In situ radio frequency selective heating process and system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. The method of producing organic liquids and gaseous products from organic compounds contained in a mineral formation comprising the steps of:
- applying directional radiation patterns at a frequency between 100 kilohertz to 1000 megahertz to a region of said formation from a radiation system comprising a plurality of radiators spaced apart in said body by a distance greater than a tenth of a wavelength in said body at said frequency at an intensity which heats said organic compounds in said region to a temperature in the range between 200°
C. and 500°
C.; and
producing products derived from said organic compounds by the flow of said products through said formation to collecting regions.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The process and apparatus for extracting the products of kerogen in situ from an oil shale body by supplying energy selectively to the kerogen by high frequency electric fields in the frequency range between 100 kilohertz and 1000 megahertz at an intensity which heats the kerogen to a temperature range between 250° C. and 500° C. to allow pyrolysis of the kerogen prior to substantial heat transfer to the surrounding mineral portions of the oil shale.
142 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. The method of producing organic liquids and gaseous products from organic compounds contained in a mineral formation comprising the steps of:
-
applying directional radiation patterns at a frequency between 100 kilohertz to 1000 megahertz to a region of said formation from a radiation system comprising a plurality of radiators spaced apart in said body by a distance greater than a tenth of a wavelength in said body at said frequency at an intensity which heats said organic compounds in said region to a temperature in the range between 200°
C. and 500°
C.; andproducing products derived from said organic compounds by the flow of said products through said formation to collecting regions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A system for producing subsurface heating of a formation comprising:
-
a directional radiation system comprising a plurality of groups of radiators spaced apart in said formation by a distance greater than a tenth of a wavelength in said formation at a frequency fed to said radiator by means extending through a overburden into a region to be heated; and means for supplying said systems with electrical energy at intensities and said frequency which produce electrical fields in said formation which heat selected organic portions of said formation to a temperature above 200°
C. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. The method of producing in situ pyrolytic conversion of kerogen in oil shale comprising the steps of:
-
drying a region of a body of said oil shale; and directionally radiating an alternating electric field pattern into said region by radiation from a plurality of radiators spaced apart in said body by a distance greater than a tenth of a wavelength in said body at the frequency of said radiation to heat the kerogen in said oil shale to an average temperature in the range between 300°
C. to 500°
C. while maintaining substantial pressure on said body. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
-
-
12. The method of producing in situ products from kerogen in oil shale by pyrolysis comprising the steps of:
-
preheating and/or fracturing a region of an oil shale body in a temperature range below 300°
C.;heating kerogen-rich regions of the body by directive radiation patterns to temperatures producing substantial pyrolysis of said kerogen; collecting products derived from pyrolysis of said kerogen in regions of said shale oil body; and said body being radiated from a plurality of radiators spaced in said body by a distance greater than one-tenth wavelength of the frequency of said radiation.
-
Specification