公开(公告)号：US10047594B2

公开(公告)日：2018-08-14

申请号：US14373880

申请日：2012-01-23

申请人： Harold Vinegar ,  Scott Nguyen

发明人： Harold Vinegar ,  Scott Nguyen

IPC分类号： E21B43/24 ,  E21B43/243

摘要： Embodiments of the present invention relate to heater patterns and related methods of producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation (for example, an oil shale formation) where a heater cell may be divided into nested inner and outer zones. Production wells may be located within one or both zones. In the smaller inner zone, heaters may be arranged at a relatively high spatial density while in the larger surrounding outer zone, a heater spatial density may be significantly lower. Due to the higher heater density, a rate of temperature increase in the smaller inner zone of the subsurface exceeds that of the larger outer zone, and a rate of hydrocarbon fluid production ramps up faster in the inner zone than in the outer zone. In some embodiments, a ratio between a half-maximum sustained production time and a half-maximum rise time of a hydrocarbon fluid production function is relatively large.

公开(公告)号：US09605524B2

公开(公告)日：2017-03-28

申请号：US14373884

申请日：2012-10-24

申请人： Harold Vinegar ,  Scott Nguyen

发明人： Harold Vinegar ,  Scott Nguyen

IPC分类号： E21B43/30 ,  E21B36/04 ,  E21B43/243 ,  E21B43/24

CPC分类号： E21B43/243 ,  E21B36/04 ,  E21B43/2401 ,  E21B43/30

摘要： Embodiments of the present invention relate to heater patterns and related methods of producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation (for example, an oil shale formation) where a heater cell may be divided into nested inner and outer zones. Production wells may be located within one or both zones. In the smaller inner zone, heaters may be arranged at a relatively high spatial density while in the larger surrounding outer zone, a heater spatial density may be significantly lower. Due to the higher heater density, a rate of temperature increase in the smaller inner zone of the subsurface exceeds that of the larger outer zone, and a rate of hydrocarbon fluid production ramps up faster in the inner zone than in the outer zone. In some embodiments, a ratio between a half-maximum sustained production time and a half-maximum rise time of a hydrocarbon fluid production function is relatively large.

公开(公告)号：US20150292309A1

公开(公告)日：2015-10-15

申请号：US14646747

申请日：2013-07-31

申请人： Harold VINEGAR ,  Scott NGUYEN ,  GENIE IP B.V.

发明人： Harold Vinegar ,  Scott Nguyen

IPC分类号： E21B43/243 ,  E21B43/14 ,  E21B43/24

CPC分类号： E21B43/243 ,  E21B36/00 ,  E21B36/04 ,  E21B43/14 ,  E21B43/2401 ,  E21B43/30

摘要： Some embodiments of the present invention relate to the use of wind-electricity to produce unconventional oil from a kerogen-containing or bitumen-containing subsurface formation. A heater cell may be divided into nested inner and outer zones. In the smaller inner zone, heaters may be arranged at a relatively high spatial density while in the larger surrounding outer zone, a heater spatial density may be significantly lower. Due to the higher heater density, a rate of temperature increase in the smaller inner zone of the subsurface exceeds that of the larger outer zone, and a rate of hydrocarbon fluid production ramps up faster in the inner zone than in the outer zone. In some embodiments, at least a majority of the heaters in the inner zone are powered primarily by fuel combustion and at least a majority of heaters in the outer zone are powered primarily by electricity generated by wind. Alternatively, in other embodiments, at least a majority of the heaters in the inner zone are powered primarily by electricity generated by wind and at least a majority of heaters in the outer zone are powered primarily by fuel combustion.

摘要翻译： 本发明的一些实施方案涉及风电从含有含干酪根或含沥青的地下地层产生非常规油的用途。 加热器电池可分为嵌套的内部和外部区域。 在较小的内部区域中，加热器可以以相对高的空间密度布置，而在较大的周围外部区域中，加热器空间密度可以显着更低。 由于较高的加热器密度，地下较小的内部区域的温度升高速率超过了较大的外部区域的温度升高速率，并且烃流体产生速率在内部区域比在外部区域更快地上升。 在一些实施例中，内部区域中的至少大部分加热器主要由燃料燃烧供电，并且外部区域中的至少大部分加热器主要由风产生的电力供电。 或者，在其他实施例中，内部区域中的至少大部分加热器主要由风产生的电力供电，并且外部区域中的至少大部分加热器主要由燃料燃烧供电。

公开(公告)号：US09784882B2

公开(公告)日：2017-10-10

申请号：US14412702

申请日：2013-07-04

申请人： GENIE IP B.V. ,  Harold Vinegar ,  Scott Nguyen ,  Eva Vinegar

发明人： Eva Vinegar ,  Scott Nguyen ,  Harold Vinegar

IPC分类号： G01V3/18 ,  G01V3/38 ,  G01V3/06 ,  G01V3/24 ,  G01V3/02

CPC分类号： G01V3/38 ,  G01V3/02 ,  G01V3/06 ,  G01V3/24

摘要： A method is disclosed for generating an areal map of a pre-determined hydrocarbon liquid property of a subsurface kerogen-containing source rock from an electromagnetic resistivity profile. Preferably, the profile is generated by a transient EM method such as a long-offset transient electromagnetic (LOTEM) method. In some embodiments, the areal map is generated by employing resistivity-hydrocarbon liquid-quality relationship data describing a relationship between (i) a property of hydrocarbon liquid generated within the source rock pore space to (ii) an electrical resistivity of the source rock. In some embodiments, it is possible to acquire such data even in the absence of source rock samples where the hydrocarbon liquids within the samples has been preserved. The areal map is useful for determining a target location and/or depth in the source rock to drill for oil. The presently-disclosed techniques are particularly relevant to tight oil formations.

