Abstract: Heavy hydro-carbonaceous materials such as bitumen are upgraded in supercritical water in a continuous-flow reactor system. The present invention provides a reactor arrangement for and a method of converting bitumen and other highly viscous hydrocarbon containing materials into pumpable liquids to enable further processing of such materials while avoiding production of char. The process can be carried out in an underground reactor based on oil well technology. The reactor design and method facilitates mass transfer to dissolve bitumen in heated water and breaks down heavy hydrocarbons by controlling the temperature and pressure in zones within the flowing stream. The reactor may include an embedded electric heater.

Abstract: A system emplaced in a subsurface formation configured to produce radio frequency (RF) fields for recovery of thermally responsive constituents includes coaxially disposed inner and outer conductors connected at an earth surface to an RF power source. The inner and outer conductors form a coaxial transmission line proximate said earth surface and a dipole antenna proximate said formation. The inner conductor protrudes from the outer conductor from a junction exposing a gap between the conductors to a deeper position within the formation. The RF power source is configured to deliver, via the conductors, RF fields to the formation. The system also includes at least one choke structure attached to said outer conductor at a distance at least ¼ wavelength above said junction. The choke structure is configured to confine a majority of said RF fields in a volume of said formation situated adjacent to said antenna.

Abstract: A system for heating at least a part of a subsurface hydro carbonaceous earth formation forms a borehole into or adjacent to the formation, places elongated coaxial inner and outer conductors into the borehole with the inner and outer conductors electrically connected to each other at a depth below the top of the formation, and connects an AC power source to at least the outer conductor to produce heat in at least one of the conductors. The AC output has a controlled frequency, and the outer conductor comprises a standard oil well component made of a ferromagnetic material that conducts current from the AC power source in only a surface region of the conductor due to the skin effect phenomenon. More heat is dissipated from portions of the conductor that is within the depth range of the formation than from other portions of the conductor.

Abstract: A system for heating at least a part of a subsurface hydro carbonaceous earth formation forms a borehole into or adjacent to the formation, places elongated coaxial inner and outer conductors into the borehole with the inner and outer conductors electrically connected to each other at a depth below the top of the formation, and connects an AC power source to at least the outer conductor to produce heat in at least one of the conductors. The AC output has a controlled frequency, and the outer conductor comprises a standard oil well component made of a ferromagnetic material that conducts current from the AC power source in only a surface region of the conductor due to the skin effect phenomenon. More heat is dissipated from portions of the conductor that is within the depth range of the formation than from other portions of the conductor.

Abstract: A system for heating at least a part of a subsurface hydro carbonaceous earth formation forms a borehole into or adjacent to the formation, places elongated coaxial inner and outer conductors into the borehole with the inner and outer conductors electrically connected to each other at a depth below the top of the formation, and connects an AC power source to at least the outer conductor to produce heat in at least one of the conductors. The AC output has a controlled frequency, and the outer conductor comprises a standard oil well component made of a ferromagnetic material that conducts current from the AC power source in only a surface region of the conductor due to the skin effect phenomenon. More heat is dissipated from portions of the conductor that is within the depth range of the formation than from other portions of the conductor.

Abstract: The vast North American oil shale and tar sand deposits offer the potential to make USA energy independent. However, if these deposits were produced by the existing combustion processes, substantial CO2 emissions would be injected in to air. To avoid this green house gas problem and yet produce liquid fuels, an electro-thermal energy storage system that may be wind-powered is described. It stores the unpredictable, intermittent (e.g., wind) electrical energy over long periods as thermal energy in fossil hydrocarbon deposits. Because the thermal diffusion time is very slow in such deposits, the thermal energy is effectively trapped in a defined section of a hydrocarbon deposit. This allows time for the thermal energy to convert hydrocarbons into gaseous and liquid fuels. It can also use a portion of the fuel to regenerate electrical power into the electrical grid of higher energy content than was initially stored.