Hydrocarbon processing apparatus including resonant frequency tracking and related methods
AssigneeHarris Corporation
InventorFrancis E. Parsche
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for processing hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation having a laterally extending wellbore therein may include a radio frequency (RF) antenna configured to be positioned within the laterally extending wellbore, and at least one feedback conductor configured to be positioned along the laterally extending wellbore. The device may also include an RF circuit configured to supply RF power to the hydrocarbon resources via the RF antenna. The RF circuit may be configured to supply the RF power at a frequency tracking a resonant frequency of the RF antenna and the RF circuit and based upon the at least one feedback conductor.
Claims24
An apparatus for processing hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation having a laterally extending wellbore therein, the apparatus comprising:
- an RF antenna configured to be positioned within the laterally extending wellbore;
- at least one feedback conductor configured to be positioned along the laterally extending wellbore;
- and
- a radio frequency (RF) circuit configured to supply RF power to the hydrocarbon resources via said RF antenna;
- said RF circuit configured to supply the RF power at a frequency tracking a resonant frequency of said RF antenna and said RF circuit and based upon said at least one feedback conductor.
An apparatus for processing hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation having a laterally extending wellbore therein, the apparatus comprising:
- an RF antenna configured to be positioned within the laterally extending wellbore;
- a pair of feedback conductors configured to be positioned along the laterally extending wellbore and coupled together at distal ends thereof to define a feedback loop;
- and
- a radio frequency (RF) circuit comprising a transmission line coupled to said RF antenna and configured to supply RF power to the hydrocarbon resource via said RF antenna;
- said RF circuit configured to supply the RF power at a frequency tracking a resonant frequency of said RF antenna and said RF circuit and based upon said feedback loop.
A method of processing hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation having a laterally extending wellbore therein, a radio frequency (RF) antenna positioned within the laterally extending wellbore, and at least one feedback conductor positioned along the laterally extending wellbore, the method comprising:
- operating an RF circuit to supply RF power to the hydrocarbon resource via the RF antenna and to supply the RF power at a frequency tracking a resonant frequency of the RF antenna and the RF circuit and based upon the at least one feedback conductor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.