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Recovery of bitumen from tar sand deposits with the radio frequency process

Journal Article · · SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reserv. Eng.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/10229-PA· OSTI ID:5543818
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The IIT Research Institute (IITRI) radio frequency (RF) process for tar sands consists of two steps: (1) the deposit is volumetrically heated with RF energy to lower the viscosity of the bitumen, and (2) the bitumen is produced by one of several petroleum recovery methods. The RF heating step is accomplished by inserting tubular electrodes into boreholes and by energizing them with an RF power source. The electrode pattern is designed so that the deposit between the electrodes is uniformly heated with a minimum energy loss. The operating frequency is selected on the basis of the electromagnetic characteristics of the deposit. The recovery techniques that they investigated include replacing the heated bitumen with sodium silicate solutions, by gravity drainage, and by autogenously developed steam and hydrocarbon gases. Two small-scale field experiments were conducted in the Asphalt Ridge tar sand deposit near Vernal, UT. About 25 m/sup 3/ (33 cu yd) of the deposit was heated with RF energy, and about 35% of the total in-place bitumen was recovered during the 3-week test period.
Research Organization:
IIT Research Inst.
OSTI ID:
5543818
Journal Information:
SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reserv. Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reserv. Eng.; (United States) Vol. 1:1; ISSN SREEE
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040401* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ASPHALT RIDGE DEPOSIT
BITUMENS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BOREHOLES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CAVITIES
DRAINAGE
ELECTRIC HEATING
ELECTRODES
ELECTROMAGNETISM
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID INJECTION PROCESSES
FOSSIL FUELS
FREQUENCY SELECTION
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GRAVITATION
HEATING
HYDROCARBONS
LOSSES
MAGNETISM
MATERIALS
OIL SAND DEPOSITS
OIL SANDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RF SYSTEMS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM SILICATES
STEAM SOAK PROCESSES
TAR
VISCOSITY