Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Chevron Research & Technology Company

Gunther Hans Dieckmann

Dennis John O'Rear

Cesar Ovalles

Michal Mieczyslaw Okoniewski

Donald Kuehne

James Dunlavey

Damir Pasalic

Mark R Buetzow

James Thomas Dunlavey

Michael Sean Driver

Pedro Vaca

Elena Q Labrador

Donald Leroy Kuehne

Richard E Cherpeck

Curtis Lee Munson

Lawrence W Jossens

Michael Moir

Estrella Rogel

John A Segerstrom

Stein J Storslett

Hariprasad Janakiram Subramani

Vasudevan Sampath

Deyuan Kong

James D Kramer

Roopa Kamath

Miguel Vigil

Kathleen Judith Miller

Greg Hemighaus

Michael John Campbell

Schaun Malcolm Smith

Darnir Pasalic

Michal Okoniewski

Systems and methods are provided for maintaining the performance and operational stability of an RF (radio frequency) antenna that is positioned in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, for heating the formation using electromagnetic energy in the radio frequency range. Contaminants such as water or brine, metallic particulates and ionic or organic materials frequently occur in a wellbore being prepared for RF heating, or in an RF antenna installed in the wellbore. Prior to applying RF electrical energy to the formation, the antenna is decontaminated by circulating a preconditioning fluid through the antenna and recovering a spent fluid for treating and recycle. Decontamination is continued while the spent fluid from the antenna includes, but not limited to, water, metallic particles, ionic species, organic compounds contaminants, etc. An operational power level of radio frequency electrical energy is then applied to the decontaminated antenna for providing thermal energy to the hydrocarbon-bearing formation.

Antenna operation for reservoir heating

Embodiments include drilling a wellbore in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, and the wellbore includes a radio frequency antenna destination portion that is configured to receive a radio frequency antenna; forming a low dielectric zone in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation proximate to the radio frequency antenna destination portion with a cavity based process or a squeezing based process; positioning the radio frequency antenna into the radio frequency antenna destination portion such that the radio frequency antenna is proximate to the low dielectric zone; dielectric heating the hydrocarbon-bearing formation with the radio frequency antenna such that the low dielectric zone increases dissipation of energy from the radio frequency antenna into the hydrocarbon-bearing formation; and extracting hydrocarbons from the heated hydrocarbon-bearing formation. The material has a dielectric constant of less than or equal to 20, a loss tangent of less than or equal to 0.4, and a porosity of less than or equal to 5%.

Low dielectric zone for hydrocarbon recovery by dielectric heating

A method of making a subsurface antenna which has an assymetric radiation pattern. The assymetric radiation pattern radiates electromagnetic waves unequally into two regions.

Method of employing a subsurface antenna in two regions

Contaminant-containing soil can be remediated by subjecting the soil to microwave irradiation to heat the soil to a combustion temperature of from 150&#xb0; C. to 1200&#xb0; C. to initiate combustion. A target amount of the contaminant in the soil is destroyed. An oxidizer gas can be flowed through the soil using a gas blower and at least one gas injection line and controlled at a rate such that a self-sustaining smoldering combustion front is formed that moves through the soil. A microwave absorber additive can be added to the soil to accelerate the heating of the soil. At least one waveguide connected to a source of microwave energy directs microwaves into the soil.

Systems and methods for thermal treatment of contaminated material

A subsurface antenna is designed for use below the surface of the Earth. In some configurations the antenna is a dipole antenna, which can be used for radio frequency heating of an oil-bearing formation.

Subsurface antenna for radio frequency heating

A system for in-situ heating of a subsurface formation for the extraction of hydrocarbons in underground deposits is disclosed. The system is configured to heat the underground deposit of hydrocarbons to facilitate fluid flow and hydrocarbon recovery from the underground deposit. The system has an antenna formed from a coaxial transmission line having an annular space between the transmission line outer conductor and the inner conductor and having one or more periodic aperture arrangements along the axial length of the outer conductor. A method for in-situ heating of a subsurface formation for recovering hydrocarbons contained therein is also disclosed. The method comprises: providing an antenna in the subsurface formation; providing electromagnetic RF power to the antenna for heating at least a portion of the subsurface formation.

System for extraction of hydrocarbons underground

Provided herein are embodiments for extracting oil from an oil-bearing formation. An embodiment of a method includes heating a first portion of the formation with radio frequency energy generated by a radio frequency generator electrically coupled to an antenna. The antenna is positioned within a wellbore and located within the first portion to heat the first portion to a minimum temperature of about 160&#xb0; F. The radio frequency generator delivers power in a range from about 50 kilowatts to about 2 Megawatts, and a power per unit length of antenna is in a range from about 0.5 kW/m to 5 kW/m. The method includes extracting the oil from the first portion after heating to create void space for steam injection. The method also includes injecting steam into the first portion to heat a second portion of the formation adjacent to the first portion and extracting the oil from the second portion.

Oil extraction using radio frequency heating

A method and system for handling viscous liquid crude hydrocarbons is disclosed. The method involves (a) solvent deasphalting at least a portion of an asphaltene-containing liquid crude hydrocarbon feedstock to form an asphaltene fraction and a deasphalted oil (DAO) fraction essentially free of asphaltenes; (b) adjusting the density of the asphaltene fraction to substantially the same density of a carrier for the asphaltene fraction; (c) forming coated asphaltene particles from the asphaltene fraction of step (b); (d) slurrying the coated asphaltene particles with the carrier; and (e) transporting the slurry to a treatment facility or a transportation carrier.

Method and system for processing viscous liquid crude hydrocarbons

The present invention relates to transportable product for the transportation of paraffinic wax and methods of transporting using this transportable product. The transportable product comprises 90 to 20 weight % of a liquid comprising &#x3e;50 weight % alcohol and having a true vapor pressure of &#x2266;14.7 psia when measured at 20&#xb0; C., and 10 to 80 weight % of wax particles, wherein the wax particles comprise &#x2267;75 weight % of wax particles larger than 0.1 mm. The transportable product and methods of transporting according to the present invention are able to accommodate a relatively high weight % of paraffinic wax particles in the transportable product while avoiding interparticle adhesion and clumping by ensuring that the wax particles are not too small and the amount of small wax particles is not excessive.

Fischer-Tropsch wax composition and method of transport

An alkylation process comprising contacting a first hydrocarbon feed comprising at least one olefin having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and a second hydrocarbon feed comprising at least one isoparaffin having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms with a halide-based acidic ionic liquid catalyst under alkylation conditions to produce an alkylate containing an organic halide and contacting at least a portion of the alkylate with a hydrotreating catalyst in the presence of hydrogen under hydrotreating conditions to reduce the concentration of the organic halide in the alkylate is disclosed.

Reduction of organic halides in alkylate gasoline

A granular solid wax particle, comprising a) a highly paraffinic wax having a T10 boiling point less than 427&#xb0; C. and comprising at least 40 weight percent n-paraffins, and b) an inorganic powder coating on the wax particle. Also, a process for making a fuel or a base oil, comprising transporting the granular solid wax particles in a transport vessel to a distant location where the granular solid wax particles are processed into the fuel or the base oil.

Paraffinic wax particle coated with a powder coating

Method for making base oil, comprising transporting a height of greater than 7.5 meters of granular solid wax particles comprising a highly paraffinic wax with defined boiling points and a powder coating to a distant location, and hydroprocessing the transported wax. Also, a method comprising: a) selecting a Fischer-Tropsch wax having a broad boiling range, b) powder coating the wax, and c) transporting and d) hydroprocessing the wax. Also, a method comprising forming inorganic powder coated granular solid wax particles that withstand heavy loads without clumping or sticking together from highly paraffinic wax, wherein the amount of powder is between 0.1 and 5 wt %, transporting, and hydroprocessing the solid wax particles.

Method of making base oil from transported wax

Processes for transporting wax including the steps of producing granular solid wax particles, having a powder coating, that are resistant to breakage or clumping; loading the particles into a transport vessel; transporting the particles; and unloading the particles.

Growing community of inventors

Walnut Creek, CA, United States of America

Gunther Hans Dieckmann