# US 2014/0151028 A1 · Hydrocarbon resource recovery system including rf transmission line extending alongside a well pipe in a wellbore and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151028 A1 - Document ID: US20140151028A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/692,263 - Filed: 2012-12-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03 - Assignees: Harris Corporation - Applicants: Harris Corporation - Inventors: Francis E. Parsche - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151028A1 ## CPC - E21B 43/2401: {by means of electricity} - E21B 43/2408: {SAGD in combination with other methods} - H05B 6/72: Radiators or antennas - E21B 43/2406: {Steam assisted gravity drainage [SAGD]} - 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 hydrocarbon resource recovery system for a laterally extending wellbore in a subterranean formation may include a radio frequency (RF) source and an electrically conductive well pipe extending within the laterally extending wellbore. The hydrocarbon resource recovery system may further include an RF transmission line coupled to the RF source and extending alongside in parallel with an exterior of the electrically conductive well pipe within the laterally extending wellbore. The RF transmission line may be coupled to the electrically conductive well pipe to define an RF antenna for heating the hydrocarbon resources within the subterranean formation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydrocarbon resource recovery system for a laterally extending wellbore in a subterranean formation, the hydrocarbon resource recovery system comprising: a radio frequency (RF) source; an electrically conductive well pipe extending within the laterally extending wellbore; and an RF transmission line coupled to said RF source and extending alongside in parallel with an exterior of said electrically conductive well pipe within the laterally extending wellbore and coupled to said electrically conductive well pipe to define an RF antenna for heating the hydrocarbon resources within the subterranean formation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system according to claim 1, wherein said RF transmission line comprises a coaxial transmission line comprising an inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding said inner conductor, and a dielectric therebetween. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system according to claim 2, wherein said outer conductor is coupled to said electrically conductive well pipe. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system according to claim 2, wherein said inner conductor extends outwardly beyond a distal end of said outer conductor and coupled to said electrically conductive well pipe. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive well pipe extends beyond a distal end of said RF transmission line. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system according to claim 2, further comprising a capacitor coupled in series between said inner conductor and said electrically conductive well pipe. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system according to claim 1, wherein said RF transmission line is electrically coupled to said electrically conductive well pipe to define a folded dipole antenna. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive well pipe has a plurality of openings therein to collect hydrocarbon resources. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system according to claim 1, further comprising a balun surrounding said RF transmission line and said electrically conductive well pipe. ### Claim 10 An RF antenna assembly to be positioned within a laterally extending wellbore in a subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery, the RF antenna assembly comprising: an electrically conductive well pipe extending within the laterally extending wellbore; and an RF transmission line extending alongside in parallel with an exterior of said electrically conductive well pipe within the laterally extending wellbore and coupled to said electrically conductive well pipe. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The RF antenna assembly according to claim 10, wherein said RF transmission line comprises a coaxial transmission line comprising an inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding said inner conductor, and a dielectric therebetween. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The RF antenna assembly according to claim 11, wherein said outer conductor is coupled to said electrically conductive well pipe. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The RF antenna assembly according to claim 11, wherein said inner conductor extends outwardly beyond a distal end of said outer conductor and coupled to said electrically conductive well pipe. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The RF antenna assembly according to claim 10, wherein said electrically conductive well pipe extends beyond a distal end of said RF transmission line. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The RF antenna assembly according to claim 10, wherein said RF transmission line is electrically coupled to said electrically conductive well pipe to define a folded dipole antenna. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The RF antenna assembly according to claim 10, wherein said electrically conductive well pipe has a plurality of openings therein to collect hydrocarbon resources. ### Claim 17 A method of recovering hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation comprising: positioning an electrically conductive well pipe within a laterally extending wellbore in the subterranean formation; positioning a radio frequency (RF) transmission line alongside in parallel with an exterior of the electrically conductive well pipe within the laterally extending wellbore; electrically coupling the RF transmission line to the electrically conductive well pipe to define an RF antenna for recovering the hydrocarbon resources within the subterranean formation; and supplying RF power to the RF transmission line. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, further comprising forming the RF transmission line as a coaxial transmission line comprising an inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor, and a dielectric therebetween. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, further comprising coupling the outer conductor to the electrically conductive well pipe. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, further comprising disposing the inner conductor such that it extends outwardly beyond a distal end of the outer conductor; and coupling the inner conductor to the electrically conductive well pipe. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, further comprising positioning the electrically conductive well pipe to extend beyond a distal end of the RF transmission line. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, further comprising coupling a capacitor in series between the inner conductor and the electrically conductive well pipe. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, further comprising coupling the RF transmission line to the electrically conductive well pipe to define a folded dipole antenna.