Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100254090 | MULTI-LAYER MESH WICKS FOR HEAT PIPES - Methods for fabricating heat pipes and heat pipes therefrom are provided. The heat pipe ( | 10-07-2010 |
20120061080 | INLINE RF HEATING FOR SAGD OPERATIONS - The present invention provides a method for accelerating start-up for SAGD-type operation by providing radio frequency heating devices inside the lateral wells that can re-heat the injected steam after losing heat energy during the initial injection. The method also extends the lateral wells such that the drilling of vertical wells can be reduced to save capital expenses. | 03-15-2012 |
20120061081 | RF FRACTURING TO IMPROVE SAGD PERFORMANCE - A method of producing heavy oil from a heavy oil formation with steam assisted gravity drainage. The method begins by drilling a borehole into a heavy oil formation comprising a steam barrier between a first pay zone and a second pay zone, wherein the steam barrier prevents a steam chamber to be formed between the first pay zone and the second pay zone. The steam barrier is then heated with a radio frequency. The steam barrier is then fractured to permit a steam chamber to be formed within the first pay zone and the second pay zone. Heavy oil is then produced from the heavy oil formation with steam assisted gravity drainage. | 03-15-2012 |
20120085537 | HEAVY OIL RECOVERY USING SF6 AND RF HEATING - A method of producing heavy oil by first injecting water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules into a region. The method then introduces electromagnetic waves such as microwaves and/or radio frequencies into the region at a frequency sufficient to excite the water and the sulfur hexafluoride molecules and increase the temperature of at least a portion of the water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules within the region to produce heated water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules. At least a portion of the heavy oil is heated in the region by contact with the heated water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules to produce heated heavy oil. The heated heavy oil is then produced. | 04-12-2012 |
20120234537 | GRAVITY DRAINAGE STARTUP USING RF & SOLVENT - The method begins by forming a gravity drainage production well pair within a formation comprising an injection well and a production well. The pre-soaking stage begins by soaking at least one of the wellbores of the well pair with a solvent, wherein the solvent does not include water. The pre-heating stage begins by heating the soaked wellbore of the well pair to produce a vapor. The squeezing stage begins by introducing the vapor into the soaked wellbore of the well pair, and can thus overlap with the pre-heating stage. The gravity drainage production begins after the squeezing stage, once the wells are in thermal communication and the heavy oil can drain to the lower well. | 09-20-2012 |
20130153210 | SITU RF HEATING OF STACKED PAY ZONES - A method of heating stacked pay zones in a hydrocarbon formation by radio frequency electromagnetic waves is provided. In particular, radio frequency antenna array having multiple antenna elements are provided inside a hydrocarbon formation that has steam-impermeable structure. The antenna elements are so positioned and configured that the hydrocarbons in the place where conventional thermal methods cannot be used to heat due to the steam-impermeable structure can now be heated by radio frequency electromagnetic waves. | 06-20-2013 |
20130199774 | HEAVY OIL PRODUCTION WITH EM PREHEAT AND GAS INJECTION - An enhanced oil recovery technique that combines gas injection with EM radiation to heat and mobilize heavy oil at least until fluid communication is achieved. | 08-08-2013 |
20140043766 | MULTI-LAYER MESH WICKS FOR HEAT PIPES - Methods for fabricating heat pipes and heat pipes therefrom are provided. The heat pipe ( | 02-13-2014 |
20140216725 | APPARATUS FOR HEATING A HYDROCARBON RESOURCE IN A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION PROVIDING AN ADJUSTABLE LIQUID COOLANT AND RELATED METHODS - An apparatus is provided for heating a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation having a wellbore extending therein. The apparatus includes a radio frequency (RF) source, an RE antenna configured to be positioned within the wellbore, and an RF transmission line configured to be positioned within the wellbore and couple the RE source to the RE antenna. The RE transmission line defines a liquid coolant circuit therethrough. The apparatus further includes a liquid coolant source configured to be coupled to the transmission line and to provide a liquid coolant through the liquid coolant circuit having an electrical parameter that is adjustable. | 08-07-2014 |