Electromagnetic reservoir heating with vertical well supply and horizontal well return electrodes

The invention involves combining a plurality of vertical wells, each having a power conditioning unit located on the surface and an electrode in electrical contact with the reservoir, with a horizontal well extending through the reservoir in spaced relation to the vertical wells. The liner and tubin...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors VERMEULEN; FRED E, YU; C. LAWRENCE, MCGEE; BRUCE C. W, CHUTE; FREDERICK S
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 23.08.1994
Edition5
Subjects
EARTH DRILLING
EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
MINING
OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
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Summary:The invention involves combining a plurality of vertical wells, each having a power conditioning unit located on the surface and an electrode in electrical contact with the reservoir, with a horizontal well extending through the reservoir in spaced relation to the vertical wells. The liner and tubing of the horizontal well function as the common return means for the circuit. Low frequency current is supplied to flow between the vertical and horizontal wells at adequate levels so as to cause heating in the near-wellbore regions of all the wells. Oil is produced, at the same time as electrical heating, at enhanced rates as a result.
Bibliography:Application Number: US19930090973