Radio and microwave treatment of oil wells

Abstract

A method including exposing a substance to a first type of electromagnetic waves generated by a first device. The frequency of the first type of electromagnetic waves is in the radio frequency range and the device consumes no more than about 1,000 Watts of power. The exposure takes place for a period of time and at a frequency sufficient to detectably alter at least one physical property of the substance as it existed prior to the exposure.

1 . A method comprising exposing a substance to a first type of electromagnetic waves generated by a first device, the frequency of the first type of electromagnetic waves being in the radio frequency range and the device consuming no more than about 1,000 Watts of power, the exposure taking place for a period of time and at a frequency sufficient to detectably alter at least one physical property of the substance as it existed prior to the exposure. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the frequency of the first type of electromagnetic waves is in the range of about 1 to about 900 MHz. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the frequency of the first type of electromagnetic waves is in the range of about 1 to about 100 MHz. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the frequency of the first type of electromagnetic waves is in the range of about 30 to about 50 MHz. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising transmitting the first type of electromagnetic waves to the substance from a first antenna. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein the first antenna is a well head assembly, casing, and tubing. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein the first antenna is a dipole antenna or a monopole antenna, the first antenna being disposed within
 (i) an annulus of a well bore comprising casing and tubing;   (ii) a pipeline comprising hydrocarbonaceous material; or   (iii) a tank comprising hydrocarbonaceous material.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  6  or  7  further comprising adjusting a load impedance of the first antenna to match an output impedance of the first device. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 4  or  5 , wherein the frequency of the first type of electromagnetic waves is in the range of about 40 to about 50 MHz. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of exposing the substance to the first type of electromagnetic waves is carried out at least while concurrently exposing the substance to a second type of electromagnetic waves generated by a second device which together with the first device, consumes no more than about 1,000 Watts of power, wherein the frequency of the second type of electromagnetic waves is in the microwave frequency range. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the frequency of the second type of electromagnetic waves is in the range of about 20 to about 40 GHz. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the frequency of the second type of electromagnetic waves is in the range of about 20 to about 30 GHz. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the frequency of the first type of electromagnetic waves is in the range of about 40 to about 50 MHz. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10  or  13 , further comprising transmitting the first type of electromagnetic waves to the substance from a first antenna. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10  or  13 , further comprising transmitting the second type of electromagnetic waves to the substance from a second antenna. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the second antenna is a well head assembly, casing, and tubing. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the second antenna is a dipole antenna or monopole antenna, the second antenna being disposed within
 (i) an annulus of a well bore comprising casing and tubing;   (ii) a pipeline comprising hydrocarbonaceous material; or   (iii) a tank comprising hydrocarbonaceous material.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14  further comprising adjusting a load impedance of the first antenna to match an output impedance of the first device. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 10  or  13 , further comprising transmitting the first type of electromagnetic waves to the substance and the second type of electromagnetic waves to the substance from a single antenna. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising
 transmitting electromagnetic waves at one or more radio frequencies through at least one first antenna   (i) connected to, or disposed within, a wellhead assembly, well casing or well tubing of a hydrocarbon well;   (ii) disposed within a pipeline comprising hydrocarbonaceous material; or   (iii) disposed within a tank comprising hydrocarbonaceous material,   
       the radio frequencies each being in the range of about 1 to about 900 MHz and amplified to no more than about 1000 Watts of total power, wherein the process is conducted for a time sufficient to modify at least one physical property of a substance within the well, pipeline, or tank while consuming no more than about 1000 Watts of power. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the radio frequency is in the range of about 40 to about 50 MHz. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21  further comprising generating the electromagnetic waves from a signal generating unit. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22  further comprising adjusting a load impedance of the first antenna to match an output impedance of the signal generating unit. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 20  further comprising
 transmitting electromagnetic waves at a microwave frequency of at least about 24 GHz through at least one second antenna   (i) connected to, or disposed within, the wellhead assembly, well casing or well tubing of the well   (ii) disposed within a pipeline comprising hydrocarbonaceous material; or   (iii) disposed within a tank comprising hydrocarbonaceous material,   
       the microwave frequency being amplified to consume energy at a rate of no more than about 8 Watts, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna may be separate antennae or may be combined into the form of a single antenna, 
       wherein the process is conducted for a time sufficient to modify at least one physical property of a substance within the well, pipeline, or tank while consuming no more than about 1000 Watts of power. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 23  further comprising
 transmitting electromagnetic waves at a microwave frequency of at least about 24 GHz through at least one second antenna   (i) connected to, or disposed within, the wellhead assembly, well casing or well tubing of the well   (ii) disposed within a pipeline comprising hydrocarbonaceous material; or   (iii) disposed within a tank comprising hydrocarbonaceous material,   
       the microwave frequency being amplified to consume energy at a rate of no more than about 8 Watts, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are separate antennae, 
       wherein the process is conducted for a time sufficient to modify at least one physical property of a substance within the well, pipeline, or tank while consuming no more than about 1000 Watts of power. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one physical property comprises the effective permeability ratio of hydrocarbon to water for at least a portion of a well formation. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the ratio of hydrocarbon permeability to water permeability for at least a portion of the well formation is increased. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the ratio of hydrocarbon permeability to water permeability for at least a portion of the well formation is increased by a factor of 2 or more. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the ratio of hydrocarbon permeability to water permeability for at least a portion of the well formation is increased by a factor of 4 or more.