Systems and methods for enhancing recovery of hydrocarbon deposits

• US 9,664,021 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2016
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• 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, Jr., Lowell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALLACE, KIPP CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US15/074,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20160208589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• 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 selectively heating a hydrocarbon deposit, the method comprising:

generating, using a sensing device, a three-dimensional map of a material property of an underground volume, the sensing device positioned above ground and remote from the volume;

heating, using a heating device, a region within the volume with propagating electromagnetic radiation based on the map of the material property, the heating device positioned above ground and remote from the volume; and

monitoring a change in a flow of the hydrocarbon deposit from the volume in response to the heating;

wherein the sensing device includes an electromagnetic antenna, the sensing device configured to sense the material property via the electromagnetic antenna using at least one of multi-static sensing, mono-static sensing, and bi-static sensing.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising simultaneously heating a plurality of regions within the volume based on the map of the material property.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating a plurality of regions within the volume sequentially based on the map of the material property.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the material property includes at least one of temperature, density, porosity, velocity, composition, and volatile quantity.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a material composition of a material disposed in the volume using microwave emission spectroscopy.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein identifying a material composition includes identifying one or more components of the material.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more components include at least one of water, a hydrocarbon, and a host material.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein identifying a material composition includes identifying a density of one or more components of the material.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein identifying a material composition includes identifying a concentration of one or more components of the material.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein identifying a material composition includes identifying relative proportions of two or more components of the material.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the three-dimensional map includes measuring the material property via a directed antenna.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the three-dimensional map includes measuring the material property via a phased array antenna.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the three-dimensional map includes measuring the material property, and wherein the measuring includes sensing emissions from selected spatial regions.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the three-dimensional map includes measuring the material property, and wherein the measuring includes scanning an electromagnetic antenna.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the heating comprises transmitting propagating electromagnetic radiation into the volume in a spatially varying manner to heat material in the volume and thereby induce the change in the flow of the hydrocarbon deposit from the volume.

16. 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 a spatial variation in the sensed material property of the underground volume; and

transmitting propagating electromagnetic radiation into the volume by a second electromagnetic antenna positioned above ground and remote from the volume, wherein the propagating electromagnetic radiation is transmitted based on the three dimensional map to heat material in the volume and thereby induce the flow of hydrocarbon deposits from the volume;

wherein the propagating electromagnetic radiation includes microwaves, and wherein the microwaves are generated by a vacuum tube and delivered to the second electromagnetic antenna for transmission into the volume.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first electromagnetic antenna is a plurality of antennae, and wherein sensing includes combining signals from the plurality of antennae.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of antennae are configured in a coherent array.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of antennae are configured in an incoherent array.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting propagating electromagnetic probe radiation into the volume.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein transmitting propagating electromagnetic probe radiation includes scanning the probe radiation through the volume.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein sensing includes scanning the first electromagnetic antenna in coordination with scanning of the probe radiation through the volume.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein sensing includes sensing reflection of the propagating electromagnetic probe radiation through the material disposed in the volume.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein sensing includes sensing diffraction of the propagating electromagnetic probe radiation through the material disposed in the volume.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein sensing includes at least one of multi-static sensing, mono-static sensing, and bi-static sensing via the first electromagnetic antenna.

26. 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 a spatial variation in the sensed material property of the underground volume; and

transmitting propagating electromagnetic radiation into the volume by a second electromagnetic antenna positioned above ground and remote from the volume, wherein the propagating electromagnetic radiation is transmitted based on the three dimensional map to heat material in the volume and thereby induce the flow of hydrocarbon deposits from the volume;

wherein sensing utilizes sequentially scanned probe radiation, and further comprising at least one of detecting transmission of the probe radiation, reflection of the probe radiation, and scattering of the probe radiation.