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System for extraction of hydrocarbons underground

  • US 9,598,945 B2
  • Filed: 06/22/2015
  • Issued: 03/21/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A coaxial antenna for radio frequency (RF) in-situ heating of a subterranean formation, the formation having a 1st relative electrical permittivity and an electrical conductivity, the antenna having at least an antenna section comprising:

  • an outer conductor having a longitudinal axis and having a circular cross-section having an inside diameter perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and further having at least one aperture;

    an inner conductor that is coaxial to the outer conductor and having a circular cross-section having an outside diameter; and

    an annular space defined by the inside diameter of the outer conductor and the outside diameter of the inner conductor, the annular space containing a dielectric material having a 2nd relative electrical permittivity that is less than the 1st relative electrical permittivity;

    wherein a ratio b/a of the inside diameter of the outer conductor (b) and the outside diameter of the inner conductor (a) remains uniform along the longitudinal axis for a constant characteristic impedance, and wherein the b/a ratio ranges from 1.5 to 10;

    wherein the at least one aperture is arranged for the antenna to have a circumferential radiation of at least 180 degrees along the longitudinal axis;

    wherein the antenna has an operational RF power signal frequency from 5 kHz to 20 MHz;

    wherein the antenna has a radiation power from 0.5 kW/m to 50 kW/m per longitudinal length of the antenna,wherein the 1st relative electrical permittivity ranges from 2.5 to 1000 and the electrical conductivity of the formation ranges from 5.0 Siemens/meter to 4×

    10

    4
    Siemens/meter.

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