Method for induction heating of underground hydrocarbon deposits using a quasi-toroidal conductor envelope

摘要

A method of heating hydrocarbons in situ in an underground hydrocarbon deposit such as bituminous sands or oil shale. A selected part of the deposit is heated by electrical induction coils arranged in a quasi-toroidal configuration to temperatures high enough to facilitate extraction. The coils are preferably comprised of interrupted rectangular turns. A series of generally concentric quasi-toroidal configurations can be used to heat large volumes. A hexagonal honeycomb array of such configurations can be used to heat deposits underlying very large surface areas.