Downhole burner systems and methods for heating subsurface formations
First Claim
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1. A method of heating a formation, comprising:
- providing fuel to a plurality of oxidizers located in an opening in the formation;
providing oxidant to the plurality of oxidizers via an oxidant conduit, wherein an oxidizer that first receives the oxidant is a first oxidizer;
reacting the oxidant and fuel in the oxidizers to produce heat to heat a portion of the formation; and
reducing the amount of excess oxidant supplied to the first oxidizer to less than about 50% excess oxidant by weight, wherein excess oxidant comprises an oxidant amount in excess of the oxidant amount needed for complete oxidation of the fuel by the plurality of oxidizers.
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Abstract
A gas burner assembly for heating a subsurface formation includes an oxidant conduit, a fuel conduit, and a plurality of oxidizers coupled to the oxidant conduit. At least one of the oxidizers includes a mix chamber for mixing fuel from the fuel conduit with oxidant from the oxidant conduit, an igniter, and a shield. The shield includes a plurality of openings in communication with the oxidant conduit. At least one flame stabilizer is coupled to the shield.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of heating a formation, comprising:
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providing fuel to a plurality of oxidizers located in an opening in the formation; providing oxidant to the plurality of oxidizers via an oxidant conduit, wherein an oxidizer that first receives the oxidant is a first oxidizer; reacting the oxidant and fuel in the oxidizers to produce heat to heat a portion of the formation; and reducing the amount of excess oxidant supplied to the first oxidizer to less than about 50% excess oxidant by weight, wherein excess oxidant comprises an oxidant amount in excess of the oxidant amount needed for complete oxidation of the fuel by the plurality of oxidizers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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4. A method of heating a formation, comprising:
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providing fuel, via a fuel conduit, to a plurality of oxidizers coupled in series in an opening in the formation, wherein an oxidizer that first receives fuel from the fuel conduit is a first oxidizer; providing oxidant to the plurality of oxidizers via an oxidant conduit; reacting the oxidant and fuel in the oxidizers to produce heat to heat a portion of the formation; and reducing the amount of oxidant supplied via the oxidant conduit when a temperature in the fuel conduit reaches a specified temperature. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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9. A method of heating a formation, comprising:
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providing fuel, via a fuel conduit, to a plurality of oxidizers in an opening in the formation, wherein the plurality of oxidizers comprises a first oxidizer, one or more intermediate oxidizers connected in series, and a last oxidizer; providing oxidant to the plurality of oxidizers via an oxidant conduit; reacting the oxidant and fuel in the oxidizers to produce heat to heat a portion of the formation; and reducing the oxidant supplied via the oxidant conduit such that the amount of oxygen in the oxidant supplied to the last oxidizer is minimized. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification