A fitting for coupling ends of insulated conductors includes a sleeve to couple an end of a jacket of a first insulated conductor to an end of a jacket of a second insulated conductor. The sleeve is located between end portions of the insulated conductors. At least one of the ends of the sleeve is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. The sleeve has a longitudinal opening that extends along the length of the sleeve substantially the distance between end portions of the jackets of the insulated conductors. The longitudinal opening allows electrically insulating material to be filled into the sleeve.
H01R 43/00 - Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
H02G 1/00 - Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing, or dismantling electric cables or lines
H01R 4/10 - Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one anotherMeans for effecting or maintaining such contactElectrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation effected solely by twisting, wrapping, bending, crimping, or other permanent deformation
2.
End termination for three-phase insulated conductors
A fitting for coupling ends of cores of three insulated conductors includes an end termination placed over end portions of the three insulated conductors. The end termination includes three separate openings that pass through the end termination longitudinally. Each of the insulated conductors passes through one of the openings with end portions of the insulated conductors protruding from one side of the end termination. Exposed cores of the end portions of the insulated conductors protrude from the end termination. A cylinder is coupled to the side of the end termination from which the end portions of the insulated conductors protrude. An electrical bus is coupled to the exposed portion of the cores. Electrically insulating material fills the cylinder such that the cores are substantially enclosed in the electrically insulating material. An end cap is coupled to the cylinder to seal off the interior of the cylinder.
H01R 4/00 - Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one anotherMeans for effecting or maintaining such contactElectrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
H01R 13/41 - Securing in non-demountable manner, e.g. moulding, riveting by frictional grip in grommet, panel or base
H02G 1/14 - Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing, or dismantling electric cables or lines for joining or terminating cables
H01R 43/00 - Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
E21B 19/24 - Guiding or centralising devices for drilling rods or pipes
Methods and systems for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon formation are described herein. In some embodiments, method for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon formation is provide wherein the hydrocarbon formation comprises a kerogen containing formation that is adjacent to a formation containing liquid hydrocarbons and not having a natural recharging system, the method comprising the steps of: providing heat sources in the kerogen containing formation; energizing the heat sources to heat the kerogen containing formation; heating at least a portion of the kerogen containing formation to a temperature and for a time period sufficient to pyrolyze at least some of the kerogen; limiting production of pyrolyzed hydrocarbons so that the pyrolyzed hydrocarbons increase the pressure within the formation containing liquid hydrocarbons; and producing hydrocarbons from the formation containing liquid hydrocarbons.
An insulated electrical conductor (MI cable) may include an inner electrical conductor, an electrical insulator at least partially surrounding the electrical conductor, and an outer electrical conductor at least partially surrounding the electrical insulator. The insulated electrical conductor may have a substantially continuous length of at least about 100 m. The insulated electrical conductor may have an initial breakdown voltage, over a substantially continuous length of at least about 100 m, of at least about 60 volts per mil of the electrical insulator thickness (about 2400 volts per mm of the electrical insulator thickness) at about 1300° F. (about 700° C.) and about 60 Hz. The insulated electrical conductor may be capable of being coiled around a radius of about 100 times a diameter of the insulated electrical conductor. The outer electrical conductor may have a yield strength based on a 0.2% offset of about 100 kpsi.
A method for forming an insulated conductor heater includes placing an insulation layer over at least part of an elongated, cylindrical inner electrical conductor, placing an elongated, cylindrical outer electrical conductor over at least part of the insulation layer to form the insulated conductor heater; and performing one or more cold working/heat treating steps on the insulated conductor heater, reducing the cross-sectional area of the insulated conductor heater by at most about 20% to a final cross-sectional area. The cold working/heat treating steps include cold working the insulated conductor heater to reduce a cross-sectional area of the insulated conductor heater; and heat treating the insulated conductor heater at a temperature of at least about 870° C. The insulation layer includes one or more blocks of insulation.
H05B 3/12 - Heating elements characterised by the composition or nature of the materials or by the arrangement of the conductor characterised by the composition or nature of the conductive material
6.
