# US 2014/0151029 A1 · Hydrocarbon resource recovery system including different hydrocarbon resource recovery capacities 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 2014/0151029 A1 - Document ID: US20140151029A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/692,292 - 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/US20140151029A1 ## CPC - E21B 36/04: using electrical heaters - E21B 43/2401: {by means of electricity} - E21B 43/2408: {SAGD in combination with other methods} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A hydrocarbon resource recovery system for a wellbore in a subterranean formation. The hydrocarbon resource recovery system may include a radio frequency (RF) source, and an antenna configured to be positioned within the wellbore and coupled to the RF source. The antenna may be coupled to the RF source and configured to generate a higher electric field strength region in the subterranean formation having a higher electric field strength and a lower magnetic field strength, and generate a higher magnetic field strength region in the subterranean formation having a higher magnetic field strength and a lower electric field strength. The antenna may have a tubular shape with a plurality of openings therein defining a hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher electric field strength region that is different than a hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydrocarbon resource recovery system for a wellbore in a subterranean formation, the hydrocarbon resource recovery system comprising: a radio frequency (RF) source; and an antenna configured to be positioned within the wellbore and coupled to said RF source, the antenna being configured to generate a higher electric field strength region in the subterranean formation having a higher electric field strength and a lower magnetic field strength, and generate a higher magnetic field strength region in the subterranean formation having a higher magnetic field strength and a lower electric field strength; said antenna having a tubular shape with a plurality of openings therein defining a hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher electric field strength region that is different than a hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings is configured so that the hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher electric field strength region is greater than the hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of openings has a density adjacent the higher electric field strength region that is greater than a density adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of openings is adjacent the higher electric field strength region and absent adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings is configured so that the hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher electric field strength region is less than the hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of openings has a density adjacent the higher electric field strength region that is less than a density adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of openings is adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region and absent adjacent the higher electric field strength region. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system of claim 1, wherein said antenna comprises a dipole antenna so that the higher electric field strength region in the subterranean formation is at least one of the end portions of said dipole antenna, and the higher magnetic field strength region is at a medial portion of said dipole antenna. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system of claim 1, further comprising an RF transmission line extending between said RF source and said antenna. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system of claim 1, wherein said antenna comprises an electrically conductive well pipe. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The hydrocarbon resource recovery system of claim 1, wherein the wellbore comprises a laterally extending wellbore; and wherein said antenna is configured to be positioned within the laterally extending wellbore. ### Claim 12 An antenna configured to be positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery, the antenna comprising: an electrically conductive well pipe configured to be coupled to a radio frequency (RF) source and configured to generate a higher electric field strength region in the subterranean formation having a higher electric field strength and a lower magnetic field strength, and generate a higher magnetic field strength region in the subterranean formation having a higher magnetic field strength and a lower electric field strength; said electrically conductive well pipe having a plurality of openings therein defining a hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher electric field strength region that is different than a hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The antenna of claim 12, wherein the plurality of openings is configured so that the hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher electric field strength region is greater than the hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The antenna of claim 13, wherein the plurality of openings has a density adjacent the higher electric field strength region that is greater than a density adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The antenna of claim 13, wherein the plurality of openings is adjacent the higher electric field strength region and absent adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The antenna of claim 12, wherein the plurality of openings is configured so that the hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher electric field strength region is less than the hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The antenna of claim 16, wherein the plurality of openings has a density adjacent the higher electric field strength region that is less than a density adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The antenna of claim 16, wherein the plurality of openings is adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region and absent adjacent the higher electric field strength region. ### Claim 19 A method of recovering hydrocarbon resources from a wellbore in a subterranean formation containing hydrocarbon resources, the method comprising: positioning an antenna having a tubular shape with a plurality of openings therein defining a hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity in the wellbore; supplying radio frequency (RF) power to the antenna; generating a higher electric field strength region in the subterranean formation having a higher electric field strength and a lower magnetic field strength; and generating a higher magnetic field strength region in the subterranean formation having a higher magnetic field strength and a lower electric field strength; positioning the antenna so that the hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher electric field strength region is different than a hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, comprising configuring the plurality of openings so that the hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher electric field strength region is greater than the hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, comprising forming the antenna such that the plurality of openings has a density adjacent the higher electric field strength region that is greater than a density adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, comprising disposing the plurality of openings adjacent the higher electric field strength region and absent adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, comprising configuring the plurality of openings so that the hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher electric field strength region is less than the hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, comprising configuring the plurality of openings to have a density adjacent the higher electric field strength region that is less than a density adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, comprising configuring the plurality of openings is adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region and absent adjacent the higher electric field strength region.