ELECTRICAL WELL HEATING SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

A system for heating an underground hydrocarbon containing formation compris es an electrical conductor disposed within a heater well traversing the formati on to provide radiant heat to at least a portion of the formation to initiate pyrolysis of hydrocarbons, wherein the electrical conductor comprises one or more elongate electrically conductive heater members which are each suspende d in a fluid filled section of a heater well by a support member. The heater members may be bare metal strips or rods and may be arranged in an uncased section of the heater well in which a pressurized fluid, such as air, is circulated to remove hydrocarbon deposits from the heater members.