End termination for three-phase insulated conductors
A fitting for coupling ends of cores of three insulated conductors includes an end termination placed over end portions of the three insulated conductors. The end termination includes three separate openings that pass through the end termination longitudinally. Each of the insulated conductors passes through one of the openings with end portions of the insulated conductors protruding from one side of the end termination. Exposed cores of the end portions of the insulated conductors protrude from the end termination. A cylinder is coupled to the side of the end termination from which the end portions of the insulated conductors protrude. An electrical bus is coupled to the exposed portion of the cores. Electrically insulating material fills the cylinder such that the cores are substantially enclosed in the electrically insulating material. An end cap is coupled to the cylinder to seal off the interior of the cylinder.
H01R 4/00 - Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one anotherMeans for effecting or maintaining such contactElectrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
H01R 43/00 - Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
H01R 43/20 - Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve
H01R 13/41 - Securing in non-demountable manner, e.g. moulding, riveting by frictional grip in grommet, panel or base
H02G 1/14 - Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing, or dismantling electric cables or lines for joining or terminating cables
7.
Insulating blocks and methods for installation in insulated conductor heaters
An insulated conductor heater may include an electrical conductor that produces heat when an electrical current is provided to the electrical conductor. An electrical insulator at least partially surrounds the electrical conductor. The electrical insulator comprises a resistivity that remains substantially constant, or increases, over time when the electrical conductor produces heat. An outer electrical conductor at least partially surrounds the electrical insulator.
Systems, methods, and heaters for treating a subsurface formation are described herein. At least one method for providing power to one or more subsurface heaters is described herein. The method may include monitoring one or more operating parameters of the heaters, the intermittent power source, and a transformer coupled to the intermittent power source that transforms power from the intermittent power source to power with appropriate operating parameters for the heaters; and controlling the power output of the transformer so that a constant voltage is provided to the heaters regardless of the load of the heaters and the power output provided by the intermittent power source.
An apparatus and method for coupling ends of two insulated conductors includes coupling a core of a first insulated conductor to a core of a second insulated conductor. Exposed portions of the cores are located inside a box. Electrically insulating powder material is placed into the box and a force is applied to first and second plungers to compact the powder material. Additional electrically insulating powder material may placed into the box and a subsequent force applied to compact the powder material into compacted powder material that surrounds the exposed portions of the cores. The compacted powder material is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape. A sleeve is placed over the compacted powder material and coupled to the jackets of the insulated conductors.
H01R 43/00 - Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
H01R 43/02 - Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for soldered or welded connections
H01R 43/04 - Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for forming connections by deformation, e.g. crimping tool
10.
Forming insulated conductors using a final reduction step after heat treating
A method for forming an insulated conductor heater includes placing an insulation layer over at least part of an elongated, cylindrical inner electrical conductor. An elongated, cylindrical outer electrical conductor is placed over at least part of the insulation layer to form the insulated conductor heater. One or more cold working/heat treating steps are performed on the insulated conductor heater. The cold working/heat treating steps include: cold working the insulated conductor heater to reduce a cross-sectional area of the insulated conductor heater by at least about 30% and heat treating the insulated conductor heater at a temperature of at least about 870° C. The cross-sectional area of the insulated conductor heater is then reduced by an amount ranging between about 5% and about 20% to a final cross-sectional area.
H05B 3/12 - Heating elements characterised by the composition or nature of the materials or by the arrangement of the conductor characterised by the composition or nature of the conductive material
A method includes coupling a core of a heating section to a core of an overburden section of an insulated conductor. A diameter of the core of the heating section is less than a diameter of the core of the overburden section. A first insulation layer is placed over the core of the heating section such that at least part of an end portion of the core of the heating section is exposed. A second insulation layer is placed over the core of the overburden section such that the second insulation layer extends over the exposed portion of the core of the heating section. A thickness of the second insulation layer is less than a thickness of the first insulation layer and an outer diameter of the overburden section is substantially the same as an outer diameter of the heating section.
H01R 43/00 - Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
E21B 36/04 - Heating, cooling or insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones using electrical heaters
12.
