Abstract: Methods for providing wellbores for electromagnetic heating of a hydrocarbon formation positioned below a ground surface and apparatus thereof are provided. The apparatus includes two or more wellbore casings positioned within two or more wellbores. The two or more wellbores extend from a proximal end at the ground surface to a distal end at the underground hydrocarbon formation. Each of the two or more wellbore casings have a proximal portion and a distal portion. The two or more wellbores are in proximity to one another at a junction. The apparatus also includes a first electrical connection between the proximal portions of the two or more wellbore casings for grounding the two or more wellbore casings and a second electrical connection between the distal portions of the two or more wellbore casings. The second electrical connection is located at the junction and provides a short circuit that reduces current traveling on the two or more wellbore casings to the ground surface.

Abstract: Coaxial transmission lines and methods of providing thereof are disclosed. The coaxial transmission lines include an inner conductor extending between first and second ends along a longitudinal axis, an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor along the longitudinal axis, and at least one linear actuator coupled to the inner conductor at the first end for applying a tension force to the inner conductor. The second end of the inner conductor is fixed to an electromagnetic load. The methods involve providing an inner conductor having a longitudinal axis and extending from a first end to a second end; fixing the second end of the inner conductor to an electromagnetic load; providing an outer conductor that surrounds the inner conductor; coupling at least one linear actuator to the inner conductor at the first end; and actuating the at least one linear actuator to apply a tension force to the inner conductor.

Abstract: An apparatus for a coaxial transmission line is provided. The apparatus can include a dielectric member having an inner surface defining a bore along a longitudinal axis of an inner conductor of the coaxial transmission line; and a first conductive member mounted axially around the dielectric member and extending along the longitudinal axis. A cross-section of an outer surface of the first conductive member can define a first perimeter. A cross-section of an inner surface of the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line can define a second perimeter. The first perimeter can be smaller than the second perimeter and thereby provide clearance between a portion of the outer surface of the first conductive member and the inner surface of the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line when the apparatus is positioned in an annulus defined by the inner conductor and the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line.

Abstract: An apparatus for a coaxial transmission line is provided. The apparatus can include a dielectric member having an inner surface defining a bore along a longitudinal axis of an inner conductor of the coaxial transmission line; and a first conductive member mounted axially around the dielectric member and extending along the longitudinal axis. A cross-section of an outer surface of the first conductive member can define a first perimeter. A cross-section of an inner surface of the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line can define a second perimeter. The first perimeter can be smaller than the second perimeter and thereby provide clearance between a portion of the outer surface of the first conductive member and the inner surface of the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line when the apparatus is positioned in an annulus defined by the inner conductor and the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line.

Abstract: An apparatus for a coaxial transmission line is provided. The apparatus can include a first and a second section of a conductor of the coaxial transmission line and a connector for connecting the first and the second sections in end-to-end relation. Each of the first and the second sections of the conductor have an exterior lateral surface and an interior lateral surface. For inner conductors, the connector is connected to the interior lateral surfaces of the first and second sections of the conductor. For outer conductors, the connector is connected to the exterior lateral surfaces of the first and second sections of the conductor. The connector allows the inner and outer diameters of the annulus between the inner and outer conductors line to be substantially uniform along the length of the coaxial transmission line.

Abstract: An apparatus for a coaxial transmission line is provided. The apparatus can include a first and a second section of a conductor of the coaxial transmission line and a connector for connecting the first and the second sections in end-to-end relation. Each of the first and the second sections of the conductor have an exterior lateral surface and an interior lateral surface. For inner conductors, the connector is connected to the interior lateral surfaces of the first and second sections of the conductor. For outer conductors, the connector is connected to the exterior lateral surfaces of the first and second sections of the conductor. The connector allows the inner and outer diameters of the annulus between the inner and outer conductors line to be substantially uniform along the length of the coaxial transmission line.

