Temperature limited heaters with thermally conductive fluid used to heat subsurface formations
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a heater comprising one or more electrical conductors, the heater configured to generate a heat output during application of electrical current to the heater, wherein the heater comprises a ferromagnetic material, and wherein the ferromagnetic material at least partially surrounds a non-ferromagnetic material;
a conduit at least partially surrounding the heater;
a fluid located in a space between the heater and the conduit, wherein the fluid has a higher thermal conductivity than air at standard temperature and pressure (STP) (0°
C. and 101.325 kPa); and
wherein the system is configured to provide (a) a first heat output below a selected temperature when time-varying electrical current is applied to the heater, and (b) a second heat output near or above the selected temperature when time-varying electrical current is applied to the heater; and
wherein the system is configured to allow heat to transfer from the heater to a part of a subsurface formation.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Certain embodiments provide a system including a heater. The heater includes one or more electrical conductors. The heater is configured to generate a heat output during application of electrical current to the heater. The heater includes a ferromagnetic material. A conduit at least partially surrounds the heater. A fluid is located in a space between the heater and the conduit. The fluid has a higher thermal conductivity than air at standard temperature and pressure (STP) (0° C. and 101.325 kPa). The system is configured to provide (a) a first heat output below a selected temperature when time-varying electrical current is applied to the heater, and (b) a second heat output near or above the selected temperature when time-varying electrical current is applied to the heater.
996 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a heater comprising one or more electrical conductors, the heater configured to generate a heat output during application of electrical current to the heater, wherein the heater comprises a ferromagnetic material, and wherein the ferromagnetic material at least partially surrounds a non-ferromagnetic material; a conduit at least partially surrounding the heater; a fluid located in a space between the heater and the conduit, wherein the fluid has a higher thermal conductivity than air at standard temperature and pressure (STP) (0°
C. and 101.325 kPa); andwherein the system is configured to provide (a) a first heat output below a selected temperature when time-varying electrical current is applied to the heater, and (b) a second heat output near or above the selected temperature when time-varying electrical current is applied to the heater; and wherein the system is configured to allow heat to transfer from the heater to a part of 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 electrical current to a heater comprising an electrical conductor to provide an electrically resistive heat output, wherein the electrical conductor comprises a ferromagnetic material, the electrical conductor at least partially surrounds a non-ferromagnetic material, a conduit at least partially surrounds the heater, and a fluid is located in a space between the heater and the conduit, the fluid having a higher thermal conductivity than air at standard temperature and pressure (STP) (0°
C. and 101.325 kPa); andallowing heat to transfer from the heater to at least part of the subsurface formation such that the heater provides (a) a first heat output below a selected temperature when time-varying electrical current is applied to the heater, and (b) a second heat output near or above the selected temperature when time-varying electrical current is applied to the heater. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification