Stimulation and recovery of heavy hydrocarbon fluids
First Claim
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1. A method for recovering a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing material, comprising:
- (a) from a manned underground excavation emitting, from at least first and second emitters, radiation, the first emitter transmitting microwave radiation and the second emitter transmitting acoustic energy into a selected region of a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation, to heat and lower a viscosity of a hydrocarbon-containing material in the selected region, wherein at least one of the first and second emitter is positioned in the excavation and in direct physical contact with the formation, wherein the first emitter is in contact with an impedance transformer, the transformer being in direct physical contact with the formation and wherein an acoustic energy transducing medium is in direct physical contact with the formation; and
(b) recovering, by a production well in proximity to the selected region, the irradiated hydrocarbon-containing material.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to the use of electromagnetic radiation, acoustic energy, and surfactant injection to recover hydrocarbon-containing materials from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation.
165 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for recovering a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing material, comprising:
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(a) from a manned underground excavation emitting, from at least first and second emitters, radiation, the first emitter transmitting microwave radiation and the second emitter transmitting acoustic energy into a selected region of a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation, to heat and lower a viscosity of a hydrocarbon-containing material in the selected region, wherein at least one of the first and second emitter is positioned in the excavation and in direct physical contact with the formation, wherein the first emitter is in contact with an impedance transformer, the transformer being in direct physical contact with the formation and wherein an acoustic energy transducing medium is in direct physical contact with the formation; and (b) recovering, by a production well in proximity to the selected region, the irradiated hydrocarbon-containing material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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8. A method for recovering a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing material, comprising:
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(a) introducing a surfactant into a selected region of a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation; (b) from a manned underground excavation, emitting acoustic energy into the selected region to lower a viscosity of a hydrocarbon-containing material in the selected region, wherein the underground excavation has a dimension normal to a heading of the excavation of at least about four feet; (c) from the manned underground excavation, emitting microwave energy into the selected region to heat the hydrocarbon-containing material in the selected region, wherein the emitted acoustic energy lowers the viscosity of the heated hydrocarbon-containing material; and (d) recovering, by a production well in proximity to the selected region, at least a portion of the hydrocarbon-containing material. - View Dependent Claims (9, 26)
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10. A method for recovering hydrocarbon-containing materials, comprising:
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(a) introducing a surfactant into a selected region of a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the formation comprising at least one hydrocarbon-containing material; (b) while the surfactant is in the selected region, passing acoustic energy through the selected region of the formation; (c) passing, from the manned underground excavation, microwave radiation through the selected region of the formation, wherein an impedance transformer is in contact with a microwave transmitter and physical contact with the hydrocarbon-bearing formation; and (d) thereafter recovering the at least one hydrocarbon-containing material. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A system for recovering hydrocarbon-containing materials, comprising:
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(a) a hydrocarbon-bearing formation comprising a hydrocarbon-containing material; (b) a manned underground excavation; (c) in the manned underground excavation, at least one microwave radiation emitter to direct radiation into the formation; and (d) in the manned underground excavation, at least one acoustic energy emitter to direct acoustic energy into the formation, wherein the emitted acoustic energy is in the form of a sinusoidal waveform. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21)
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Specification