Harris Corporation

Eagle Technology, LLC

Continental Electronics Corporation

Brian N Wright

Murray Hann

Raymond C Hewit

Mark Alan Trautman

Verlin A Hibner

Tim Dittmer

Keith Nugent

Alan Watt

Verlin Hibner

Ryan Whitney

John Emory White

Raymond Hewit

Daniel L Dickey

Zachary Linc Alexander Linkewich

Steven Stresau

Zachary Linc Linkewich

Murray T Hann

Ronald Edward Jackson, Jr

Stephen J Kolvek

Warren MacPhail

Arthur H White

Angelo Bersani

Nathan S Denver

Schuyler R Ayers

Zachary L Linkewich

Brian P Smith

John M Wassman

John E White

Timothy W Dittmer

Jason M Wassman

An antenna assembly may be positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation. The antenna assembly includes a tubular antenna element to be positioned within the wellbore, and an RF coaxial transmission line to be positioned within the tubular antenna element. The RF coaxial transmission line includes a series of coaxial sections coupled together in end-to-end relation, each coaxial section including an inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor, and a dielectric therebetween. Each of the outer conductors has opposing threaded ends defining overlapping mechanical threaded joints with adjacent outer conductors.

Subterranean antenna including antenna element and coaxial line therein and related methods

A system for heating a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation having a wellbore extending therein may include a radio frequency (RF) source, and a casing within the wellbore including electrically conductive pipes with a dielectric heel isolator coupled between adjacent electrically conductive pipes. Electrically conductive pipes from among the plurality thereof and downstream from the dielectric heel isolator define an RF antenna. The system may further include an RF transmission line extending within the casing and coupled between the RF source and RF antenna, a seal between the RF transmission line and adjacent portions of the casing adjacent the dielectric heel isolator to define an internal choke fluid chamber upstream of the seal, and an electrically conductive choke fluid contained within the internal choke fluid chamber.

Hydrocarbon resource heating system including internal fluidic choke and related methods

A hydrocarbon resource recovery system is for hydrocarbon recovery in a subterranean formation. The hydrocarbon resource recovery system may include an RF antenna within the subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery, an RF source aboveground, a coaxial RF transmission line coupled between the RF antenna and the RF source and having an aboveground portion, a dielectric fluid pressure source, and pressure members joined together in end-to-end relation to define a pressure housing coupled to the dielectric fluid pressure source and surrounding the aboveground portion of the coaxial RF transmission line. The pressure members may include a straight tubular pressure member, and an elbow pressure member coupled thereto.

Hydrocarbon resource recovery system and component with pressure housing and related methods

A method of producing hydrocarbon resources from a subterranean formation may include heating the subterranean formation with at least one radio frequency (RF) antenna located in an upper well within the subterranean formation. The method may further include producing hydrocarbon resources from a lower well within the heated subterranean formation and vertically beneath the upper well to create a void within the subterranean formation, and injecting a solvent into the void within the heated subterranean formation from the lower well.

Method of producing hydrocarbon resources using an upper RF heating well and a lower producer/injection well and associated apparatus

A hydrocarbon resource recovery system may include an RF source, and an RF antenna assembly coupled to the RF source and within a wellbore in a subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery. The RF antenna assembly may include first and second tubular conductors, a dielectric isolator coupled between the first and second tubular conductors, an RF transmission line having an inner conductor and an outer conductor extending within the first tubular conductor, the outer conductor being coupled to the first tubular conductor, and a feed structure coupled to the second tubular conductor. The inner conductor may have a distal end being slidable within the outer conductor and cooperating with the feed structure to define a latching arrangement having a latching threshold lower than an unlatching threshold.

Hydrocarbon resource recovery system and RF antenna assembly with latching inner conductor and related methods

A hydrocarbon resource recovery system may include an RF source, and an RF antenna assembly coupled to the RF source and within a wellbore in a subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery. The RF antenna assembly may include first and second tubular conductors, a dielectric isolator, and first and second electrical contact sleeves respectively coupled between the first and second tubular conductors and the dielectric isolator so that the first and second tubular conductors define a dipole antenna. The RF antenna assembly may include a thermal expansion accommodation device configured to provide a sliding arrangement between the second tubular conductor and the second electrical contact sleeve when a compressive force therebetween exceeds a threshold.

