Earth heat transfer loop appartus

Abstract

An earth loop heat transfer system which, in certain aspects, has a heat transfer loop for providing heat transfer fluid to facilitate production of hydrocarbons from an earth formation; in certain aspects, to facilitate the production of sluggish crude that remains in a formation following known production methods.

1 . An earth loop heat transfer system comprising
 a heat transfer loop extending from an earth surface down into an earth formation, the earth formation having hydrocarbons therein,   heat transfer fluid flowable down into heat transfer loop and up therefrom,   transfer apparatus for transferring heat between the heat transfer fluid and earth fluid, and   transmission apparatus for transmitting the earth fluid into the earth formation to facilitate production of hydrocarbons.   
     
     
         2 . The earth loop heat transfer system of  claim 1  wherein the heat transfer fluid provides heat for heating the earth fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The earth loop heat transfer system of  claim 1  wherein the transmission apparatus pumps the earth fluid into the earth formation. 
     
     
         4 . The earth loop heat transfer system of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the heat transfer loop is insulated. 
     
     
         5 . The earth loop heat transfer system of  claim 1  wherein substantially all of the heat transfer loop is insulated. 
     
     
         6 . The earth loop heat transfer system of  claim 1  further comprising
 a well system for producing hydrocarbons, 
 the well system including a wellbore for flow of produced hydrocarbons, 
 the heat transfer loop comprising an earth loop portion in fluid communication with a well loop portion, 
 the well loop portion within the well system so that the heat transfer fluid flowing in the heat transfer loop transfers heat between the heat transfer fluid and an interior of the well system. 
 
     
     
         7 . The earth loop heat transfer system of  claim 6  wherein heat is transferred to heat the interior or the well. 
     
     
         8 . The earth loop heat transfer system of  claim 6  further comprising
 the well system including pumping apparatus for pumping fluid from the well system, 
 conduit apparatus in fluid communication with the heat transfer loop for providing heat transfer fluid to the pumping apparatus. 
 
     
     
         9 . The earth loop heat transfer system of  claim 1  further comprising
 a well system for producing hydrocarbons, 
 the well system including a wellbore for flow of produced hydrocarbons, 
 first heat exchange apparatus around a first portion of the wellbore in fluid communication with the heat transfer loop for providing fluid at a desired temperature to the first portion of the wellbore. 
 
     
     
         10 . The earth loop heat transfer system of  claim 1  further comprising
 a well system for producing hydrocarbons, 
 the well system including a wellbore for flow of produced hydrocarbons, 
 second heat exchange apparatus within a second 
 portion of the wellbore in fluid communication with the heat transfer 
 loop for providing fluid at a desired temperature within the second portion of the wellbore. 
 
     
     
         11 . An earth loop heat transfer system comprising
 a heat transfer loop extending from an earth surface down into an earth formation, the earth formation having hydrocarbons therein,   heat transfer fluid flowable down into heat transfer loop and up therefrom,   transfer apparatus for transferring heat between the heat transfer fluid and earth fluid, and   transmission apparatus for transmitting the earth fluid into the earth formation to facilitate production of hydrocarbons wherein the transmission apparatus pumps the earth fluid into the earth formation,   a well system for producing hydrocarbons,   the well system including a wellbore in the earth formation for flow of produced hydrocarbons.   
     
     
         12 . The earth loop heat transfer system of  claim 11  further comprising,
 heat exchange apparatus associated with the wellbore forr providing fluid at a desired temperature to one of a first portion of the wellbore exteriorly thereof and a second portion of the wellbore interiorly thereof. 
 
     
     
         13 . The earth loop heat transfer system of  claim 11  further comprising,
 heat exchange apparatus associated with the wellbore forr providing fluid at a desired temperature to a first portion of the wellbore exteriorly thereof and a second portion of the wellbore interiorly thereof. 
 
     
     
         14 . The earth loop heat transfer system of  claim 11  further comprising
 the heat transfer loop comprising an earth loop portion in fluid communication with a well loop portion, 
 the well loop portion within the well system so that the heat transfer fluid flowing in the heat transfer loop transfers heat between the heat transfer fluid and an interior of the well system. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method for transferring heat between the earth and a heat transfer fluid, the method comprising
 flowing heat transfer fluid into an earth loop heat transfer system, the earth loop heat transfer system comprising a heat transfer loop extending from an earth surface down into an earth formation, the earth formation having hydrocarbons therein, heat transfer fluid flowable down into heat transfer loop and up therefrom, transfer apparatus for transferring heat between the heat transfer fluid and earth fluid, and transmission apparatus for transmitting the earth fluid into the earth formation to facilitate production of hydrocarbons,   flowing the heat transfer fluid to and through the heat transfer loop, and   transferring heat between the heat transfer fluid and the earth fluid.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the heat transfer fluid provides heat for heating the earth fluid, the method further comprising
 Heating the earth formation. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the earth loop heat transfer system further comprises a well system for producing hydrocarbons, the well system including a wellbore for flow of produced hydrocarbons, the heat' transfer loop comprising an earth loop portion in fluid communication with a well loop portion, the well loop portion within the well system so that the heat transfer fluid flowing in the heat transfer loop transfers heat between the heat transfer fluid and an interior of the well system, the method further comprising
 heating the interior of the wellbore. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the earth loop heat transfer system further comprises the well system including pumping apparatus for pumping fluid from the well system, conduit apparatus in fluid communication with the heat transfer loop for providing heat transfer fluid to the pumping apparatus, the method further comprising
 heating the pumping apparatus. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the earth loop heat transfer system further comprises a well system for producing hydrocarbons, the well system including a wellbore for flow of produced hydrocarbons, first heat exchange apparatus around a first portion of the wellbore in fluid communication with the heat transfer loop for providing fluid at a desired temperature to the first portion of the wellbore, the method further comprising
 heating the first portion of the wellbore. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the earth loop heat transfer system further comprises a well system for producing hydrocarbons, the well system including a wellbore for flow of produced hydrocarbons, heat exchange apparatus within a portion of the interior of the wellbore in fluid communication with the heat transfer loop for providing fluid at a desired temperature within the portion of the wellbore, the method further comprising
 Heating said protion of the interior of the wellbore. 
 
     
     
         21 . Each and every invention in this application not specifically claimed in  claims 1 - 20  above.