# US 10,502,041 B2 · Method for operating RF source and related hydrocarbon resource recovery systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,041 B2 - Document ID: US10502041B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/893,897 - Filed: 2018-02-12 - Published: 2019-08-15 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-12 - Assignees: Eagle Technology, LLC - Applicants: Eagle Technology, LLC - Inventors: Brian N. Wright; Murray T. Hann; Verlin A. Hibner; Mark Alan Trautman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502041B2 ## CPC - E21B 43/2401: {by means of electricity} - H05B 6/62: Apparatus for specific applications - E21B 43/16: Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons - H05B 2214/03: Heating of hydrocarbons - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A method is for hydrocarbon resource recovery. The method may include positioning an RF antenna assembly within a wellbore in a subterranean formation, the RF antenna assembly having first and second tubular conductors and a dielectric isolator defining a dipole antenna, and a dielectric coating surrounding the dielectric isolator and extending along a predetermined portion of the first and second tubular conductors. The method may include operating an RF source coupled to the RF antenna assembly during a start-up phase to desiccate water adjacent the RF antenna assembly, and operating the RF source coupled to the RF antenna assembly during a sustainment phase to recover hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for hydrocarbon resource recovery comprising: positioning a radio frequency (RF) antenna assembly within a wellbore in a subterranean formation, the RF antenna assembly comprising first and second tubular conductors and a dielectric isolator therebetween defining a dipole antenna, and a dielectric coating surrounding the dielectric isolator and extending along a predetermined portion of the first and second tubular conductors; operating an RF source coupled to the RF antenna assembly during a start-up phase to desiccate water adjacent the RF antenna assembly; and operating the RF source coupled to the RF antenna assembly during a sustainment phase to recover hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein operating the RF source during the start-up phase comprises operating the RF source at a first power level; and wherein operating the RF source during the sustainment phase comprises operating the RF source at a second power level less than or equal to the first power level. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein positioning the RF antenna assembly within the wellbore in the subterranean formation comprises positioning the RF antenna assembly in an injector well; and further comprising recovering the hydrocarbon from a producer well in the subterranean formation adjacent the injector well. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising purging an interior of the dielectric isolator with a fluid during at least one of the start-up phase and the sustainment phase. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein the fluid enters the interior of the dielectric isolator through a fluid passageway defined by an inner conductor of an RF transmission line coupled to the RF antenna assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein the fluid exits the interior of the dielectric isolator through first and second electrical contact sleeves respectively coupled between the first and second tubular conductors and the dielectric isolator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising operating the RF source at a frequency between 1 kHz and 1 MHz. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the dielectric coating comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the dielectric coating is between 10 meters and 200 meters in length. ### Claim 10 A method for hydrocarbon resource recovery with a radio frequency (RF) antenna assembly within a wellbore in a subterranean formation, the RF antenna assembly comprising first and second tubular conductors, a dielectric isolator defining a dipole antenna, first and second electrical contact sleeves respectively-coupled between the first and second tubular conductors and the dielectric isolator, and a dielectric coating surrounding the dielectric isolator, the first and second electrical contact sleeves, and extending along a predetermined portion of the first and second tubular conductors, the method comprising: operating an RF source coupled to the RF antenna assembly during a start-up phase at a first power level and to desiccate water adjacent the RF antenna assembly; and operating the RF source coupled to the RF antenna assembly at a second power level less than or equal to the first power level during a sustainment phase to recover hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein the RF antenna assembly is within the wellbore in the subterranean formation in an injector well; and further comprising recovering the hydrocarbon from a producer well in the subterranean formation associated with the injector well. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further comprising purging an interior of the dielectric isolator with a fluid during at least one of the start-up phase and the sustainment phase. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein the fluid enters the interior of the dielectric isolator through a fluid passageway defined by an inner conductor of an RF transmission line coupled to the RF antenna assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein the fluid exits the interior of the dielectric isolator through first and second electrical contact sleeves respectively coupled between the first and second tubular conductors and the dielectric isolator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further comprising operating the RF source at a frequency between 1 kHz and 1 MHz. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein the dielectric coating comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein the dielectric coating is between 10 meters and 200 meters in length. ### Claim 18 A hydrocarbon resource recovery system comprising: a radio frequency (RF) antenna assembly within a wellbore in a subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery, the RF antenna assembly comprising first and second tubular conductors, a dielectric isolator between said first and second tubular conductors so that said first and second tubular conductors define a dipole antenna, a dielectric coating surrounding said dielectric isolator, and extending along a predetermined portion of said first and second tubular conductors, and an RF transmission line comprising an inner conductor and an outer conductor extending within said first tubular conductor; and an RF source coupled to said RF transmission line and configured to during a start-up phase, operate at a first power level to desiccate water adjacent said RF antenna assembly, and during a sustainment phase, operate at a second power level less than or equal to the first power level to recover hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system of claim 18 wherein said inner conductor defines a fluid passageway configured to carry a fluid; and wherein said RF antenna assembly is configured to purge an interior of said dielectric isolator with the fluid during at least one of the start-up phase and the sustainment phase. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system of claim 19 wherein said RF antenna assembly comprises first and second electrical contact sleeves respectively coupled between said first and second tubular conductors and said dielectric isolator; and wherein the fluid exits the interior of said dielectric isolator through said first and second electrical contact sleeves. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system of claim 18 wherein said dielectric coating comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating.