Increasing the Penetration Depth of Microwave Radiation Using Acoustic Stress to Trigger Piezoelectricity

Matthew Morte,John Dean,Hiroko Kitajima,Berna Hascakir

doi:10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b01150

Matthew Morte, John Dean + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b01150

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Abstract

Electromagnetic waves as a mechanism of heat generation in the reservoir is a concept that has great potential to efficiently produce heavy oil and bitumen. However, as a result of large wave atten...

Highlights

IntroductionHigh viscosity values intrinsic to heavy oil require additive energy in the form of heat to effectively increase the transmission of the fluid
Electromagnetic (EM) heating of heavy oil reservoirs is an enhanced oil recovery technique that offers innate advantage.Prohibitively high viscosity values intrinsic to heavy oil require additive energy in the form of heat to effectively increase the transmission of the fluid
Quartz is the component of sandstone which contributes to piezoelectricity; we would expect to see a change in the penetration depth of the sandstone cores but no change in the limestone cores

Summary

Introduction

High viscosity values intrinsic to heavy oil require additive energy in the form of heat to effectively increase the transmission of the fluid. Steam is introduced to the reservoir as the heating mechanism; the nature of steam as a heat-transporting fluid limits the efficacy of the process in certain scenarios.[1] Lack of control of the steam often corresponds to steam bypassing the target zone and being lost to the overburden. The associated directionality necessary for effective steam treatment corresponds to EM waves being situationally attractive for thin and deep reservoirs where steam is inefficient. In conjunction with superiority in directional control, EM waves offer faster heating owing to instantaneous volumetric heating. EM waves propagate through the entirety of the material instead of just the pore space, volumetrically heating the sample instead of just the surface

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