Thermal mineral extraction system
AssigneeFramo Developments (UK) Limited
InventorFrank Mohn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Material is thermally extracted from an underground formation with the aid of heat supplied by electrical resistance heaters (21) or by tubing (5, 6) serving as such, or by heated fluid conveyed downhole in pipes (12), which may serve as electrical conductors, or as resistance heaters, or which may be heated downhole. The fluid may be circulated upwardly after passage through a downhole pump unit where the fluid is suitable.
Claims22
An apparatus for thermal extraction of material from an underground formation comprising:
- a surface installation,
- production tubing extending downhole from said surface installation for guiding said material thereto from said underground formation,
- passage means receiving a heated fluid and extending along at least a portion of said production tubing and
- a heat source for heating said fluid, said heat source being located to extend along at least a portion of said production tubing.
An apparatus for thermal extraction of material from an underground formation comprising:
- a surface installation,
- production tubing extending downhole from said surface installation for guiding said material thereto from said underground formation,
- passage means for circulating a fluid along at least a portion of said production tubing,
- means for heating said circulating fluid, and
- a pump unit for circulating said heated fluid, said pump unit being located downhole.
An apparatus for thermal extraction of material from an underground formation comprising:
- a surface installation,
- production tubing extending downhole from said surface installation for guiding said material thereto from said underground formation, and
- passage means containing a heated fluid extending along at least a portion of said production tubing for heating said material therein, said passage means functioning as electrical resistance heating means for heating said fluid.
An apparatus for thermal extraction of material from an underground formation comprising:
- a surface installation,
- production tubing extending downhole from said surface installation for guiding said material thereto from said underground formation,
- piping containing a heated fluid extending along said production tubing for heating said material therein, and
- an electrically powered downhole pump for moving said material upwardly in said production tubing, wherein said piping functions an electrical conductor means for supplying electrical power to said downhole pump.
An apparatus for thermal extraction of material from an underground formation comprising:
- a surface installation,
- electrically conductive production tubing extending downhole from said surface installation for guiding said material thereto from said underground formation, said production tubing comprising electrically conductive inner and outer tubing with said inner tubing within said outer tubing,
- means electrically connecting together said inner and outer tubing at a position downhole, and
- means located at said surface installation for connecting said inner and outer tubing with a source of electric current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.