Heavy oil recovery using SF6 and RF heating

US8960286B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• ConocoPhillips Company · US
• HARRIS CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Dwijen K. Banerjee · Owasso, US
• Tawfik N. Nasr · Katy, US
• Wayne R. Dreher · College Station, US
• Francis Eugene Parsche · Palm Bay, US
• Mark A. Trautman · Melbourne, US
• Victor Hernandez · Merritt Island, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 15, 2011
• Grant date: Feb 24, 2015
• Expiry date: Nov 30, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C10G2400/16
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method of producing heavy oil by first injecting water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules into a region. The method then introduces electromagnetic waves such as microwaves and/or radio frequencies into the region at a frequency sufficient to excite the water and the sulfur hexafluoride molecules and increase the temperature of at least a portion of the water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules within the region to produce heated water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules. At least a portion of the heavy oil is heated in the region by contact with the heated water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules to produce heated heavy oil. The heated heavy oil is then produced.