Texaco Inc.

Other

Kerry D Savage

Hans J Paap

Percy T Cox

Herbert A Rundell

Irwin R Supernaw

Richard A Meador

Winthrop K Brown

Donald J Dowling

James R Bridges

Mark D Looney

Brian C Considine

Roland G Riedesel, Jr

Vernon L Heeren, Deceased

Richard H Vinton

A subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation is preheated by application of RF energy to the formation so that subsequent steam flooding will more effectively sweep the hydrocarbons from the formation without steam override occurring.

RF in situ heating of heavy oil in combination with steam flooding

Formation fluid is received in and passed through a sonde supported by an armored well logging cable at a depth of interest in a well bore. Periodically, samples of the formation fluid are taken. Higher density portions of the fluid, which represent formation fluid and/or mud filtrate, are separated. The separated fluid is a sample from which the resistivity is measured. As sampling continues, the sample fluid becomes substantially formation fluid and an apparent R.sub.2 measurement is made. An electrical signal indicating the R.sub.2 at the depth of interest is sent to the surface for recording and further processing. R.sub.2 measurements can be taken at any desired number of depths of interest in the well bore.

Sampling resistivity of formation fluids in a well bore

In the in-situ retorting of oil shale using radio frequency electrical energy, an applicator is inserted into a borehole and energized at a radio frequency. A protective device protects the applicator from expansion of the oil shale formation. The protective device includes an end plate attached to the applicator and a plurality of elements surrounds the applicator and is in contact with the end plate so as to prevent the oil shale formation from contacting the applicator.

Protective device for RF applicator in in-situ oil shale retorting

A method for obtaining a hydrocarbon liquid from a hydrocarbon strata of an earth formation traversed by a borehole wherein the hydrocarbon strata is subjected to RF electromagnetic energy retorting by locating metal tubing formed in a predetermined manner in that portion of the borehole traversing the hydrocarbon strata. Additional metal tubing formed in a conventional manner is connected with the metal tubing located in the borehole traversing hydrocarbon strata so that together they form a production stream. The hydrocarbon liquid from the borehole may be pumped through the production stream to the surface of the earth formation.

Means and method for producing hydrocarbons from an earth formation

An anisotropic well logging system includes a well logging tool including a first transmitter coil spatially arranged within the well logging tool in a first predetermined manner and a second transmitter coil spatially arranged within the well logging tool in a second predetermined manner which ultimately transmits electromagnetic energy into the formation at a frequency which enables electromagnetic energy to propagate through the surrounding earth formation. A first pair of receiver coils spaced a predetermined distance from each other and from the first transmitter coil and spatially arranged within the well logging tool in the same manner as the first transmitter coil provides signals in accordance with the received electromagnetic energy. A second pair of receiver coils spatially arranged within the logging tool in the same predetermined manner as the second transmitter coil and spaced a predetermined distance from each other and another predetermined distance from the second transmitter coil provides signals in accordance with the received electromagnetic energy. A control apparatus controls the first and second transmitters so they alternately transmit the electromagnetic energy into the earth formation and also provides a control signal. Processing apparatus responsive to the control signal from the control apparatus provides one output representative of the vertical resistance of the earth formation and a second output representative of the horizontal resistance of the earth formation in accordance with the signals from the four receivers.

Propagation anisotropic well logging system and method

A dielectric well logging system is provided to determine dielectric constant and resistivity in formations invaded by water to determine oil and water saturations of the formations. Plural transmitters are activated in a time division multiplex manner and sensed by receiver coils. The amplitude ratio and phase difference between the signals sensed by the receiver coils are then used to determine dielectric constant and resistivity which may then be used to determine invasion characteristics.

Dielectric well logging system with at least three transmitter coils and

The system and the method of the present invention for the in-situ retorting of a hydrocarbon stratum, having a borehole traversing it, with electrical energy at a radio frequency (hereinafter referred to as rf energy) includes apparatus for conducting the rf energy from an rf energy source down a borehole. The apparatus has an outer conductor and inner conductor. A first plurality of electrodes is inserted into the hydrocarbon stratum. A second plurality of electrodes spatially related to the first plurality of electrodes, is also inserted into a hydrocarbon stratum. A first conductive device makes contact between the outer conductor of the apparatus and the first plurality of electrodes. A second conductive device makes electrical contact between the inner conductor of the apparatus and the second plurality of electrodes so that when the rf source provides the rf energy, the rf energy is applied acorss that portion of the hydrocarbon stratum between the two pluralities of electrodes.

Hydrocarbon stratum retorting means and method

A method for measuring temperatures of a hydrocarbon stratum subjected to RF electromagnetic energy includes in one embodiment sensing the temperature at different positions within an inner conductor of an applicator used to radiate the RF electromagnetic energy into the hydrocarbon stratum. In another embodiment, the temperature measurements are made from a borehole which is utilized to obtain hydrocarbon fluids resulting from the retorting of the hydrocarbon stratum in which the sensing is done in different positions within the producing borehole and in the vicinity of the hydrocarbon stratum. Electrical signals representative of the sensed temperatures are provided. The electrical signals are conducted from the sensing positions to the surface of the earth. An RF voltage which combines with the electrical signals is decoupled from the electrical signals. An indication of the temperatures is provided in accordance with the decoupled electrical signals.

Method for measuring temperature of a hydrocarbon stratum subjected to

A method which protects an RF applicator during the in-situ RF retorting of a hydrocarbon stratum from a borehole which traverses the hydrocarbon stratum including lining that portion of the borehole traversing the hydrocarbon stratum with a non-conductive high temperature material.

Method of protecting an RF applicator

A method of heating an oil shale formation to produce shale oil includes radiating RF energy into the oil shale formation for a predetermined first time interval from a first borehole which penetrates said oil shale formation. Shale oil is produced when available during said first time interval from a second borehole penetrating said oil shale formation which is a predetermined distance from the first borehole. During a predetermined second time interval, RF energy is again radiated into the oil shale formation from the second borehole while shale oil is produced from the first borehole during the second time interval.

Method of heating an oil shale formation

A system for emitting electromagnetic energy at a radio frequency into a hydrocarbon stratum of earth formation traversed by borehole includes a source having impedance matching capability, which provides electromagnetic energy at a radio frequency, and an applicator which is used to emit the RF energy into the hydrocarbon stratum. The applicator includes an outer conductor and an inner conductor that is substantially longer than the outer conductor. The outer conductor is arranged with the inner conductor in a manner so that a portion of the inner conductor is located within the outer conductor and the portion of the inner conductor not located within the outer conductor is used for emitting the RF energy when the applicator is energized by the source. An end piece affixed to the inner conductor holds a plurality of insulators in place. The insulators are of a type that should they come into contact with the inner conductor substantially no phase shift of the RF energy occurs.

System for providing RF energy into a hydrocarbon stratum

A torque meter for measuring the torque of a rotating shaft includes at least two sensing devices providing pulses corresponding to the rotation of the shaft. A pulse source provides clock pulses. A circuit receiving th pulses from the sensors and the clock pulses provides groups of clock pulses wherein the number of pulses in each group corresponds to the torque of the shaft.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Kerry D Savage