Systems and methods for enhancing recovery of hydrocarbon deposits

• US 9,303,499 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2012
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michener, Blake
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALLACE, KIPP CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US13/655,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20140110103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/24 using heat, e.g. steam injection
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2401 by means of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/243 Combustion in situ
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/113 using electrical indications; using light radiations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/08 Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/30 operating with electromagnetic waves

Abstract

A method for enhancing the recovery of hydrocarbon deposit includes the step of sensing a material property of an underground volume. A three-dimensional map identifying the spatial variation in the sensed material property of the underground volume is generated. Propagating electromagnetic radiation is transmitted in the volume based on the map. The propagating electromagnetic radiation transmission is varied in at least one of frequency, polarization, wavelength, frequency, amplitude, mode, and phase in response to the variation in the material property of a region within the volume to which the propagating electromagnetic radiation is directed. Accordingly, the volume is heated in a spatially varying manner to heat material in the volume and thereby induce the flow of hydrocarbon deposits from the volume.

Claims

1. A method of enhancing recovery of hydrocarbon deposits, the method comprising:

sensing a material property of an underground volume by a first electromagnetic antenna positioned above ground and remote from the volume;

creating a three dimensional map identifying the spatial variation in the sensed material property of the underground volume; and

transmitting propagating electromagnetic radiation into the volume based on the three dimensional map, the propagating electromagnetic radiation transmission varying in at least one of frequency, polarization, wavelength, amplitude, mode or phase in response to the variation in the material property of a region within the volume to which the propagating electromagnetic radiation is directed, wherein the propagating electromagnetic radiation is transmitted in a spatially varying manner to heat material in the volume and thereby induce the flow of hydrocarbon deposits from the volume, wherein transmitting includes transmission via a second electromagnetic antenna positioned above ground and remote from the volume.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electromagnetic antenna includes a phased array.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing includes scanning a sensitivity pattern of the first electromagnetic antenna throughout the volume.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electromagnetic antenna is distinct from the first electromagnetic antenna, wherein the first electromagnetic antenna is configured to sense the material property of the volume through a linear motion, and wherein the second electromagnetic antenna is configured to heat the volume through a linear motion.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting propagating electromagnetic probe radiation into the volume and wherein sensing includes sensing at least some of the interaction of the transmitted propagating electromagnetic probe radiation with a material disposed in the volume.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein sensing includes sensing by a first electromagnetic antenna and transmitting includes transmitting propagating electromagnetic probe radiation by a second electromagnetic antenna.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting propagating electromagnetic radiation includes transmitting by a plurality of sources.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the three dimensional map includes utilization of the first electromagnetic antennae for compressive imaging.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the three dimensional map in response to transmission of electromagnetic radiation into the volume based on the three dimensional map; and

initiating further transmission of propagating electromagnetic radiation into the volume in response to updating of the three dimensional map, such that transmission of propagating electromagnetic radiation into the volume is achieved in a feedback control manner.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising varying a polarization of the propagating electromagnetic radiation between vertical and horizontal electric fields.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating at least a portion of the volume using an auxiliary heat source providing at least one of combustion, steam injection, and electricity.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting probe audio waves into the volume and wherein sensing includes sensing interaction of the probe audio waves with a material disposed in the volume.

13. An apparatus for enhancing recovery of hydrocarbon deposits, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor configured to detect a spatial variation of a material property of an underground volume using a first electromagnetic antenna positioned above ground and remote from the volume;

a transmitter configured to transmit propagating electromagnetic radiation into the volume to heat material disposed in the volume using a second electromagnetic antenna positioned above ground and remote from the volume; and

a controller electrically coupled to the sensor and the transmitter, the controller configured to cause the transmitter to transmit propagating electromagnetic radiation into the volume wherein the radiation is varied within the volume based on the spatial variation of the sensed material property in the volume.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the radiation is varied by at least one of frequency, polarization, wavelength, amplitude, mode, or phase based on the spatial variation of the sensed material property in the volume.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first electromagnetic antenna is configured to sense the material property of the volume through a rotary motion, and wherein the second electromagnetic antenna is configured to heat the volume through a rotary motion.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the transmitter includes the first electromagnetic antenna.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the transmitter includes a second electromagnetic antenna at least partially distinct from the first electromagnetic antenna.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a display configured to depict the spatial variation in the sensed material property within the volume.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of transmitters.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the plurality of transmitters are disposed in an array.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sensor is configured to transmit probe radiation.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a sensor configured to detect transmission of the probe radiation.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a sensor configured to detect reflection of the probe radiation.

24. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to cause transmission of propagating electromagnetic radiation until the material property of the volume is made substantially uniform.

25. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the transmitter is configured to vary a polarization of the propagating electromagnetic radiation between vertical and horizontal electric fields.

26. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising an auxiliary heat source configured to heat material disposed in the volume using at least one of combustion heating, steam injection heating, and electrical heating.

27. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to vary the propagating electromagnetic radiation transmitted in real-time in response to a sensed material property of a region within the volume.

28. A system for selective heating of a volume including a hydrocarbon deposit, the system comprising:

a sensor configured to sense a material property of a material disposed in a volume including the hydrocarbon deposit using a first electromagnetic antenna positioned above ground and remote from the volume;

a processing device electrically coupled to the sensor, the processing device configured to create a three dimensional map using volumetric imaging algorithms to show the spatial variation in the sensed material property throughout the volume; and

a transmitter electrically coupled to the processing device, the transmitter configured to transmit propagating electromagnetic radiation into the volume to heat at least a portion of the volume based upon the three dimensional map, wherein the transmitter transmits the propagating electromagnetic radiation using a second electromagnetic antenna positioned above ground and remote from the volume.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising an antenna configured to transmit a probe electromagnetic signal into the hydrocarbon deposit.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the sensor is configured to detect an interaction of the probe electromagnetic signal with the material disposed in the volume.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit microwaves.

32. The system of claim 28, further comprising a display configured to depict the spatial variation in the sensed material property within the volume.

33. The system of claim 28, further comprising a plurality of transmitters.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the plurality of transmitters are positioned to transmit propagating electromagnetic radiation in a plurality of directions.

35. The system of claim 28, wherein the sensor is configured to transmit probe radiation.

36. The system of claim 35, further comprising a sensor configured to detect transmission of the probe radiation.

37. The system of claim 28, wherein the sensor includes a source of ground penetrating radar.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the ground penetrating radar source is disposed above ground.

39. The system of claim 28, wherein the processing device is further configured to cause transmission of propagating electromagnetic radiation until the material property of the volume is made substantially uniform.

40. The system of claim 28, further comprising an auxiliary heat source providing at least one of combustion heating, steam injection heating, and electrical heating.

41. The system of claim 28, wherein the processing device is further configured to vary the propagating electromagnetic radiation transmitted in real-time in response to a sensed material property of a region within the volume.