Processing hydrocarbons

摘要

Systems and methods that include providing, e.g., obtaining or preparing, a material that includes a hydrocarbon carried by an inorganic substrate, and exposing the material to a plurality of energetic particles, such as accelerated charged particles, such as electrons or ions.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
delivering ionizing radiation into a wellbore of a hydrocarbon-containing formation, and injecting steam and/or chemical constituents into the formation; wherein the ionizing radiation is produced from a radiation source configured to generate bremsstrahlung x-rays, the radiation source comprising an electron beam.