Systems and methods for enhancing recovery of hydrocarbon deposits

An apparatus for enhancing recovery of hydrocarbon deposits, the apparatus comprising:

• a sensor configured to detect a material property of an underground volume;
• a transmitter configured to transmit propagating electromagnetic radiation into the volume to heat material disposed in the volume;
• and
• a controller electrically coupled to the sensor and the transmitter, the controller configured to cause the transmitter to transmit propagating electromagnetic radiation into the volume wherein the radiation is varied within the volume based on the spatial variation of the sensed material property in the volume.

A system for selective heating of a volume including a hydrocarbon deposit, the system comprising:

• a sensor configured to sense a material property of a material disposed in a volume including the hydrocarbon deposit
• a processing device electrically coupled to the sensor, the processing device configured to create a map showing the spatial variation in the sensed material property throughout the volume;
• and
• a transmitter electrically coupled to the processing device, the transmitter configured to transmit propagating electromagnetic radiation into the volume to heat at least a portion of the volume based upon the map.