical conductor may include an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material. The ferromagnetic material may at least partially surround a non-ferromagnetic material. The heater may provide a reduced amount of heat above or near a selected temperature. A conduit may at least partially surround the electrical conductor. A centralizer may maintain a separation distance between the electrical conductor and the conduit.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A heater, comprising:
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an electrical conductor configured to generate an electrically resistive heat output during application of AC to the electrical conductor, wherein the electrical conductor comprises an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material at least partially surrounding a non-ferromagnetic material such that the heater provides a reduced amount of heat above or near a selected temperature; a conduit at least partially surrounding the electrical conductor; a centralizer configured to maintain a separation distance between the electrical conductor and the conduit; and wherein the heater is configured to be placed in an opening in a subsurface formation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of heating a subsurface formation, comprising:
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providing AC to an electrical conductor to provide an electrically resistive heat output, wherein the electrical conductor comprises an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material at least partially surrounding a non-ferromagnetic material such that the electrical conductor provides a reduced amount of heat above or near a selected temperature, wherein a conduit at least partially surrounds the electrical conductor, and wherein a centralizer maintains a separation distance between the electrical conductor and the conduit; and allowing heat to transfer from the electrical conductor to at least part of the subsurface formation. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A heater, comprising:
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an electrical conductor configured to generate an electrically resistive heat output when AC is applied to the electrical conductor, wherein the electrical conductor comprises an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material at least partially surrounding a non-ferromagnetic material, and wherein the ferromagnetic material is configured to provide a reduced amount of heat above or near a selected temperature that is about 20% or less of the heat output at about 50°
C. below the selected temperature;a conduit at least partially surrounding the electrical conductor; and a centralizer configured to maintain a separation distance between the electrical conductor and the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A heater, comprising:
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an electrical conductor configured to generate an electrically resistive heat output during application of AC to the electrical conductor, wherein the electrical conductor comprises an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material at least partially surrounding a non-ferromagnetic material such that the heater provides a reduced amount of heat above or near a selected temperature; a conduit at least partially surrounding the electrical conductor; a centralizer configured to maintain a separation distance between the electrical conductor and the conduit; and wherein the heater comprise a turndown ratio of at least about 2 to 1. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification