Jointed pipe including an rf heating system

Abstract

A subterranean radio frequency (RF) heating system includes a first tubular member having a first end, a second end, and an inner surface. A second tubular member is arranged radially inwardly of the inner surface of the first tubular member. The second tubular member includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and an outer surface portion. A first electrically insulated spacer is arranged between the inner surface of the first tubular member and the outer surface portion of the second tubular member adjacent the first end and first end portion. A second electrically insulated spacer is arranged between the inner surface of the first tubular member and the outer surface portion of the second tubular member adjacent the second end and the second end portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A subterranean radio frequency (RF) heating system comprising:
 a first tubular member having a first end, a second end, an outer surface, and an inner surface, the first tubular member being made from a first electrically conductive material;   a second tubular member arranged radially inwardly of the inner surface of the first tubular member, the second tubular member including a first end portion, a second end portion, an outer surface portion and an inner surface portion, the first end portion including a first connector portion and the second end portion including a second connector portion, the second tubular member being formed from a second electrically conductive material;   a first electrically insulated spacer arranged between the inner surface of the first tubular member and the outer surface portion of the second tubular member adjacent the first end and first end portion; and   a second electrically insulated spacer arranged between the inner surface of the first tubular member and the outer surface portion of the second tubular member adjacent the second end and the second end portion.   
     
     
         2 . The subterranean RF heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first tubular member comprises a box end connector and the second end of the first tubular member comprises a pin end connector, and the first connector portion on the second tubular member comprises a box end connector and the second connector portion of the second tubular member comprises a pin end connector. 
     
     
         3 . The subterranean RF heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second tubular member comprises an electrical conductor. 
     
     
         4 . The subterranean RF heating system according to  claim 3 , wherein the first connector portion on the second tubular member is a female electrical connector arranged at the first end and the second connector portion on the second tubular member is a male electrical connector arranged at the second end. 
     
     
         5 . The subterranean RF heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the subterranean radio frequency (RF) heating system includes a third tubular member, the second tubular member comprises a first electrical conductor and the third tubular member comprises a second electrical conductor, each of the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor being radially outwardly spaced from a central longitudinal axis of the first tubular member. 
     
     
         6 . The subterranean RF heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first tubular member comprises a casing tubular. 
     
     
         7 . A resource exploration and recovery system comprising:
 a first system including a control system; and   a second system including a subterranean radio frequency (RF) heating system comprising:
 a first tubular member having a first end, a second end, an outer surface, and an inner surface, the first tubular member being made from a first electrically conductive material; 
 a second tubular member arranged radially inwardly of the inner surface of the first tubular member, the second tubular member including a first end portion, a second end portion, an outer surface portion and an inner surface portion, the first end portion including a first connector portion and the second end portion including a second connector portion, the second tubular member being operably connected to the control system and formed from a second electrically conductive material; 
 a first electrically insulated spacer arranged between the inner surface of the first tubular member and the outer surface portion of the second tubular member adjacent the first end and first end portion; and 
 a second electrically insulated spacer arranged between the inner surface of the first tubular member and the outer surface portion of the second tubular member adjacent the second end and the second end portion, wherein the control system selectively activates the first tubular member and the second tubular member to produce RF heating in the formation having a selected heat value. 
   
     
     
         8 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 7 , wherein the first end of the first tubular member comprises a box end connector and the second end of the first tubular member comprises a pin end connector and the first connector portion of the second tubular member comprises a box end connector and the second connector portion of the second tubular member comprises a pin end connector. 
     
     
         9 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 7 , wherein the second tubular member comprises an electrical conductor. 
     
     
         10 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 9 , wherein the first connector portion on the second tubular member is a female electrical connector arranged at the first end and the second connector portion on the second tubular member is a male electrical connector arranged at the second end. 
     
     
         11 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 7 , wherein the second tubular member comprises a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor, each of the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor being radially outwardly spaced from a central axis of the first tubular member. 
     
     
         12 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 7 , wherein the first tubular member comprises a casing tubular. 
     
     
         13 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 7 , wherein a first plurality of the plurality of interconnected tubulars includes the subterranean RF heating system having the selected heat value and a second plurality of the plurality of interconnected tubulars includes a subterranean RF heating system including a second heat value. 
     
     
         14 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 13 , wherein the second tubular member is formed from a first material and the second tubular member is formed from a second material that is distinct from the first material. 
     
     
         15 . A method of heating a formation comprising:
 introducing a radio frequency (RF) heating system including a first tubular member and a second tubular member arranged radially inwardly of and electrically insulated from the first tubular member into a formation; and   electrically stimulating the one of the first tubular member and the second tubular member to produce an RF heating zone about the other of the first tubular member and the second tubular member.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: running the RF heating system into the formation as part of a string of interconnected tubulars. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: electrically stimulating the first tubular member and the second tubular member of the RF heating system to produce the RF heating zone having a first intensity and electrically stimulating a first tubular member and a second tubular member of another RF heating system connected to the RF heating system to produce another RF heating zone having a second intensity that is distinct from the first intensity. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the RF heating system is operated to create the RF heating zone in a first portion of the formation and the another RF heating system is operated to produce the another RF heating zone in a second portion of the formation that does not adjoin the first portion of the formation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 introducing a fluid into one of the first tubular member and the second tubular member;   heating the fluid with the RF heating system to produce a heated fluid; and   injecting the heated fluid into a formation.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: introducing the first fluid into the first tubular member and a second fluid into the second tubular member.