Abstract: A hydrocarbon resource processing device may include a radio frequency (RF) source and an RF applicator coupled to the RF source. The RF applicator may include a base member being electrically conductive, and first and second elongate members being electrically conductive and having proximal ends coupled to the base member and extending outwardly therefrom in a generally parallel spaced apart relation. The first and second elongate members may have distal ends configured to receive the hydrocarbon resource therebetween. In another embodiment, the RF applicator may include an enclosure being electrically conductive and having a passageway therethrough to accommodate a flow of the hydrocarbon resource and a divider being electrically conductive and positioned within the enclosure.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a wireless circuit, and a coaxial cable device having an S-shaped balun segment coupled to the wireless circuit, and an antenna segment coupled to the S-shaped balun segment. The S-shaped balun segment may include a first inner conductor segment, and a first outer conductor segment surrounding the first inner conductor segment. The antenna segment may include a second inner conductor segment coupled to the first inner conductor segment, and a second outer conductor segment surrounding the second inner conductor segment and coupled to the first outer conductor segment, the second inner conductor segment extending from the second outer conductor segment.

Abstract: A device for heating hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation having a wellbore therein may include an RF antenna configured to be positioned within the wellbore to heat the hydrocarbon resources in the subterranean formation. The device may further include a radio frequency (RF) source, and an RF transmission line coupling the RF antenna and the RF source. The RF transmission line may include ferromagnetic material. A magnetic source may be magnetically coupled to the RF transmission line and configured to magnetically saturate the ferromagnetic material.

Abstract: A system for heating hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation having a wellbore therein includes a coaxial transmission line, a balun, and a radio frequency (RF) antenna coupled together in series and configured to be positioned in the wellbore so that the RF antenna heats the hydrocarbon resources in the subterranean formation. The coaxial transmission line includes an inner conductor and an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor. The balun includes an outer conductive sleeve having a proximal end coupled to the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line and a medial portion coupled to the inner conductor of the coaxial transmission line. An inner tubular conductor extends longitudinally within the outer conductive sleeve between the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line and the RF antenna. The balun also includes a ferrite body surrounding the inner tubular conductor at the proximal end.

Abstract: A system for heating a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation having a wellbore extending therein, the system including a radio frequency (RF) source, an RF antenna configured to be positioned within the wellbore, a transmission line coupling the RF source and the RF antenna, and a compound current choke surrounding the transmission line. The compound current choke includes a plurality of spaced apart, overlapping, electrically conductive sleeves. Each of the plurality of spaced apart, overlapping, electrically conductive sleeves may have a first open end and a second closed end coupled to the transmission line.

Abstract: A device for recovering hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation may include a radio frequency (RF) source, a ferrofluid source, and an RF applicator coupled to the RF source and configured to supply RF power to the hydrocarbon resources. The RF applicator may include concentric tubular conductors defining ferrofluid passageways therebetween coupled to the ferrofluid source.

Abstract: A system for heating hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation having a wellbore therein includes a coaxial transmission line, a balun, and a radio frequency (RF) antenna coupled together in series and configured to be positioned in the wellbore so that the RF antenna heats the hydrocarbon resources in the subterranean formation. The coaxial transmission line includes an inner conductor and an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor. The balun includes an outer conductive sleeve having a proximal end coupled to the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line and a medial portion coupled to the inner conductor of the coaxial transmission line. The balun also includes an inner tubular conductor extending longitudinally within the outer conductive sleeve between the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line and the RF antenna.

Abstract: An aspect of at least one embodiment of the present invention is a device for cracking heavy hydrocarbons. A linear applicator is positioned within heavy oil containing aromatic molecules. A radio frequency electrical current source is electrically connected to the applicator at a first connection point and a second connection point to create a closed electrical loop. The radio frequency source is configured to apply a signal to the applicator that is sufficient to create a magnetic field and an electric field relative to the axis of the linear applicator. The device also includes a chamber positioned around the applicator generally between the first connection point and the second connection point to concentrate the magnetic field within a region surrounding the applicator and containing the heavy hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon resource processing device may include a radio frequency (RF) source and an RF applicator coupled to the RF source. The RF applicator may include a base member being electrically conductive, and first and second elongate members being electrically conductive and having proximal ends coupled to the base member and extending outwardly therefrom in a generally parallel spaced apart relation. The first and second elongate members may have distal ends configured to receive the hydrocarbon resource therebetween. In another embodiment, the RF applicator may include an enclosure being electrically conductive and having a passageway therethrough to accommodate a flow of the hydrocarbon resource and a divider being electrically conductive and positioned within the enclosure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are directed to heating materials by application of radio frequency (“RF”) energy. The materials to be heated may include petroleum ore, such as bitumen, oil sands, oil shale, tar sands, or heavy oil. Petroleum ore is mixed with a substance that includes mini-dipole susceptors such as carbon strands. A source is provided which applies RF energy to the mixture of a power and frequency sufficient to heat the mini-dipole susceptors. The RF energy is applied for a sufficient time to allow the mini-dipole susceptors to heat the mixture to an average temperature greater than about 212° F. (100° C.). Optionally, the mini-dipole susceptors can be removed after the desired average temperature has been achieved. The susceptors may provide advantages for the RF heating of hydrocarbons, such as higher temperatures (sufficient for distillation or pyrolysis), anhydrous processing, and greater speed or efficiency.