Abstract: An apparatus for a coaxial transmission line is provided. The apparatus can include a first and a second section of a conductor of the coaxial transmission line and a connector for connecting the first and the second sections in end-to-end relation. Each of the first and the second sections of the conductor have an exterior lateral surface and an interior lateral surface. For inner conductors, the connector is connected to the interior lateral surfaces of the first and second sections of the conductor. For outer conductors, the connector is connected to the exterior lateral surfaces of the first and second sections of the conductor. The connector allows the inner and outer diameters of the annulus between the inner and outer conductors line to be substantially uniform along the length of the coaxial transmission line.

Abstract: An apparatus for a coaxial transmission line is provided. The apparatus can include a dielectric member having an inner surface defining a bore along a longitudinal axis of an inner conductor of the coaxial transmission line; and a first conductive member mounted axially around the dielectric member and extending along the longitudinal axis. A cross-section of an outer surface of the first conductive member can define a first perimeter. A cross-section of an inner surface of the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line can define a second perimeter. The first perimeter can be smaller than the second perimeter and thereby provide clearance between a portion of the outer surface of the first conductive member and the inner surface of the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line when the apparatus is positioned in an annulus defined by the inner conductor and the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line.

Abstract: A method for initiating steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) mobilization and recovery of hydrocarbons in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation includes initially forming a circulation path by connecting SAGD injection well and a circulation well. The circulation well can be a SAGD production well or a separate well completed adjacent a toe of the injection well. Initially, a thermal carrier such as steam or flue gases, is circulated, forming a thermal chamber about the injection well. One initial start-up is complete, the circulation path is decoupled for further propagating the thermal chamber and establishing steady-state SAGD operations.

Abstract: A burner is arranged for access to a cavity in a target zone of a hydrocarbon reservoir. The burner is operated into the cavity to create and sustain hot combustion gases at a steady state for flowing into and permeating through the target zone. Water is injected into the target zone and permeates laterally therein. The hot combustion gases and the water in the target zone interact to form a steam drive front in the hydrocarbon reservoir.

Abstract: A burner is arranged for access to a cavity in a target zone of a hydrocarbon reservoir. The burner is operated into the cavity to create and sustain hot combustion gases at a steady state for flowing into and permeating through the target zone. Water is injected into the target zone and permeates laterally therein. The hot combustion gases and the water in the target zone interact to form a steam drive front in the hydrocarbon reservoir.

Abstract: High permeability channels or wormholes found in hydrocarbon reservoirs having hydrocarbon-bearing formations can be remediated by heating the formation with dry, hot flue gases, injecting produced water into the formation through an injection well, and forming steam within the formation and spaced away from the injection well. The steam can be created at a steam generation interface occurring between a dry, hot gaseous drive front and an injected water front. Managing a quality of the steam formed along the steam generation interface, by increasing the combustion gas flow rate or decreasing the rate of water injection, allows for the initiation of precipitation and controlled deposition of solids dissolved in the produced water.

Abstract: Bearing assemblies and bearing packages, incorporating said bearing assemblies, utilize opposing polycrystalline diamond compact bearing surfaces which can be immersed in a process fluid such as a wellbore fluid. The bearing assemblies are mounted to support the shaft for both axial and radial loading of the shaft. A static bearing surface is mounted in a static bearing housing. A rotating bearing surface, which opposes the static bearing surface, is mounted in a rotating bearing housing which supports the rotating shaft and co-rotates with the shaft. The rotating bearing surface opposes the static bearing surface and is rotatably supported thereon.

Abstract: A self-aligning bearing assembly utilizing PDC buttons for forming opposing circumferential arrays of bearing surfaces, is particularly suitable for use in a fluid environment, such as being immersed in flowing water when supporting the rotor of a hydroelectric turbine. One bearing surface is supported for rotation with the rotor. The opposing bearing surface is supported by a spherical joint in a stationary housing. When the rotor is subjected to hydraulic loading, the opposing bearing surface can be tilted to self-align with the rotor axis.

