Abstract: The method begins by forming a gravity drainage production well pair within a formation comprising an injection well and a production well. The pre-soaking stage begins by soaking at least one of the wellbores of the well pair with a solvent, wherein the solvent does not include water. The pre-heating stage begins by heating the soaked wellbore of the well pair to produce a vapor. The squeezing stage begins by introducing the vapor into the soaked wellbore of the well pair, and can thus overlap with the pre-heating stage. The gravity drainage production begins after the squeezing stage, once the wells are in thermal communication and the heavy oil can drain to the lower well.

Abstract: A device for processing hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation having a laterally extending wellbore therein may include a radio frequency (RF) antenna configured to be positioned within the laterally extending wellbore, and at least one feedback conductor configured to be positioned along the laterally extending wellbore. The device may also include an RF circuit configured to supply RF power to the hydrocarbon resources via the RF antenna. The RF circuit may be configured to supply the RF power at a frequency tracking a resonant frequency of the RF antenna and the RF circuit and based upon the at least one feedback conductor.

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.

Abstract: A method of processing a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation including a laterally extending injector well, a laterally extending producer well below the laterally extending injector well, and water within the subterranean formation, may include injecting a water changing agent into the laterally extending injector well to change the water in the subterranean formation adjacent the injector well to absorb less RF power. The method may also include applying RF power to an RF radiator within the injector well after injection of the water changing agent, and recovering hydrocarbon resources from the laterally extending producer well. In another embodiment, the method may include injecting a water driving agent into the laterally extending injector well.

Abstract: A method is described for accelerating start-up for SAGD-type operation by providing radio frequency heating devices inside the lateral wells that can re-heat the injected steam after losing heat energy during the initial injection. The method also extends the lateral wells such that the drilling of vertical wells can be reduced to save capital expenses.

Abstract: A dipole antenna assembly may include a first tubular dipole element and a coaxial antenna feed extending through a proximal end of the first tubular dipole element. The coaxial antenna feed may have an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and a dielectric therebetween. The inner conductor may extend outwardly beyond a distal end of the first tubular dipole element. The outer conductor may be coupled to the distal end of the first tubular dipole element. The dipole antenna assembly may further include a second tubular dipole element with a proximal end being adjacent the distal end of the first tubular dipole element, and being coupled to the inner conductor. The second tubular dipole element may include first and second tubular segments and an electrical conductor extending through the first and second tubular sections and being coupled thereto at both the proximal and distal ends.

Abstract: A subterranean mapping system may include a pair of spaced electrically conductive well pipes in a subterranean formation containing a hydrocarbon resource. The pair of electrically conductive well pipes may include a fluid inlet pipe and a fluid outlet pipe. The subterranean mapping system may further include a radiofrequency (RF) source coupled to the pair of electrically conductive well pipes to generate an electromagnetic (EM) field in the subterranean formation. The subterranean mapping system may further include a subterranean mapping device configured to be carried along with a fluid flow along a path of travel from the fluid inlet pipe to the fluid outlet pipe and while sensing the EM field versus time.

Abstract: A subterranean mapping system may include at least one electrically conductive element associated with a subterranean formation having a passageway therein. The subterranean mapping system may also include a radiofrequency (RF) source coupled to the at least one electrically conductive element to generate an electromagnetic (EM) field in the subterranean formation. The subterranean mapping system may also include a subterranean mapping device configured to be carried along a path of travel within the passageway and while sensing the EM field versus time.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon resource recovery system for a laterally extending wellbore in a subterranean formation may include a radio frequency (RF) source and an electrically conductive well pipe extending within the laterally extending wellbore. The hydrocarbon resource recovery system may further include an RF transmission line coupled to the RF source and extending alongside in parallel with an exterior of the electrically conductive well pipe within the laterally extending wellbore. The RF transmission line may be coupled to the electrically conductive well pipe to define an RF antenna for heating the hydrocarbon resources within the subterranean formation.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon resource recovery system for a wellbore in a subterranean formation. The hydrocarbon resource recovery system may include a radio frequency (RF) source, and an antenna configured to be positioned within the wellbore and coupled to the RF source. The antenna may be coupled to the RF source and configured to generate a higher electric field strength region in the subterranean formation having a higher electric field strength and a lower magnetic field strength, and generate a higher magnetic field strength region in the subterranean formation having a higher magnetic field strength and a lower electric field strength. The antenna may have a tubular shape with a plurality of openings therein defining a hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher electric field strength region that is different than a hydrocarbon resource recovery capacity adjacent the higher magnetic field strength region.

Abstract: A device for heating hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation having a wellbore therein may include a radio frequency (RF) antenna positioned within the wellbore. The RF antenna may include a superconductive material. The device may include an RF source configured to supply RF power to the RF antenna to heat the hydrocarbon resources.

Abstract: A device for processing hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation having a laterally extending wellbore therein may include a radio frequency (RF) antenna configured to be positioned within the laterally extending wellbore, and at least one feedback conductor configured to be positioned along the laterally extending wellbore. The device may also include an RF circuit configured to supply RF power to the hydrocarbon resources via the RF antenna. The RF circuit may be configured to supply the RF power at a frequency tracking a resonant frequency of the RF antenna and the RF circuit and based upon the at least one feedback conductor.

Abstract: A method of processing a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation including a laterally extending injector well, a laterally extending producer well below the laterally extending injector well, and water within the subterranean formation, may include injecting a water changing agent into the laterally extending injector well to change the water in the subterranean formation adjacent the injector well to absorb less RF power. The method may also include applying RF power to an RF radiator within the injector well after injection of the water changing agent, and recovering hydrocarbon resources from the laterally extending producer well. In another embodiment, the method may include injecting a water driving agent into the laterally extending injector well.

Abstract: A method of producing heavy oil from a heavy oil formation with steam assisted gravity drainage. The method begins by drilling a borehole into a heavy oil formation comprising a steam barrier between a first pay zone and a second pay zone, wherein the steam barrier prevents a steam chamber to be formed between the first pay zone and the second pay zone. The steam barrier is then heated with a radio frequency. The steam barrier is then fractured to permit a steam chamber to be formed within the first pay zone and the second pay zone. Heavy oil is then produced from the heavy oil formation with steam assisted gravity drainage.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Production of heavy oil and bitumen from a reservoir is enhanced by cyclic radio frequency (RF) radiation of the well. The invention utilizes RF radiation to introduce energy to the hydrocarbon reservoir in cycles in order to heat the reservoir directly, yet conserves energy over the prior art processes that more or less continuously apply RF or microwave energy. The advantage of cyclic RF is it uses less electricity, and thus lowers operating costs. This is achieved by the soak cycle that allows heat to conduct into the formation and assists the heat penetration that is directly radiated into the formation by the antenna. The invention can also be advantageously combined with cyclic steam stimulation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for enhancing in situ upgrading of hydrocarbon by implementing an array of radio frequency antennas that can uniformly heat the hydrocarbons within a producer well pipe, so that the optimal temperatures for different hydroprocessing reactions can be achieved.

Abstract: The method begins by forming a gravity drainage production well pair within a formation comprising an injection well and a production well. The pre-soaking stage begins by soaking at least one of the wellbores of the well pair with a solvent, wherein the solvent does not include water. The pre-heating stage begins by heating the soaked wellbore of the well pair to produce a vapor. The squeezing stage begins by introducing the vapor into the soaked wellbore of the well pair, and can thus overlap with the pre-heating stage. The gravity drainage production begins after the squeezing stage, once the wells are in thermal communication and the heavy oil can drain to the lower well.

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.

Abstract: 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.