Abstract: A radio frequency applicator and method for heating a geological formation is disclosed. A radio frequency source configured to apply a differential mode signal is connected to a coaxial conductor including an outer conductor pipe and an inner conductor. The inner conductor is coupled to a second conductor pipe through one or more metal jumpers. One or more current chokes, such as a common mode choke or antenna balun, are installed around the outer conductor pipe and the second conductor pipe to concentrate electromagnetic radiation within a hydrocarbon formation. The outer conductor pipe and the second conductor pipe can be traditional well pipes for extracting hydrocarbons, such as a steam pipe and an extraction pipe of a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) system. An apparatus and method for installing a current choke are also disclosed.

Abstract: Equipment and a process for separating bitumen from oil sand in a process stream are described. The equipment includes several processing vessels and one or more local area radio frequency applicators to selectively heat the process stream in local areas of the equipment. The local area can be adjacent to an input or output of a component of the equipment. Also described is equipment for processing an oil sand—water slurry, including a slurrying vessel, a slurry pipe, and a local area radio frequency applicator. The local area radio frequency applicator is located outside of the slurry pipe, and heats the local area without significantly heating the contents of the slurrying vessel or of the downstream portion of the slurry pipe.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon resource recovery system is provided for a subterranean formation having an injector wellbore and a producer wellbore therein. The hydrocarbon resource recovery system includes a tubular producer positioned in the producer wellbore and a tubular injector positioned in the injector wellbore. A steam source is coupled to a proximal end of the tubular injector, and a radio frequency (RF) energy source is coupled to the proximal end of tubular injector. The tubular injector has spaced apart steam injector slots sized to allow steam to pass into the subterranean formation, while containing RF energy within the tubular injector to heat the steam.

Abstract: An apparatus is for heating hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation having a wellbore therein. The apparatus includes an RF source, and a magnetic field radiator including a ferromagnetic body having an aboveground portion and a belowground portion coupled thereto. The magnetic field radiator includes a conductive wire coil surrounding the aboveground portion and coupled to the RF source so that an RF current through the conductive wire coil magnetizes the ferromagnetic body and generates a magnetic field from the belowground portion to heat the hydrocarbon resources.

Abstract: A device for heating a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation having at least one pair of laterally extending upper and lower wellbores therein may include a radio frequency (RF) source. The device may also include an upper wellbore RF radiator to be positioned in the laterally extending upper wellbore and including a plurality of first terminals. The device may further include a lower wellbore RF radiator to be positioned in the laterally extending lower wellbore and comprising a plurality of second terminals. The device may also include an interconnection arrangement configured to couple the RF source and the first and second terminals so that at least one of the upper and lower wellbore RF radiators heat the hydrocarbon resource in the subterranean formation.

Abstract: The apparatus includes an RF antenna assembly to be positioned within a wellbore and coupled to an RF source. The RF antenna assembly includes a first tubular dipole element having opposing proximal and distal ends, an RF transmission line extending through the proximal end of the first tubular dipole element and including an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and a dielectric therebetween. The inner conductor extends outwardly beyond the distal end of the first tubular dipole element. The outer conductor is coupled to the distal end of the first tubular dipole element. The RF antenna assembly includes a second tubular dipole element having opposing proximal and distal ends, with the proximal end being adjacent the distal end of the first tubular dipole element and being coupled to the inner conductor, and a tubular balun.

Abstract: A system and method for heating a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation having a wellbore extending therein, include the use of a radio frequency (RF) source, an RF antenna to be positioned within the wellbore and a transmission line coupling the RF source and the RF antenna. A tunable choke is positioned on the transmission line between the RF source and RF antenna, and a controller is coupled to the tunable choke. The controller may be configured to tune the tunable choke to reduce a common mode current from propagating on an outside of the transmission line toward the RF source.

Abstract: A device for heating a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation having at least one pair of laterally extending upper and lower wellbores therein may include a radio frequency (RF) source. The device may also include an upper wellbore RF radiator to be positioned in the laterally extending upper wellbore and including a plurality of first terminals. The device may further include a lower wellbore RF radiator to be positioned in the laterally extending lower wellbore and comprising a plurality of second terminals. The device may also include an interconnection arrangement configured to couple the RF source and the first and second terminals so that at least one of the upper and lower wellbore RF radiators heat the hydrocarbon resource in the subterranean formation.

Abstract: A method for heating materials by application of radio frequency (“RF”) energy is disclosed. For example, the disclosure concerns a method for RF heating of petroleum ore, such as bitumen, oil sands, oil shale, tar sands, or heavy oil. Petroleum ore is mixed with a substance comprising susceptor particles that absorb RF energy. A source is provided which applies RF energy to the mixture of a power and frequency sufficient to heat the susceptor particles. The RF energy is applied for a sufficient time to allow the susceptor particles to heat the mixture to an average temperature greater than about 212° F. (100° C.). Optionally, the susceptor particles can be removed from the mixture after the desired average temperature has been achieved. The susceptor particles may provide for anhydrous processing, and temperatures sufficient for cracking, distillation, or pyrolysis.

Abstract: The patch antenna includes an electrically conductive patch carried by a dielectric substrate and having a planar shape and a feed point defined therein. A feed conductor is coupled to the feed point of the electrically conductive patch, and a plurality of electrically conductive wings extend upwardly from a periphery of the electrically conductive patch. A method aspect may include adjusting at least one property (e.g. frequency) of the antenna by angling at least one of the plurality of electrically conductive wings outwardly from the electrically conductive patch.