Press-fit coupling joint for joining insulated conductors
A method for coupling an end of a first insulated conductor to an end of a second insulated conductor that includes placing a sleeve over the end of the first insulated conductor and the end of the second insulated conductor; filling an interior volume of the sleeve with electrically insulating material; and moving the end of the first insulated conductor and the end of the second insulated conductor towards the center of the sleeve. When the ends of the insulated conductors are moved together an end of a core of the first insulated conductor and an end of a core of the second insulated conductor are coupled inside a core coupling located inside the sleeve and the electrically insulating material is compressed between an end portion of an electrical insulator in the first insulated conductor and an end portion of an electrical insulator in the second insulated conductor.
Systems and methods for heaters used in treating a subsurface formation are described herein. Certain embodiments relate to systems for insulated conductors used in heater elements. More particularly, fittings for splicing together insulated conductors and/or insulated conductors to other conductors are described.
A fitting for coupling ends of cores of three insulated conductors includes an end termination placed over end portions of the three insulated conductors. The end termination includes three separate openings that pass through the end termination longitudinally. Each of the insulated conductors passes through one of the openings with end portions of the insulated conductors protruding from one side of the end termination. Exposed cores of the end portions of the insulated conductors protrude from the end termination. A cylinder is coupled to the side of the end termination from which the end portions of the insulated conductors protrude. An electrical bus is coupled to the exposed portion of the cores. Electrically insulating material fills the cylinder such that the cores are substantially enclosed in the electrically insulating material. An end cap is coupled to the cylinder to seal off the interior of the cylinder.
H01R 4/00 - Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one anotherMeans for effecting or maintaining such contactElectrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
H01R 43/00 - Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
H01R 43/20 - Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve
A method for coupling ends of two insulated conductors includes coupling an end portion of a core of a first insulated conductor to an end portion of a core of a second insulated conductor. At least a part of the end portions of the cores are at least partially exposed. Electrically insulating material is placed over the exposed portions of the cores. A sleeve is placed over end portions of the two insulated conductors to be coupled. The sleeve includes one or more raised portions. The end portions include the exposed portions of the cores. The sleeve is coupled to jackets of the insulated conductors. The raised portions of the sleeve are mechanically compressed until the raised portions of the sleeve have a diameter substantially similar to a remainder of the sleeve. The compression of the raised portions of the sleeve compacts the electrically insulating material inside the sleeve.
H01R 43/00 - Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
16.
Compaction of electrical insulation for joining insulated conductors
A method for coupling ends of two insulated conductors includes coupling a core of a first insulated conductor to a core of a second insulated conductor. Exposed portions of the cores are located inside a box with an open top. Electrically insulating powder material is placed into the box and a first plunger is inserted through the open top of the box to compact the powder material. Additional electrically insulating powder material is placed into the box and a second plunger is inserted through the open top of the box to compact the powder material into compacted powder material that surrounds the exposed portions of the cores. The compacted powder material is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape. A sleeve is placed over the compacted powder material and coupling the sleeve to the jackets of the insulated conductors.
H01R 43/00 - Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
H01R 13/53 - Bases or cases for heavy dutyBases or cases with means for preventing corona or arcing
H01R 13/533 - Bases or cases made for use in extreme conditions, e.g. high temperature, radiation, vibration, corrosive environment, pressure
H01R 13/52 - Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
17.
Insulated conductor heaters with semiconductor layers
A heater used to heat a subsurface formation includes an electrical conductor, a semiconductor layer at least partially surrounding the electrical conductor, an insulation layer at least partially surrounding the electrical conductor, an electrically conductive sheath at least partially surrounding the insulation layer. The heater may be located in an opening in the subsurface formation.
A fitting for coupling ends of insulated conductors includes a sleeve to couple an end of a jacket of a first insulated conductor to an end of a jacket of a second insulated conductor. The sleeve is located between end portions of the insulated conductors. At least one of the ends of the sleeve is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. The sleeve has a longitudinal opening that extends along the length of the sleeve substantially the distance between end portions of the jackets of the insulated conductors. The longitudinal opening allows electrically insulating material to be filled into the sleeve.
