Electromagnetic apparatus and method for in situ heating and recovery of organic and inorganic materials
AssigneeKAI Technologies, Inc.
InventorRaymond S. Kasevich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosure describes an electromagnetic apparatus, and a method of use thereof, for simultaneously generating near-uniform heating in a subsurface formation and simultaneously recovering organic and inorganic materials through the apparatus itself. The apparatus may be constructed from flexible or semi-rigid materials for use in horizontal borehole applications. The disclosure also describes a phase-modulated multiple borehole system, and a method of use thereof, for heating larger subsurface volumes and for creating steerable and variable heating patterns. The apparatus and system described herein may be used for recovering oil trapped in rock formations and for decontaminating a region of the earth contaminated with hazardous materials.
Claims34
An apparatus for processing and extracting organic or inorganic materials from a subsurface formation wherein electromagnetic energy is transmitted from a radio frequency generator through a coaxial transmission line to a radio frequency antenna inserted in a borehole in said subsurface formation, said apparatus comprising:
- a radio frequency antenna for radiating energy into said subsurface formation, said antenna having a plurality of apertures in a distal section;
- a production flow line for connecting a material collection region of said borehole to a storage facility;
- lifting means in operative connection with said production flow line for transferring said materials from said material collection region to said storage facility;
- and
- a coaxial dielectric liquid impedance transformer provided for quarter-wave impedance matching between said radio frequency generator and said antenna.
An apparatus for simultaneously processing and extracting organic or inorganic materials from a substantially horizontal borehole in a subsurface formation, said apparatus comprising:
- a flexible coaxial transmission line;
- a flexible radio frequency antenna for radiating energy into said subsurface formation, wherein said antenna is coupled to a distal terminus of said coaxial transmission line;
- said antenna having a plurality of apertures at its distal section for collecting of said organic and inorganic materials;
- a production flow line;
- a pump for lifting collected material from a material collection region of said borehole to said storage facility;
- and
- a coaxial dielectric liquid impedance transformer for providing quarter-wave impedance matching between said radio frequency generator and said subsurface formation.
A flexible antenna apparatus for processing and extracting heavy oils from subsurface formations, said apparatus comprising a flexible coaxial transmission line and a flexible radio frequency antenna coupled to a distal terminus of said coaxial transmission line.
A system for processing and extracting organic and inorganic materials from a subsurface formation, said system comprising:
- a plurality of borehole antenna apparati for radiating energy into said subsurface formation wherein said apparati are arranged according to a selected grid pattern array;
- means for delivering electromagnetic energy to each of said antenna apparatus;
- and
- means for varying the phase of the energy delivered to each said apparatus for effecting phase modulation to provide near-uniform and controllable heating of said subsurface formation.
An apparatus for insertion into a borehole for the in situ decontamination of a region of the earth surrounding said borehole and contaminated with hazardous materials, said apparatus comprising:
- a radio frequency antenna for radiating energy into said earth wherein said antenna is coupled to a coaxial transmission line for insertion into said borehole in said region;
- said antenna having a plurality of apertures in a distal section of said antenna for recovering organic and inorganic materials from said region;
- a production flow line extending from a material collection region of said borehole through said antenna and said coaxial transmission line to a storage facility;
- means for enabling the lifting of said materials from said sump to said storage facility through said production flow line;
- and
- a coaxial dielectric liquid impedance transformer located at the wellhead for coupling said antenna to a power source.
A method for processing and extracting organic or inorganic materials from a subsurface formation, comprising the steps of:
- radiating energy into said subsurface formation by means of a radio frequency antenna inserted into a borehole in said subsurface formation;
- recovering said materials through a plurality of apertures in a distal section of said antenna;
- and
- transporting said materials to a storage facility by means of a production flow line extending from the distal section of said antenna to said storage facility.
A method for processing and extracting organic or inorganic materials from a large subsurface formation, comprising the steps of:
- inserting a plurality of borehole antenna apparati into a plurality of boreholes arranged in said large subsurface formation according to a selected grid pattern array;
- providing near-uniform heating of said large subsurface formation by varying the phase of the energy delivered to each said apparatus for effective phase modulation;
- recovering said materials through a plurality of apertures in a distal section of each said antenna apparatus;
- and
- transporting said materials to a storage facility by means of a production flow line.
A method of decontaminating a region of the earth contaminated with hazardous materials, comprising the steps of:
- radiating energy into said region by means of a radio frequency antenna inserted in said region;
- recovering said materials through a plurality of apertures in a distal section of said antenna;
- and
- transporting said recovered materials to a storage facility through a production flow line extending from said distal section of said antenna to said storage facility.
A method of heating and recovering organic and inorganic materials from a storage tank, comprising the steps of:
- radiating energy into said tank by means of a radio frequency antenna inserted in said tank;
- recovering said materials through a plurality of apertures in a distal section of said antenna;
- and
- transporting said recovered materials to a storage facility through a production flow line extending from said distal section of said antenna to said storage facility.
An apparatus for the in situ decontamination of a subsurface formation contaminated with hazardous materials, said apparatus comprising:
- a radio frequency antenna for radiating energy into said subsurface formation, said antenna having a plurality of apertures in a distal section;
- a production flow line for connecting a material collection region of said borehole to a storage facility;
- and
- lifting means in operative connection with said production flow line for transferring said materials from said material collection region to said storage facility.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.