Oil extraction from underground deposits - by induction heating in situ to vaporise or gasify the oil

摘要

Extraction of hydrocarbons from underground deposits comprises electrical induction heating of defined sections of the deposit to a temp. sufficient to vaporise or gasify at least part of the hydrocarbons, with collection of the products. Heating may be sufficient to cause cracking into gas and lower boiling liquid fractions which distil off and are collected. Used esp. for treatment of sand-bound bitumen, slate-bound kerogen and lignite-contg. deposits. Hydrocarbons can be recovered in a safe and economical way without loss by partial combustion or carbonisation, even from the extensive lignite deposits. Part of the refining process is carried out underground, making efficient use of the heat supplied. Some difficult refining problems e.g. sepn. of suspended clays from crude oil from bituminous said deposits, are avoided.