公开(公告)号：US20150203776A1

公开(公告)日：2015-07-23

申请号：US14377511

申请日：2013-02-18

申请人： Harold Vinegar ,  Scott Nguyen

发明人： Harold Vinegar ,  Scott Nguyen

IPC分类号： C10L9/08 ,  C10G1/04 ,  E21B43/24

CPC分类号： C10L9/08 ,  C10G1/02 ,  C10G1/04 ,  C10L2290/02 ,  C10L2290/06 ,  E21B43/24

摘要： Hydrocarbon-containing rocks (e.g, mined oil shale or mined coal or tar sands) are introduced into an excavated enclosure (e.g. a pit or an impoundment) to form. a bed of rocks therein, One or more heaters (e.g. molten salt heaters) are operated to pyrolyze kerogen or bitumen of the rocks. In some embodiments, a hydrocarbon reflux loop is maintained within the enclosure to convectively heat the hydrocarbon-containing rocks by boiling hydrocarbon liquids from a reservoir at the bottom of the enclosure so that vapor passes to the top of the enclosure, condenses, and falls back through the bed. Alternatively or additionally, the rocks may be heated by heaters embedded within wall(s) and/or a floor of the enclosure. Some embodiments relate to techniques for upgrading mined coal to recover both hydrocarbon pyrolysis fluids and upgraded coal (e.g. anthracite coal).

摘要翻译： 将含烃岩石（例如，开采的油页岩或开采的煤或焦油砂）引入被挖掘的封闭物（例如坑或蓄水池）中以形成。 一个岩石床，一个或多个加热器（如熔盐加热器）被操作以热解岩石的干酪根或沥青。 在一些实施方案中，在外壳内保持碳氢化合物回流回路以通过从外壳底部的储液器中冲洗烃类液体来对流加热含烃岩石，使得蒸气通过外壳的顶部冷凝并回落 通过床。 或者或另外，可以通过嵌入在壁和/或外壳的底板内的加热器来加热岩石。 一些实施例涉及用于升级开采煤以回收烃热解流体和升级煤（例如无烟煤）的技术。

公开(公告)号：US20150176380A1

公开(公告)日：2015-06-25

申请号：US14373880

申请日：2012-01-23

申请人： Harold Vinegar ,  Scott Nguyen

发明人： Harold Vinegar ,  Scott Nguyen

IPC分类号： E21B43/24 ,  E21B43/243

CPC分类号： E21B43/24 ,  E21B43/2401 ,  E21B43/243

摘要： Embodiments of the present invention relate to heater patterns and related methods of producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation (for example, an oil shale formation) where a heater cell may be divided into nested inner and outer zones. Production wells may be located within one or both zones. In the smaller inner zone, heaters may be arranged at a relatively high spatial density while in the larger surrounding outer zone, a heater spatial density may be significantly lower. Due to the higher heater density, a rate of temperature increase in the smaller inner zone of the subsurface exceeds that of the larger outer zone, and a rate of hydrocarbon fluid production ramps up faster in the inner zone than in the outer zone. In some embodiments, a ratio between a half-maximum sustained production time and a half-maximum rise time of a hydrocarbon fluid production function is relatively large.

摘要翻译： 本发明的实施例涉及加热器图案和从地下含烃地层（例如，油页岩层）生产烃流体的加热器图案和相关方法，其中加热器单元可以分为嵌套的内部和外部区域。 生产井可以位于一个或两个区域内。 在较小的内部区域中，加热器可以以相对高的空间密度布置，而在较大的周围外部区域中，加热器空间密度可以显着更低。 由于较高的加热器密度，地下较小的内部区域的温度升高速率超过了较大的外部区域的温度升高速率，并且烃流体产生速率在内部区域比在外部区域更快地上升。 在一些实施例中，烃流体产生功能的半最大持续生产时间和半最大上升时间之间的比例相对较大。

公开(公告)号：US20150027694A1

公开(公告)日：2015-01-29

申请号：US14373884

申请日：2012-10-24

申请人： Harold Vinegar ,  Scott Nguyen

发明人： Harold Vinegar ,  Scott Nguyen

IPC分类号： E21B43/24 ,  E21B43/243

CPC分类号： E21B43/243 ,  E21B36/04 ,  E21B43/2401 ,  E21B43/30

摘要： Embodiments of the present invention relate to heater patterns and related methods of producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation (for example, an oil shale formation) where a heater cell may be divided into nested inner and outer zones. Production wells may be located within one or both zones. In the smaller inner zone, heaters may be arranged at a relatively high spatial density while in the larger surrounding outer zone, a heater spatial density may be significantly lower. Due to the higher heater density, a rate of temperature increase in the smaller inner zone of the subsurface exceeds that of the larger outer zone, and a rate of hydrocarbon fluid production ramps up faster in the inner zone than in the outer zone. In some embodiments, a ratio between a half-maximum sustained production time and a half-maximum rise time of a hydrocarbon fluid production function is relatively large.

