Heater and method for recovering hydrocarbons from underground deposits
US9127541B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 2, 2009 |
| Grant date | Sep 8, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/243
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
Heaters are presented to aid in the recovery of hydrocarbon from underground deposits. A heater is provided to a well that has been drilled through an oil-shale deposit. A fuel and an oxidizer are provided to the heater and flue gases are recovered. The heater has a counterflow design and provides a nearly uniform temperature along the heater length. The heater may be designed to operate at different temperatures and depths to pyrolyze or otherwise heat underground hydrocarbon deposits to form a product that is easily recovered and which is useful without substantial further processing. Various counterflow heaters are described including heaters having, down the heater length, distributed reaction zones, distributed catalytic oxidation of the fuel, and discrete or continuous heat generation. The heaters may also utilize inert gases from product recovery or from heater flue gases to control the heater temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.