System including tunable choke for hydrocarbon resource heating and associated methods
AssigneeHarris Corporation
InventorFrancis Eugene PARSCHE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for heating a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation having a wellbore extending therein, include the use of a radio frequency (RF) source, an RF antenna to be positioned within the wellbore and a transmission line coupling the RF source and the RF antenna. A tunable choke is positioned on the transmission line between the RF source and RF antenna, and a controller is coupled to the tunable choke. The controller may be configured to tune the tunable choke to reduce a common mode current from propagating on an outside of the transmission line toward the RF source.
Claims19
A system for heating a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation having a wellbore extending therein, the system comprising:
- a radio frequency (RF) source;
- an RF antenna operable to be positioned within the wellbore;
- a transmission line coupling the RF source and the RF antenna;
- a tunable choke positioned on the transmission line between the RF source and RF antenna;
- and
- a controller coupled to said tunable choke.
A tunable choke for use with a transmission line and associated antenna operative to be positioned in a wellbore of a subterranean formation, the transmission line having an outer conductor, the tunable choke comprising:
- a conductive choke sleeve configured to be positioned on the transmission line and including a closed end to be electrically connected to the outer conductor thereof;
- a biasable media surrounded by the conductive choke sleeve adjacent the transmission line;
- an electromagnet winding positioned around the conductive choke sleeve and configured to be electrically connected to a controller;
- and
- an outer frame surrounding the electromagnet winding.
A method for heating a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation having a wellbore extending therein, the method comprising:
- coupling an RF source to a radio frequency (RF) antenna via a transmission line;
- positioning the RF antenna within the wellbore so that the RF antenna is adjacent the hydrocarbon resource;
- coupling a tunable choke on the transmission line between the RF source and the RF antenna;
- operating the RF source so that the RF antenna supplies RF power to the hydrocarbon resource in the subterranean formation;
- and
- operating the tunable choke to reduce a common mode current from propagating on an outside of the transmission line toward the RF source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.