| 摘要 |
A method and apparatus for stimulating heavy oil production from an oil bearing formation. The method includes the steps of placing a downhole heater in the formation adjacent to the oil producing zone to heat heat transfer fluid and then energizing the downhole heater. The method further includes the step of passing the heat transfer fluid through the heater to heat the heat transfer fluid and then injecting the heat transfer fluid into the oil bearing formation. This brings the heated fluid into contact with the oil to increase the flowability by decreasing the effective viscosity of the oil. I n this manner, an oil extraction chamber can be quickly formed in the oil bearing formation. In another aspect of the invention, the apparatus, includes a source of energy and flow through heater connected to the source of energy. The flow through heater is attached to the end of coil tubing, and placed downhole. The apparatus further includes a control system for monitoring the heater, a source of injection fluid, a pump to inject the injection fluid and a pressure reducer on the exit of the heater, to maintai n fluid pressure in the heater for efficient heat transfer.
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