Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100258291 | HEATED LINERS FOR TREATING SUBSURFACE HYDROCARBON CONTAINING FORMATIONS - A heating system for a subsurface formation includes a first tubular located in the subsurface formation and a second tubular. At least a portion of the first tubular is positioned in the second tubular. At least a portion of two or more electrical conductors are positioned between an outer surface of the first tubular and an inner surface of the second tubular. The electrical conductors are configured to provide heat to the subsurface formation when an electrical current is applied to the electrical conductors. | 10-14-2010 |
20110134958 | METHODS FOR ASSESSING A TEMPERATURE IN A SUBSURFACE FORMATION - Methods for assessing a temperature in an opening in a subsurface formation are described herein. A method may include assessing one or more dielectric properties along a length of an insulated conductor located in the opening and assessing one or more temperatures along the length of the insulated conductor based on the one or more assessed dielectric properties. | 06-09-2011 |
20110247805 | INSULATED CONDUCTOR HEATERS WITH SEMICONDUCTOR LAYERS - A heater used to heat a subsurface formation includes an electrical conductor, a semiconductor layer at least partially surrounding the electrical conductor, an insulation layer at least partially surrounding the electrical conductor, an electrically conductive sheath at least partially surrounding the insulation layer. The heater may be located in an opening in the subsurface formation. | 10-13-2011 |
20110247817 | HELICAL WINDING OF INSULATED CONDUCTOR HEATERS FOR INSTALLATION - A method for installing two or more heaters in a subsurface formation includes providing a spool having a substantially helical configuration of two or more heaters that have been spooled on the spool. The helical configuration of heaters is unspooled from the spool and the helical configuration of heaters is installed into an opening in a subsurface formation. | 10-13-2011 |
20120110845 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COUPLING LEAD-IN CONDUCTOR TO INSULATED CONDUCTOR - A method for coupling a lead-in cable to an insulated conductor includes exposing an end portion of a core of the insulated conductor by removing at least a portion of a jacket and an electrical insulator surrounding the end portion of the core. A recess is formed in the electrical insulator at the end of the electrical insulator surrounding the end portion of the core. An end portion of a conductor of the lead-in cable is exposed by removing at least a portion of a sheath and insulation surrounding the end portion of the conductor. The end portion of the core is coupled to the end portion of the conductor. The end portion of the core and the end portion of the conductor are placed in a body filled with electrically insulating material. | 05-10-2012 |
20130086800 | FORMING INSULATED CONDUCTORS USING A FINAL REDUCTION STEP AFTER HEAT TREATING - A method for forming an insulated conductor heater includes placing an insulation layer over at least part of an elongated, cylindrical inner electrical conductor. An elongated, cylindrical outer electrical conductor is placed over at least part of the insulation layer to form the insulated conductor heater. One or more cold working/heat treating steps are performed on the insulated conductor heater. The cold working/heat treating steps include: cold working the insulated conductor heater to reduce a cross-sectional area of the insulated conductor heater by at least about 30% and heat treating the insulated conductor heater at a temperature of at least about 870° C. The cross-sectional area of the insulated conductor heater is then reduced by an amount ranging between about 5% and about 20% to a final cross-sectional area. | 04-11-2013 |
20130087327 | USING DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF AN INSULATED CONDUCTOR IN A SUBSURFACE FORMATION TO ASSESS PROPERTIES OF THE INSULATED CONDUCTOR - A system for assessing one or more temperatures along an insulated conductor in an opening in a subsurface formation includes an insulated conductor with a length comprising at least two sections of insulation with different capacitances. The sections with the different capacitances include different takeoff temperatures for at least one dielectric property of the insulation. | 04-11-2013 |
20130087551 | INSULATED CONDUCTORS WITH DIELECTRIC SCREENS - An insulated conductor heater includes an electrical conductor that produce heats when an electrical current is provided to the electrical conductor. An inner electrical insulator at least partially surrounds the electrical conductor. The inner electrical insulator includes a first insulation material and a second insulation material. The second insulation material has a higher dielectric constant than the first insulation material. An outer electrical insulator at least partially surrounds the inner electrical insulator. The outer electrical insulator includes the first insulation material. An outer electrical conductor at least partially surrounds the electrical insulator | 04-11-2013 |
20140215809 | FORMING INSULATED CONDUCTORS USING A FINAL REDUCTION STEP AFTER HEAT TREATING - A method for forming an insulated conductor heater includes placing an insulation layer over at least part of an elongated, cylindrical inner electrical conductor, placing an elongated, cylindrical outer electrical conductor over at least part of the insulation layer to form the insulated conductor heater; and performing one or more cold working/heat treating steps on the insulated conductor heater, reducing the cross-sectional area of the insulated conductor heater by at most about 20% to a final cross-sectional area. The cold working/heat treating steps include cold working the insulated conductor heater to reduce a cross-sectional area of the insulated conductor heater; and heat treating the insulated conductor heater at a temperature of at least about 870° C. The insulation layer includes one or more blocks of insulation. | 08-07-2014 |
20140301426 | TEMPERATURE ASSESSMENT USING DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF AN INSULATED CONDUCTOR HEATER WITH SELECTED ELECTRICAL INSULATION - A system for assessing one or more temperatures in an opening in a subsurface formation includes an electrical conductor and electrical insulation at least partially surrounding the electrical conductor. The electrical insulation includes magnesium oxide and a ferroelectric material. An electrically conductive sheath at least partially surrounds the electrical insulation. A profile of one or more dielectric properties of the electrical insulation along a length of the electrical insulation is assessed during use to assess a temperature profile with spatial resolution along the length of the electrical insulation. | 10-09-2014 |