System including tunable choke for hydrocarbon resource heating and associated methods

摘要

A system and method for heating a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation having a wellbore extending therein, include the use of a radio frequency (RF) source, an RF antenna to be positioned within the wellbore and a transmission line coupling the RF source and the RF antenna. A tunable choke is positioned on the transmission line between the RF source and RF antenna, and a controller is coupled to the tunable choke. The controller may be configured to tune the tunable choke to reduce a common mode current from propagating on an outside of the transmission line toward the RF source.

主权项

1. A system for heating a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation having a wellbore extending therein, the system comprising:
a radio frequency (RF) source; an RF antenna operable to be positioned within the wellbore; a transmission line coupling the RF source and the RF antenna; a tunable choke positioned on the transmission line between the RF source and RF antenna, and configured to generate a magnetic field to change a magnetic permeability to adjust a resonant frequency thereof; and a controller coupled to said tunable choke.