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US 7,424,915 B2Granted
Vacuum pumping of conductor-in-conduit heaters
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorHarold J. Vinegar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Certain embodiments provide a method that includes placing a heater element in an opening in a subsurface formation. The heater element is in a conduit. A pressure is reduced inside the conduit to a pressure below the vapor pressure of water at the temperature in the conduit.
Claims41
A method, comprising:
- placing a heater element in an opening in a subsurface formation, the heater element being in a conduit;
- reducing a pressure inside the conduit to a pressure below the vapor pressure of water at the temperature in the conduit;
- and
- providing at least some heat from the heater element while reducing pressure in the conduit.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- placing a heater element in an opening in a subsurface formation, the heater element being in a conduit;
- and
- reducing a pressure in the opening outside the conduit to a pressure below the vapor pressure of water at the temperature of the conduit.
A method, comprising:
- placing a heater element in an opening in a subsurface formation, the heater element positioned in a conduit;
- reducing a pressure inside the conduit to a pressure below the vapor pressure of water at the temperature in the conduit;
- providing heat while reducing the pressure inside the conduit;
- pressure sealing the conduit;
- and
- monitoring a pressure in the conduit to assess an amount of water remaining in the conduit.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- placing a heater element in an opening in a subsurface formation, the heater element positioned in a conduit;
- reducing a pressure in the opening outside the conduit to a pressure below the vapor pressure of water at the temperature of the conduit;
- pressure sealing the opening outside the conduit;
- and
- monitoring a pressure in the opening outside the conduit to assess an amount of water remaining in the opening outside the conduit.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.