Electromagnetic Heating Control for Hydrocarbon Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In-situ hydrocarbon extraction from bituminous ore, oil sands, tar sands, and heavy oil deposits is hindered by the high viscosity of these materials, making it difficult to sense real-time conditions and ensuring effective heating and fluid flow, leading to inefficiencies and wasted time and energy due to uncertainties in steam diffusion and permeability.
Innovation Solution
A control system incorporating an electromagnetic heating system and a processor that correlates temperature and pressure data with water phase characteristics to maintain all water in a liquid state, optimizing the heating process and providing real-time spatial maps of underground deposits for efficient hydrocarbon extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If steam is used to heat the underground deposit, then hydrocarbons can be separated from geological materials, but it is difficult to sense real-time conditions and control the heating process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where temperature and pressure sensors continuously monitor conditions in the underground deposit, and this data is fed back to a processor that adjusts electromagnetic heating system parameters in real-time to optimize hydrocarbon extraction while preventing steam loss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical steam injection systems with an electromagnetic heating system that can be more precisely controlled and monitored, allowing for better real-time management of the heating process and reduced information loss about deposit conditions
2Productivity
If steam is injected to heat the deposit, then hydrocarbons can be extracted, but valuable time and heat energy are wasted when low formation permeability prevents steam diffusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the heating process by using electromagnetic radiation to directly heat hydrocarbon molecules, bypassing the need for steam diffusion through formation permeability constraints, thereby eliminating energy waste and improving extraction efficiency
3Productivity
If steam is injected to heat the deposit, then hydrocarbons can be extracted, but steam and heat move away from the targeted zone through formation fractures or high permeability materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical steam injection with electromagnetic heating that directly targets hydrocarbon molecules regardless of formation fractures or permeability variations, preventing heat loss to unintended zones and improving extraction efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic heating system applies energy locally to specific zones containing hydrocarbons, creating non-uniform heating patterns that concentrate energy where needed rather than allowing heat to disperse through formation fractures or high permeability pathways
4Measurement precision
If traditional well logging is used to check subsurface conditions, then some formation properties can be measured, but only a static and partial picture is obtained without near real-time data
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously collects temperature and pressure data from sensors in the underground deposit and feeds this information back to a processor for real-time analysis, providing ongoing updates on formation conditions rather than static snapshots from traditional well logging
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system operates continuously during the extraction process, maintaining constant surveillance of subsurface conditions rather than performing intermittent measurements, thereby eliminating time loss and providing near real-time data for process optimization
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the efficiency of hydrocarbon extraction by ensuring optimal heating conditions, reducing energy waste, and providing real-time monitoring of underground conditions, thereby improving the extraction process from challenging deposits.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnetic heating system configured to heat the underground deposit to facilitate fluid flow of a resource for extraction from the underground deposit
Implementation Method 2
The processor correlates the temperature data and pressure data with predetermined water phase characteristics to control the electromagnetic heating system so that substantially all water in the underground deposit is maintained in a liquid state
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for use in extracting hydrocarbons from an underground deposit is disclosed that comprises an electromagnetic heating system and a processor. The electromagnetic heating system is configured to heat the underground deposit to facilitate fluid flow of a resource for extraction from the underground deposit. The processor is configured to control the electromagnetic heating system in response to temperature data and pressure data for the underground deposit. The processor correlates the temperature data and pressure data with predetermined water phase characteristics to control the electromagnetic heating system so that substantially all water in the underground deposit is maintained in a liquid state. The control system may also generate voxel data corresponding to spatial characteristics of the underground deposit. The spatial characteristics may be presented as a map on a display.