Apparatus and method for heating of hydrocarbon deposits by axial RF coupler

摘要

An apparatus for heating a hydrocarbon deposit that is susceptible to RF heating by coupling a linear conductive element that extends into the material to a source of RF power. The apparatus includes a source of RF power connected to driving winding that extends around a magnetic core loop and the magnetic core loop extends around the RF conductive linear element. One or more apparatus may be used to couple RF energy to conductive elements that extend into a hydrocarbon deposit to achieve a desired RF current within the element. RF energy may be coupled to conductive elements that are adjacent to each other within a hydrocarbon deposit to create a desired region of heating within the hydrocarbon deposit. The magnetic core loop may start and stop the RF energy to position heating.

主权项

1. An apparatus for heating a geologic hydrocarbon material within a subterranean formation comprising:
a first conductive element extending into the subterranean formation adjacent the geologic hydrocarbon material; a second conductive element extending into the subterranean formation alongside said first conductive element and adjacent the geologic hydrocarbon material; a shunt element coupled between said first and second conductive elements; a magnetic core surrounding said shunt element; a radio frequency (RF) energy source; and an electrically conductive driving winding surrounding said magnetic core and coupled to said RF energy source.