Harris Corporation

Myat, Inc.

Stephen J Kolvek

Arthur H White

Ryan Whitney

Keith Nugent

Brian N Wright

Raymond C Hewit

Ronald E Jackson

Richard I Harless

Ronald Edward Jackson, Jr

Donald Aves

Nathan S Denver

Brian P Smith

Ronald Jackson

Ryan N Whitney

Arthur White

An apparatus for hydrocarbon resource recovery from a subterranean formation includes a radio frequency (RF) source, an RF antenna to be positioned within the subterranean formation to deliver RF power to the hydrocarbon resource within the subterranean formation, and an RF transmission line extending between the RF source and the RF antenna. The RF transmission line may include RF transmission line sections coupled together in end-to-end relation. Each section may include an inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor, and an outer load-carrying tubular member surrounding the outer conductor. A respective coupling assembly joins ends of adjacent sections together. Each coupling assembly may include an electrical coupler being fixedly connected to first ends of corresponding inner and outer conductors and being slidably connected to opposing second ends of adjacent inner and outer conductors, and a mechanical coupler connecting ends of adjacent load-bearing tubular members together.

Hydrocarbon resource recovery apparatus including RF transmission line and associated methods

A radio frequency (RF) and fluid coupler is for a subterranean assembly. The assembly may have a fluid passageway therein, and may include an RF antenna and a coaxial transmission line connected thereto. The coupler may include an electrically conductive hollow body that includes electrically conductive segments connected together in end-to-end relation at respective joints to provide an outer electrical pathway to connect to the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line. An elongate conductive member may extend within the electrically conductive hollow body to provide an inner electrical pathway to connect to the inner conductor of the coaxial transmission line. A respective dielectric pressure barrier may be between the elongate conductive member and adjacent portions of the electrically conductive hollow body adjacent each of a pair of joints to define a fluid chamber to connect to the fluid passageway. A fluid port may be connected to the fluid chamber.

Radio frequency and fluid coupler for a subterranean assembly and related methods

A system for separating a hydrocarbon/water emulsion may include a radio frequency (RF) power source, an RF load, and a coaxial RF emulsion separator. The coaxial RF emulsion separator may include a coaxial input section coupled to the RF power source, a coaxial output section, and a coaxial separator section coupled in series between the coaxial input and output sections. The coaxial separator section may include an inner separator section conductor and an outer separator section conductor surrounding the inner separator section conductor and defining a separating chamber therebetween. The coaxial separator section may have at least one inlet port to introduce the hydrocarbon/water emulsion to the separating chamber and at least one outlet port to remove separated water and hydrocarbon from the separating chamber after exposure to RF power.

Hydrocarbon emulsion separator system and related methods

A high power Gysel multinode power network for an RF signal, having a plurality of RF ports, a plurality of RF isolation loads, each load being connected through a coaxial transmission line to a respective RF port, a combined port, comprising a first hub having a plurality of first radiating arms, each radiating arm comprising a coaxial transmission line extending to one of said RF ports, a node, comprising a second hub having a plurality of second radiating arms, each radiating arm comprising a coaxial transmission line extending to one of said RF isolation loads; and a common heat sink for dissipating heat from said plurality of RF isolation loads. The network is formed such that a normalized phase difference of the RF signal at a design frequency through said coaxial transmission line between each of said RF ports and said combined port is approximately equal to zero with respect to a portion of the RF signal traveling through said transmission line between each of said RF ports and a respective RF isolation load, through said transmission line between each of said RF isolation loads and said node, and through all other paths between said node and said combined port.

N-way RF power combiner/divider

Growing community of inventors

Ridgewood, NJ, United States of America

Stephen J Kolvek