Abstract: A burner with a casing seal is used to create a combustion cavity at a temperature sufficient to reservoir sand. The burner creates and sustains hot combustion gases at a steady state for flowing into and permeating through a target zone. The casing seal isolates the combustion cavity from the cased wellbore and forms a sealed casing annulus between the cased wellbore and the burner. Water is injected into the target zone, above the combustion cavity, through the sealed casing annulus. The injected water permeates laterally and cools the reservoir adjacent the wellbore, and the wellbore from the heat of the hot combustion gases. The hot combustion gases and the water in the reservoir interact to form a drive front in a hydrocarbon reservoir.

Abstract: A tubing drain valve in a production tubing string, positioned above a pump, is operated to open drain ports in the housing for draining produced fluids from the production tubing when the pump is shut off. The drain valve incorporates a check valve assembly which is freely moveable within the drain valve to shift a sleeve to open and close the drain ports. An uphole end of the check valve assembly is above the sleeve and seals to the top of a sleeve to shift the sleeve downhole and open the drain ports. A downhole end of the check valve is positioned below the sleeve in the valve. When the pump is turned on, the downhole end of the check valve assembly moves uphole to seal to the sleeve, creating a positive force to lift the sleeve to block the drain ports. The produced fluids flow through the valve and the production tubing to surface.

Abstract: High permeability channels or wormholes found in hydrocarbon reservoirs having hydrocarbon-bearing formations can be remediated by heating the formation with dry, hot flue gases, injecting produced water into the formation through an injection well, and forming steam within the formation and spaced away from the injection well. The steam can be created at a steam generation interface occurring between a dry, hot gaseous drive front and an injected water front. Managing a quality of the steam formed along the steam generation interface, by increasing the combustion gas flow rate or decreasing the rate of water injection, allows for the initiation of precipitation and controlled deposition of solids dissolved in the produced water.

Abstract: Bearing assemblies and bearing packages, incorporating said bearing assemblies, utilize opposing polycrystalline diamond compact bearing surfaces which can be immersed in a process fluid such as a wellbore fluid. The bearing assemblies are mounted to support the shaft for both axial and radial loading of the shaft. A static bearing surface is mounted in a static bearing housing. A rotating bearing surface, which opposes the static bearing surface, is mounted in a rotating bearing housing which supports the rotating shaft and co-rotates with the shaft. The rotating bearing surface opposes the static bearing surface and is rotatably supported thereon.

Abstract: A method is provided for applying a thermal process to a lower zone underlying an overlying hydrocarbon zone with thermal energy from the thermal process mobilizing oil in the overlying zone. The lower zone itself could be a hydrocarbon zone undergoing thermal EOR. Further, one can economically apply a thermal EOR process to an oil formation of low mobility and having an underlying zone such as a basal water zone. Introduction gas and steam, the gas having a higher density than the steam, into the underlying zone displaces the basal water and creates an insulating layer of gas between the steam and the basal water maximizing heat transfer upwardly and mobilizing viscous oil greatly reducing the heat loss to the basal water, economically enhancing production from thin oil bearing zones with underlying basal water which are not otherwise economic by other known EOR processes.

Abstract: An axial flux switched reluctance motor utilizes one or more rotor discs spaced along a rotor shaft, each rotor disc having a plurality of rotor poles spaced along the periphery thereof. Stator elements are distributed circumferentially about the rotor discs and form pairs of radially extending stator poles for axially straddling the rotor discs. Stator coils as switched on to energize pairs of stator poles for forming an axial and radially inward flux path for rotating the rotor poles for minimizing the flux path before switching off the stator coil. Two or more rotor discs can be rotationally indexed for providing two or more motor phases. In manufacture, rotor discs and circumferentially extending stator coils about the periphery of each rotor disc are fit to a stator housing. Each stator element is then fit radially through the stator housing and secured thereto for straddling the rotor discs.