Extracting oil and water from drill cuttings using RF energy
AssigneeKAI Technologies, Inc.
InventorRaymond S. Kasevich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for separating oil from an oil tailing having water includes introducing the oil tailing within a chamber, and applying RF energy to the oil tailing at a temperature sufficient to convert the water to steam and to separate the oil from the tailing. The system allows removal of the water from the tailing followed by RF energy absorption by the tailing prior to substantial heat transfer to the surrounding mineral portion of the tailing. Among other advantages, the system produces tailings substantially devoid of oil, thereby allowing the tailing to be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner. The system is particularly advantageous for offshore drilling operations where storage and subsequent hauling of the oil tailings ashore for processing and disposal is expensive.
Claims46
A system for separating oil from an oil tailings including water, the system comprising:
- a chamber including an electrically conductive wall, the chamber configured to receive the oil tailings;
- and
- an RF heating system including radiating structure for applying RF energy to heat the oil tailing to a temperature sufficient to convert the water to steam and to separate the oil from the tailing, the radiating structure having a conductive element in the form of an auger screw.
A method of separating oil from oil tailings including water, the method comprising:
- introducing the oil tailing to a chamber surrounding a conductor in the form of an auger screw;
- applying RF energy to the oil tailing at a temperature sufficient to convert the water to steam and to separate the oil from the tailing;
- and
- continuously providing airflow through the chamber to maintain the temperature of the oil tailing below the temperature at which the water in the oil tailing would vaporize.
A method of separating oil from oil tailings including water, the method comprising:
- introducing the oil tailing to a chamber surrounding a conductor in the form of an auger screw;
- applying RF energy to the oil tailing at a temperature sufficient to convert the water to steam and to separate the oil from the tailing;
- and
- applying RF energy from a second radiating structure to the oil tailing at a temperature sufficient to convert the water to steam and to separate the oil from the tailing, the second radiating structure having a third VSWR characteristic during the first heating stage and a fourth VSWR characteristic during the second heating stage, the first and fourth VSWR characteristics being smaller than the second and third VSWR characteristics.
A system for separating oil from an oil tailings including water, the system comprising:
- a chamber for receiving the oil tailings;
- an RF heating system including radiating structure for applying RF energy to heat the oil tailing to a temperature sufficient to convert the water to steam and to separate the oil from the tailing;
- and
- wherein the radiating structure comprises at least two slotted transmission lines.
A system for separating oil from an oil tailing including water, the system comprising:
- a chamber for receiving the oil tailing;
- an RF heating system including radiating structure for applying RF energy to heat the oil tailing to a temperature sufficient to convert the water to steam and to separate the oil from the oil tailing;
- and
- a heat exchanger for recovering and recycling heat energy from at least one of the oil separated from the oil tailing, the oil tailing and the steam.
A system for separating oil from an oil tailing including water, the system comprising:
- a chamber for receiving the oil tailing;
- an RF heating system including radiating structure for applying RF energy to heat the oil tailing to a temperature sufficient to convert the water to steam and to separate the oil from the oil tailing;
- a conveyor for moving the oil tailing from a first end of the chamber to the second end of the chamber;
- and
- an RF diagnostic system that measures the impedance characteristics of the oil tailing.
A system for separating oil from an oil tailing including water, the system comprising:
- a chamber for receiving the oil tailing;
- an RF heating system including radiating structure for applying RF energy to heat the oil tailing to a temperature sufficient to convert the water to steam and to separate the oil from the oil tailing;
- and
- a soil vapor extractor configured to extract heat from the heated oil tailing and reintroduce the heat to the chamber.
A system for separating oil from an oil tailing including water, the system comprising:
- A chamber including an electrically conductive wall, the chamber configured to receive the oil tailing;
- and
- An RF heating system including radiating structure for applying RF energy to heat the oil tailing to a temperature sufficient to convert the water to steam and to separate the oil from the tailing, the radiating structure having a conductive element in the form of a conveyor, the conveyor configured to move the oil tailing through the chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.