Effective solvent extraction system incorporating electromagnetic heating

An apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one radio frequency (RF) antenna configured to transmit RF energy into the subterranean reservoir, the RF energy being at a frequency of about 1 kHz to 1 GHz;
• a power source configured to provide power to the at least one RF antenna;
• at least one injection well configured to inject a solvent into the subterranean reservoir to lower a viscosity of the hydrocarbons;
• and
• at least one production well configured to produce a mixture comprising hydrocarbons and solvent from the subterranean reservoir, said at least one injection well and said at least one production well being generally horizontal.

A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir, the method comprising:

• pre-heating at least a portion of the subterranean reservoir with electromagnetic radiation from a electromagnetic radiation source comprising at least one radio frequency (RF) antenna;
• injecting through at least one injection well, extending into the subterranean reservoir, a solvent into the subterranean reservoir to dilute the hydrocarbons in the pre-heated portion;
• and
• producing through at least one production well, extending into the subterranean reservoir, a mixture of hydrocarbons and solvent, the at least one injection well comprising injection well piping defining the at least one RF antenna.

A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir, the method comprising:

• pre-heating at least a portion of the subterranean reservoir with electromagnetic radiation from a electromagnetic radiation source comprising at least one radio frequency (RF) antenna;
• injecting through at least one injection well, extending into the subterranean reservoir, a solvent into the subterranean reservoir to dilute the hydrocarbons in the pre-heated portion;
• producing through at least one production well, extending into the subterranean reservoir, a mixture of hydrocarbons and solvent;
• and
• operating the at least one RF antenna to control temperature in a region of the subterranean reservoir around the at least one production well to manage asphaltene precipitation.

A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir, the method comprising:

• pre-heating at least a portion of the subterranean reservoir with electromagnetic radiation from a electromagnetic radiation source comprising at least one radio frequency (RF) antenna;
• injecting through at least one injection well, extending into the subterranean reservoir, a solvent into the subterranean reservoir to dilute the hydrocarbons in the pre-heated portion;
• producing through at least one production well, extending into the subterranean reservoir, a mixture of hydrocarbons and solvent;
• and
• vaporizing residual solvent in the subterranean reservoir by continued exposure of at least a portion of the subterranean reservoir to electromagnetic radiation after hydrocarbon production, and recovering the vaporized residual solvent.

An apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one injection well configured to inject a solvent into the subterranean reservoir to lower a viscosity of the hydrocarbons;
• at least one production well configured to produce a mixture comprising hydrocarbons and solvent from the subterranean reservoir and comprising production well piping configured to define at least one first radio frequency (RF) antenna for transmitting RF energy into the subterranean reservoir;
• and
• a power source configured to provide power to the at least one first RF antenna.

An apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one injection well configured to inject a solvent into the subterranean reservoir to lower a viscosity of the hydrocarbons and comprising injection well piping configured to define at least one first radio frequency (RF) antenna for transmitting RF energy into the subterranean reservoir;
• at least one production well configured to produce a mixture comprising hydrocarbons and solvent from the subterranean reservoir;
• and
• a power source configured to provide power to the at least one first RF antenna.

An apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one radio frequency (RF) antenna configured to transmit RF energy into the subterranean reservoir;
• a power source configured to provide power to the at least one RF antenna;
• at least one injection well configured to inject a solvent into the subterranean reservoir to lower a viscosity of the hydrocarbons;
• and
• at least one production well configured to produce a mixture comprising hydrocarbons and solvent from the subterranean reservoir, said at least one injection well and said at least one production well being generally horizontal.

A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir, the method comprising:

• pre-heating at least a portion of the subterranean reservoir with electromagnetic radiation from a electromagnetic radiation source comprising at least one radio frequency (RF) antenna;
• injecting through at least one injection well, extending into the subterranean reservoir, a solvent into the subterranean reservoir to dilute the hydrocarbons in the pre-heated portion;
• and
• producing through at least one production well, extending into the subterranean reservoir, a mixture of hydrocarbons and solvent, the at least one injection well and the at least one production well being generally horizontal.