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US 2021/0229219 A1Published application
Laser array for heavy hydrocarbon heating
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsAbrar Alabbad, Wisam AlKawai
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Abstract
System and methods for heating boreholes include laser generators to trigger a chemical reaction to break down heavy hydrocarbons in boreholes. The systems and methods use arrays of laser generators at the borehole surface or within the borehole to heat the heavy hydrocarbons. The systems and methods may include hydrocarbon sensors within the borehole to detect gas seepage resulting from heating of the heavy hydrocarbons.
Claims24
A borehole heating system comprising:
- at least one laser generator disposed proximate at least one borehole, the at least one laser generator producing at least one laser beam, the at least one laser beam directed at a heavy hydrocarbon portion of the at least one borehole,
- where the at least one laser beam heats up the heavy hydrocarbon portion thereby changing at least one chemical property of the heavy hydrocarbon portion, and
- where the at least one laser beam comprises a frequency in the mid-infrared (IR) wavelength range.
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A borehole heating system comprising:
- an array of laser generators disposed at a borehole surface, the array of laser generators directing laser beams at a heavy hydrocarbon target location within the borehole,
- where the laser beams heat the heavy hydrocarbon target location to a temperature range from 100 degrees C. to 600 degrees C., and
- where the array of laser generators produce multiple laser wavelengths simultaneously.
A borehole heating system comprising:
- at least one laser generator disposed proximate at least one borehole, the at least one laser generator producing at least one laser beam;
- and
- at least one mirror positioned to:
- reflect the at least one laser beam resulting in a reflected laser beam;
- and
- direct the at least one laser beam at a heavy hydrocarbon portion of the at least one borehole;
- where the reflected laser beam heats up the heavy hydrocarbon portion thereby changing at least one chemical property of the heavy hydrocarbon portion, and
- where the at least one mirror comprises at least one of a plasma mirror, a supermirror, a Bragg mirror, an ultra-high reflectivity mirror, a dielectric mirror, a dispersive mirrors, and a dichroic mirror.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.