公开(公告)号：US20080017370A1

公开(公告)日：2008-01-24

申请号：US11585302

申请日：2006-10-20

申请人： Harold Vinegar ,  Chester Sandberg

发明人： Harold Vinegar ,  Chester Sandberg

IPC分类号： E21B43/00

CPC分类号： E21B43/24 ,  C10G1/002 ,  C10G1/02 ,  C10G9/24 ,  C10G2300/308 ,  E21B43/2401 ,  E21B43/281 ,  E21B43/34

摘要： A system for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. A conduit may be located in an opening in the formation. The conduit includes ferromagnetic material. An electrical conductor is positioned inside the conduit, and is electrically coupled to the conduit at or near an end portion of the conduit so that the electrical conductor and the conduit are electrically coupled in series. Electrical current flows in the electrical conductor in a substantially opposite direction to electrical current flow in the conduit during application of electrical current to the system. The flow of electrons is substantially confined to the inside of the conduit by the electromagnetic field generated from electrical current flow in the electrical conductor so that the outside surface of the conduit is at or near substantially zero potential at 25° C. The conduit may generate heat and heat the formation during application of electrical current.

摘要翻译： 描述了用于加热含烃地层的系统。 导管可以位于地层中的开口中。 导管包括铁磁材料。 电导体定位在导管内部，并且在导管的端部处或附近电连接到导管，使得电导体和导管电串联连接。 在向系统施加电流时，电流在电导体中以与导管中的电流流动基本相反的方向流动。 电子的流动通过由电导体中的电流流动产生的电磁场基本上限制在导管的内部，使得导管的外表面在25℃处于或接近基本为零电位。导管可以产生 在施加电流期间加热和加热地层。

公开(公告)号：US20070133960A1

公开(公告)日：2007-06-14

申请号：US11409558

申请日：2006-04-21

申请人： Harold Vinegar ,  Chia-Fu Hsu

发明人： Harold Vinegar ,  Chia-Fu Hsu

IPC分类号： H05B3/02 ,  E21B43/00

CPC分类号： E21B43/24 ,  C07C4/02 ,  E21B17/028 ,  E21B36/001 ,  E21B36/04 ,  E21B43/243 ,  Y10T29/49179 ,  C07C9/04

摘要： A system for heating a subsurface formation is described. The system includes a plurality of elongated heaters located in a plurality of openings in the formation. At least two of the heaters are substantially parallel to each other for at least a portion of the lengths of the heaters. At least two of the heaters have first end portions in a first region of the formation and second end portions in a second region of the formation. A source of time-varying current is configured to apply time-varying current to at least two of the heaters. The first end portions of at least two heaters are configured to have substantially the same voltage applied to them. The second portions of at least two heaters are configured to have substantially the same voltage applied to them.

摘要翻译： 描述了用于加热地下地层的系统。 该系统包括位于地层中的多个开口中的多个细长的加热器。 对于加热器的长度的至少一部分，至少两个加热器基本上彼此平行。 至少两个加热器在地层的第一区域中具有第一端部，在地层的第二区域中具有第二端部。 时变电流的源被配置为对至少两个加热器施加时变电流。 至少两个加热器的第一端部构造成具有施加到它们的基本上相同的电压。 至少两个加热器的第二部分被配置成具有施加到它们的基本相同的电压。

公开(公告)号：US20070127897A1

公开(公告)日：2007-06-07

申请号：US11584801

申请日：2006-10-20

申请人： Randy John ,  Harold Vinegar

发明人： Randy John ,  Harold Vinegar

IPC分类号： E21B36/04 ,  E21B43/30

CPC分类号： E21B43/24 ,  C10G1/002 ,  C10G1/02 ,  C10G9/24 ,  C10G2300/308 ,  E21B43/2401 ,  E21B43/281 ,  E21B43/34

摘要： A system for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation includes a heater having an elongated ferromagnetic metal heater section. The heater is located in an opening in a formation. The heater section is configured to heat the hydrocarbon containing formation. The exposed ferromagnetic metal has a sulfidation rate that goes down with increasing temperature of the heater, when the heater is in a selected temperature range.

摘要翻译： 用于加热含烃地层的系统包括具有细长铁磁金属加热器部分的加热器。 加热器位于地层的开口处。 加热器部分构造成加热含烃地层。 当加热器处于选定的温度范围时，暴露的铁磁金属具有随着加热器温度升高而下降的硫化速率。