Isolators

Fundamentals of Radio Frequency Heating
and the ESEIEH Process
Presenter:
Zach Linkewich
VP Engineering and Operations
Phase Thermal Recovery Inc.
UPTECH Banff 2014
Outline
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In situ RF heating considerations
Antenna configuration
Description of the Coupled Electromagnetic Reservoir Simulator (CEMRS)
Overview of the Effective Solvent Extraction Incorporating
Electromagnetic Heating (ESEIEH™) process
Mine Face test site and hardware
Test results
Key innovations necessary for an architectural solution
Architectural elements
Conclusions
Electromagnetic Heating
• Reservoir electrical properties critical to antenna performance
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Frequency and temperature dependent
Permittivity (dielectric constant) εr
Conductivity σ
Harris developed techniques & tooling to measure reservoir samples
Free space wavelength :  
pay zone
εr = 12
σ = 0.011 S/m
c
f
In situ wavelength :  
Approximate desiccation region
c
f r
desiccated region
εr = 4
σ = 0 S/m
11 meter Dipole
Processes and tools developed allow RF systems to be tailored to specific reservoirs
Antenna Configuration
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Type: dipole
RF feed: coaxial transmission line
Isolators: structural, non-conductive material
Current suppression: magnetic choke assembly
Transmission Line
Center Conductor
Coax
Transmission Line
Feed
Isolator
Dipole Center
Conductor Arm
Choke
Assembly
Choke
Isolator
Dipole
Antenna
Dipole Outer
Conductor Arm
Example of in situ heating pattern
Not to scale
Reservoir + EM Modeling
EM Recovery
Process
Optimization
EM Heat Map
Reservoir Model
CEMRS
Iterative Coupling
EM
Model
Temperature
Temperature Validation
Time
Distance from Antenna
Test: 1d
CEMRS
Test: 5d
Coupled EM/reservoir models predict performance
CEMRS
Test: 14d
CEMRS
ESEIEH™ (“easy”) Project Background
Effective Solvent Extraction Incorporating
Electromagnetic Heating
• $33M+ project developing key technologies for a
reliable in-situ RF heating system
• Key CAPEX savings: no steam plant
• Key OPEX savings: reduced energy requirements
Solvent + RF Advantage
Low Temperature
Reduces
GHG
Reduces
Fuel Costs
Reduced CO2
Emission
Penalties
Reduced OPEX
No Steam
No Water
Treatment
Reduced CAPEX/
OPEX
No Steam
Plant
Reduced CAPEX
Project NPV Increases
ESEIEH™ Status
Phase 1: January 2012 – successful completion
of 12.5m heating experiment at in situ site
Phase 2: Q4 2014 – begin testing
100m horizontal RF heater and solvent injector
Harris’ Test Facility
North Steepbank Mine Site Layout
Generators
Mine face
VSAT
Mine Site Antenna Design
Antenna
heel section
Centralizer
Center
isolator
Antenna
tip section
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12.2 m long
Linear Dipole
Toe & heel arms
6.78 MHz
Cased design
N2 purge
Co-axial
transmission
line
• Dielectric casing
Site Material Characterization
Core Photos
Well Log
0.05
0.045
Antenna
position
(S/m)
Conductivity
Cond (mho/m)
0.04
0.035
0.03
0.025
CEMRS
model
well log
0.02
09-113 log
0.015
0.01
0.005
0
-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
Depth from Antenna CL (m)
5
6
7
8
• Test site characterized by intervals of oil sand and IHS
• > 10x variation in electrical conductivity, good test of RF in
heterogeneous oil sand
Test & Model Results Comparison
OB3: Tip
OB2: Center
-6
-4
1.82
5.99
-2
11.99
20.00
0
2.00 day
6.00 day
2
12.00 day
20.00 day
4
6
Depth from Antenna CL (m)
-4
Depth from Antenna CL (m)
-6
Marker = test data
Line = prediction
1.82
5.99
-2
11.99
20.00
0
2.00 day
6.00 day
2
12.00 day
20.00 day
4
6
0
50
100
Temperature (C)
150
0
50
Temperature (C)
• Excellent correlation with test data
• Validation of permeability and thermal conductivity modeling
– Pre-desiccation period: Days 2-20
100
Test & Model Results Comparison
OB3: Tip
OB2: Center
-6
-6
Marker = test data
Line = prediction
-4
20.00
26.99
-2
32.99
42.99
0
20.00 day
27.00 day
2
33.00 day
43.00 day
4
6
Depth from Antenna CL (m)
Depth from Antenna CL (m)
-4
20.00
26.99
-2
32.99
42.99
0
20.00 day
27.00 day
2
33.00 day
43.00 day
4
6
0
50
100
Temperature (C)
150
0
50
100
Temperature (C)
150
• Good match during desiccation and cool-down periods
– Days 20-43
Model validation through in situ test is key to technology success
Phase 2 - Antenna Liner and EMH Tool
Slant Drilling Rig
ANTENNA LINER
ANTENNA
is the Liner
Slant Completions Rig
EMH TOOL
EMH TOOL
 EMH Tool Head
 Common Mode Element
 Subsurface Tx Line
Antenna Installation completed with
Standard equipment
Phase II Dover Surface Facilities
DFCS-House
TX-House
Bitumen and
Propane Separator
Flare Stack
Product Storage
Command Center
Solvent Storage
Transmission line
EMH Well
NE
Producer Well
Objective is to demonstrate combined RF solvent recovery process
and validate numerical models
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Architecture Elements
Monitor/Control
Plant Control Subsystem
EMH
Remote Control
and Monitor
Dielectric Fluid
Circulation
System (DFCS)
Monitor and Control
Equipment Rack
In-Situ
Components
Solvent Injection String
RF Power
Supply
(RFPS)
Surface
Transmission Line
Inlet / Outlet Barrier
EMH Tool
Head
SSTX Line
Antenna
Isolator
Production String
Power, HVAC
Surface Solvent
Injection and
Recovery Subsystem
Facilities
Sensors and Data
Wellhead
Surface Oil
Recovery
Antenna Liner
(Select Material)
Reservoir
Formation
High Temperature Structural Isolator
Leveraged 40+ years space & structural
composite tools & processes to achieve
component performance requirements
– Design to be as strong as conventional liner
– Validate interfaces
– Measure mechanical & electrical margin
– Performance within 1% of analytical prediction
Isolator
Concept
Prototype
Design
Prototype
Test Article
Field Handling for Key Elements
Design to be rugged and reusable:
– Rugged rig interface points
– High power transmission line installed on rig
– Horizontal in situ installation and test at in Alberta
Conclusions
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Developed tightly integrated RF heating and monitoring system
Successfully deployed and tested in native (heterogeneous) oil sands at Suncor
North Steepbank Mine
Demonstrated RF heating at projected field power densities
Collected extensive data set of RF heating in oil sands
Achieved good correlation between CEMRS model and test data with minimal
changes to initial settings
• RF heating architecture capable of reservoir heating, solvent injection, and
oil production has been developed and presented
– Interfaces with industry equipment; no special installation equipment
– Proprietary composite designs retain liner structural and thermal integrity tested
and performed within 1% of prediction
– Facilitates well intervention and subsequent EOR processes
– Key safety elements tested developed and proven effective
• Phase II ESEIEH™ pilot is presently under construction at Dover
Thank you
Fundamentals of Radio Frequency Heating
and the ESEIEH Process
Harris Corporation, RF Energy Solutions
UPTECH Banff 2014