Method and apparatus for in-situ radiofrequency assisted gravity drainage of oil (RAGD)
AssigneeKSN Energies, LLC
InventorRaymond S. Kasevich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to the use of radiofrequency energy to heat heavy crude oil or both heavy crude oil and subsurface water in situ, thereby enhancing the recovery and handling of such oil. The present invention further relates to methods for applying radiofrequency energy to heavy oils in the reservoir to promote in situ upgrading to facilitate recovery. This invention also relates to systems to apply radiofrequency energy to heavy oils in situ.
Claims29
An in situ radiofrequency reactor for use in thermally recovering oil and related materials, the reactor comprising:
- at least one radiofrequency heating well in an area in which crude oil exists in the ground;
- a radiofrequency antenna positioned within each radiofrequency heating well in the vicinity of the crude oil;
- a cable attached to each radiofrequency antenna to supply radiofrequency energy to such radiofrequency antenna;
- a radiofrequency generator attached to the cables to generate radiofrequency energy to be supplied to each radiofrequency antenna, the radiofrequency generator operable to control the radiofrequency energy applied to the crude oil in order to refine the crude oil in situ;
- and
- at least one production well in proximity to and below the radiofrequency wells for the collection and recovery of crude oil.
An in situ radiofrequency reactor for use in thermally recovering oil and related materials and refining heavy crude oil in situ, the reactor comprising:
- at least one radiofrequency heating well in an area in which crude oil exists in the ground;
- a radiofrequency antenna positioned within each radiofrequency heating well in the vicinity of the crude oil;
- a cable attached to each radiofrequency antenna to supply radiofrequency energy to such radiofrequency antenna;
- a radiofrequency generator attached to the cables to generate radiofrequency energy to be supplied to each radiofrequency antenna, the radiofrequency generator operable to control the radiofrequency energy applied to the crude oil in order to refine the crude oil in situ;
- at least one production well in proximity to and below the radiofrequency wells and coupled magnetically to the radiofrequency wells for the collection and recovery of crude oil;
- and
- at least one catalytic bed in which the production well is embedded.
A method for recovering heavy crude oil, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a radiofrequency antenna in a well in the vicinity of heavy crude oil;
- generating radiofrequency energy;
- applying the radiofrequency energy to the heavy crude oil with the radiofrequency antenna to heat the oil;
- recovering the heavy crude oil through production well;
- and
- controlling the radiofrequency energy applied to the heavy crude oil in order to refine the heavy crude oil in situ.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.