Hydrocarbon resource recovery system and RF antenna assembly with thermal expansion device and related methods

A radio frequency (RF) antenna assembly configured to be positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery may include an RF transmission line and an RF antenna coupled to the RF transmission line. The RF antenna assembly may also include an adjustable balun that may include a tubular balun housing surrounding the RF transmission line and defining a space therebetween. The adjustable balun may further include an adjustable shorting body slidably movable within the space and contacting the tubular balun housing and the RF transmission line at an adjustable shorting position.

Radio frequency antenna assembly for hydrocarbon resource recovery including adjustable shorting plug and related methods

A method is for hydrocarbon resource recovery. The method may include positioning an RF antenna assembly within a wellbore in a subterranean formation, the RF antenna assembly having first and second tubular conductors and a dielectric isolator defining a dipole antenna, and a dielectric coating surrounding the dielectric isolator and extending along a predetermined portion of the first and second tubular conductors. The method may include operating an RF source coupled to the RF antenna assembly during a start-up phase to desiccate water adjacent the RF antenna assembly, and operating the RF source coupled to the RF antenna assembly during a sustainment phase to recover hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation.

Method for operating RF source and related hydrocarbon resource recovery systems

An RF antenna assembly may include first and second tubular conductors, a dielectric isolator, and first and second electrical contact sleeves respectively coupled between the first and second tubular conductors and the dielectric isolator. The RF antenna assembly may include an RF transmission line having an inner conductor and an outer conductor extending within the first tubular conductor, and a feed structure coupled to a distal end of the RF transmission line. The feed structure may include a first radially compressible connector coupled to the outer conductor of the RF transmission line to slidably engage adjacent portions of the first electrical contact sleeve, a second radially compressible connector coupled to the inner conductor of the RF transmission line to slidably engage adjacent portions of the second electrical contact sleeve, and a dielectric tube coupled between the first and second radially compressible connectors.

Hydrocarbon recovery system with slidable connectors and related methods

A method of recovering hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation may include injecting a solvent via a wellbore into the subterranean formation while supplying radio frequency (RF) power from the wellbore and into the subterranean formation. The method may also include recovering hydrocarbon resources via the wellbore and from the subterranean formation while supplying RF power from the wellbore and into the subterranean formation.

Method of recovering hydrocarbon resources while injecting a solvent and supplying radio frequency power and related apparatus

A hydrocarbon resource recovery system may include an RF source, and an RF antenna assembly coupled to the RF source and extending laterally within a wellbore in a subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery. The RF antenna assembly may include first and second tubular conductors, and a dielectric isolator coupled between the first and second tubular conductors to define a dipole antenna. The hydrocarbon resource recovery system may include solvent injectors within respective laterally extending wellbores extending transverse and above the RF antenna assembly and configured to selectively inject solvent into the subterranean formation adjacent the RF antenna assembly.

Hydrocarbon resource recovery system with transverse solvent injectors and related methods

A transmission line segment coupler is for coupling together first and second coaxial transmission line segments each including an inner tubular conductor and an outer tubular conductor surrounding the inner tubular conductor and a dielectric therebetween. The coupler apparatus includes an outer tubular bearing body to be positioned within adjacent open ends of the inner tubular conductors of the first and second coaxial transmission line segments, and an inner tubular bearing body configured to slidably move within the outer tubular bearing body to define a linear bearing therewith. The inner tubular bearing body is configured to define a fluid passageway in communication with the adjacent open ends of the inner tubular conductors of the first and second coaxial transmission line segments.

Transmission line segment coupler defining fluid passage ways and related methods

A device for heating hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation having a wellbore therein may include a tubular radio frequency (RF) antenna within the wellbore, and a tool slidably positioned within the tubular RF antenna. The tool may include an RF transmission line and at least one RF contact coupled to a distal end of the RF transmission line and biased in contact with the tubular RF antenna. The tool may also include an anchoring device configured to selectively anchor the RF transmission line and the at least one RF contact within the tubular RF antenna.

Hydrocarbon resource heating apparatus including RF contacts and anchoring device and related methods

A device for hydrocarbon resource recovery from at least one well in a subterranean formation may include a radio frequency (RF) source, a solvent source, and a double-wall structure coupled to the RF source to define an RF antenna within the at least one well to provide RF heating to the subterranean formation. The double-wall structure may absorb heat from adjacent portions of the subterranean formation. The double-wall structure may also include inner and outer walls defining a solvent passageway therebetween coupled to the solvent source. The outer wall may have a plurality of openings therein to eject solvent into the subterranean formation. The double-wall structure may transfer heat to the solvent so that the ejected solvent is in a vapor state.

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Indialantic, FL, United States of America

Brian N Wright