H01R 4/00 - Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one anotherMeans for effecting or maintaining such contactElectrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
H02G 15/115 - Boxes split perpendicularly to main cable direction
E21B 43/24 - Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection
H02G 1/14 - Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing, or dismantling electric cables or lines for joining or terminating cables
A fitting for coupling an end of a first insulated conductor to an end of a second insulated conductor is described. The fitting includes a first splice housing placed over the end of the first insulated conductor and coupled to the first insulated conductor. The fitting also includes a second splice housing placed over the end of the second insulated conductor and coupled to the second insulated conductor. A sleeve is located over the end of the second insulated conductor and adjacent to the second splice housing. An interior volume of the fitting is substantially filled with electrically insulating material. The interior volume of the fitting is reduced such that the electrically insulating material substantially filling the interior volume is compacted.
A fitting for coupling an end of a first insulated conductor to an end of a second insulated conductor is described. The fitting includes a sleeve placed over the end of the first insulated conductor and the end of the second insulated conductor and a core coupling located inside the sleeve. The core coupling fits around an end of a core of the first insulated conductor and an end of a core of the second insulated conductor. An interior volume of the sleeve is at least partially filled with electrically insulating material. The electrically insulating material is compressed with an end portion of an electrical insulator in the first insulated conductor and an end portion of an electrical insulator in the second insulated conductor when the fitting is coupled to the insulated conductors.
High strength metal alloys are described herein. At least one composition of a metal alloy includes chromium, nickel, copper, manganese, silicon, niobium, tungsten and iron. System, methods, and heaters that include the high strength metal alloys are described herein. At least one heater system may include a canister at least partially made from material containing at least one of the metal alloys. At least one system for heating a subterranean formation may include a tublar that is at least partially made from a material containing at least one of the metal alloys.
A system for treating a subsurface formation includes a wellbore at least partially located in a hydrocarbon containing formation. The wellbore includes a substantially vertical portion and at least two substantially horizontal or inclined portions coupled to the vertical portion. A first conductor is at least partially positioned in a first of the two substantially horizontal or inclined portions of the wellbore. At least the first conductor includes electrically conductive material. A power supply electrically excites the electrically conductive materials of the first conductor such that current flows between the electrically conductive materials in the first conductor, through at least a portion of the formation, to a second conductor at least partially positioned in a second of the two substantially horizontal or inclined portions of the wellbore. The current resistively heats at least a portion of the formation between the two substantially horizontally oriented or inclined portions of the wellbore.
A heating system for a subsurface formation includes a conduit located in a first opening in the subsurface formation. Three electrical conductors are located in the conduit. A return conductor is located inside the conduit. The return conductor is electrically coupled to the ends of the electrical conductors distal from the surface of the formation. Insulation is located inside the conduit. The insulation electrically insulates the three electrical conductors, the return conductor, and the conduit from each other.
A heating system for a subsurface formation includes an elongated electrical conductor located in the subsurface formation. The electrical conductor extends between at least a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact. A ferromagnetic conductor at least partially surrounds and at least partially extends lengthwise around the electrical conductor. The electrical conductor, when energized with time-varying electrical current, induces sufficient electrical current flow in the ferromagnetic conductor such that the ferromagnetic conductor resistively heats to a temperature of at least about 300° C.
Methods for treating a tar sands formation are described herein. Methods may include heating at least a section of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation. The heat may be controlled so that at least a majority of the section reaches an average temperature of between 200° C. and 240° C., which results in visbreaking of at least some hydrocarbons in the section. At least some visbroken hydrocarbon fluids may be produced from the formation.
Systems, methods, and heaters for treating a subsurface formation are described herein. At least one system for providing power to one or more subsurface heaters is described herein. The system may include an intermittent power source; a transformer coupled to the intermittent power source, and a tap controller coupled to the transformer. The transformer may be configured to transform power from the intermittent power source to power with appropriate operating parameters for the heaters. The tap controller may be configured to monitor and control the transformer so that a constant voltage is provided to the heaters from the transformer regardless of the load of the heaters and the power output provided by the intermittent power source.
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.
patents