| Down hole physical upgrading of heavy crude oils by selective energy absorption -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Down hole physical upgrading of heavy crude oils by selective energy absorptionRelated Patent Categories: Wells, Processes, Electric Current Or Electrical Wave Energy Through Earth For TreatingDown hole physical upgrading of heavy crude oils by selective energy absorption description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060180304, Down hole physical upgrading of heavy crude oils by selective energy absorption. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/645,154, which was filed on Jan. 19, 2005, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to the use of electromagnetic energy to subject heavy crude oil to mild thermal cracking conditions, thereby lowering the viscosity, pour point, and specific gravity of the oil and rendering it easier to recover and handle. More particularly, this invention relates to methods for applying electromagnetic energy to heavy oils in the reservoir to promote in situ upgrading and facilitate recovery. This invention also relates to systems to apply electromagnetic energy to heavy oils in situ. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Heavy crude oil presents problems in oil recovery and production. Crude oils of low API gravity and crude oils having a high pour point present production problems both in and out of the reservoir. Extracting and refining such oils is difficult and expensive. In particular, it is difficult to pump heavy crude oil or move it via pipelines. [0004] Various methods to ameliorate the disadvantages of heavy crude oil are used today. For example, the oil industry reduces surface handling problems by blending heavy crude oil with light oils and liquid proprane gas to make them easily handled in pipelines and storage facilities. This method has drawbacks, however, as it does not assist in the initial recovery of the oil, and it is expensive. [0005] A process called "visbreaking," or mild thermal cracking, may also be used to reduce the viscosity of heavy crude oil. "Visbreaking" is an oil refinery process for increasing the pumpability of heavy crudes. It typically is accomplished by heating heavy crude oil in a furnace. The process is characterized by mild decomposition, minimum coke formation and the retention of the cracked product in the original feed stock. The resultant mixture has viscosity, pour point, and specific gravity values that are lower than the original oil. However, ask applied today, visbreaking cannot be used on oil in situ. [0006] The present invention applies visbreaking new contexts and for new purposes, and proposes improved methods for the application of visbreaking. In the present invention, visbreaking is accomplished using electromagnetic energy to heat the heavy crude oil, rather than heating it in a furnace. Furthermore, the present invention is suitable for use in the treatment of oil in situ. Such treatment permits the upgrade of the oil in reservoir and assists in the recovery of the oil. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] The present invention utilizes the ability of electromagnetic energy at the appropriate frequency to selectively deposit thermal energy in the heavy oil for precise control of cracking temperature throughout a given volume of material. Selective electromagnetic energy absorption in the heavy crude oil provides energy efficient transfer of heat at the molecular level and thereby insures precise temperature control throughout the treatment volume. This allows for optimization of the visbreaking process using electromagnetic energy. [0008] Proper selection of frequency and power duration results in the rapid cracking of heavy hydrocarbons to any degree desired by electromagnetic energy absorption. When the desired degree of cracking is reached, the hot oil matrix provides a significantly different set of electrical properties which can be measured on the surface during the "electromagnetic visbreaking process." (EVP) to insure precise down hole temperature and power control. [0009] This proposed EVP provides efficient energy absorption and control of thermal cracking of heavy oils for in-situ upgrading. The application of low power (a few ten's of kilowatts) electromagnetic energy to the formation for visbreaking will provide mild decomposition of the heavy oil, minimum coke formation and the retention of the cracked product in the original feedstock. The resultant mixture has viscosity, pour point, and specific gravity values which are lower than those of the original oil. [0010] The present invention several promising applications. It can be used to upgrade heavy crude oil in situ. It can also assist in the recovery of heavy crude oil from reservoirs. Further, the present invention can be used to more efficiently recovery hydrocarbons from oil shale, such as that present in the Western United States. [0011] In one embodiment of the invention, a system may be provided for use in treating heavy crude oil underground. The system may comprise a borehole in an area in which crude oil exists in the ground, an electromagnetic energy applicator positioned within the borehole in the vicinity of the heavy crude oil to be treated, a cable attached to the electromagnetic energy applicator to supply electromagnetic energy to the applicator, an electromagnetic energy generator attached to the cable to generate electromagnetic energy to be supplied to the applicator, and a product return pipe running through the borehole, the product return pipe comprised of a distal end positioned in the vicinity of the electromagnetic energy applicator through which oil or other products may be recovered and a proximal end on or near the surface of the ground. [0012] In another embodiment of the invention, a method for treating heavy crude oil underground is provided. The method comprises the steps of positioning an electromagnetic energy applicator in a borehole in the vicinity of heavy crude oil, generating electromagnetic energy, applying the electromagnetic energy to the heavy crude oil with the applicator to achieve thermal cracking, and recovering heavy crude oil through a product return pipe. [0013] While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single borehole radiation type applicator. [0015] FIG. 2 is a close up view of a portion of the applicator system. [0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of another configuration of a single borehole applicator. [0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a wellhead for use with the applicator system. [0018] FIG. 5 shows a sample of the absorption data from experiments on the application of electromagnetic energy to large oil molecules in oil shale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Continue reading about Down hole physical upgrading of heavy crude oils by selective energy absorption... Full patent description for Down hole physical upgrading of heavy crude oils by selective energy absorption Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Down hole physical upgrading of heavy crude oils by selective energy absorption patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Down hole physical upgrading of heavy crude oils by selective energy absorption or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Independent measuring and processing probe for preliminary studies on a well Next Patent Application: Integral flush gauge cable apparatus and method Industry Class: Wells ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Down hole physical upgrading of heavy crude oils by selective energy absorption patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 2.7914 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Accenture , Agouron Pharmaceuticals , Amgen , AT&T , Bausch & Lomb , Callaway Golf |
||
