Downhole induction heater and coupling system for oil and gas wells

US10125589B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System · US

Inventors

• Raymond C. Zowarka · Austin, US
• Mukul Sharma · San Jose, US
• Michael D. Werst · Manor, US
• Clay Hearn · Austin, US
• Michael Worthington · Hughesville, US
• Jon Hahne · Austin, US
• Hsing-Pang Liu · Austin, US
• Bryan Bunkowski · Austin, US
• Siddharth Pratap · Orange, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 26, 2017
• Grant date: Nov 13, 2018
• Expiry date: May 27, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16L53/34
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Described herein are methods and system that use electromagnetic heating to heat wellbores and the fluids therein. The heating is achieved by placing one or more permanent magnets in the wellbore and moving a metallic component and/or the one or more permanent magnets relative to each other. This generates eddy currents in the metallic component, which heat the metallic component. This heat is transferred to the fluids in the wellbore from the metallic component by convection. In some embodiments, permanent magnets are installed in the tubing to induce eddy current heating in a well by converting the linear motion of a sucker rod to rotary motion of a conducting tube using a lead or ball screw. The heater may directly integrate with existing pump jack equipment with little or no additional infrastructure required.