Gaseous hydrocarbon formation heating device

Abstract

A method of enhanced gaseous hydrocarbons recovery is provided. The method includes placing at least two individual, independently-controllable heating elements aligned opposite one another and in the same location on a production tubing in a wellbore at a gaseous hydrocarbons-producing location of a geological formation to form a permanently-installed array of heating elements. The method also includes heating a portion of the geological formation containing a gaseous hydrocarbons deposit comprising kerogen with a gaseous hydrocarbons formation heating device comprising the permanently-installed array of heating elements, at a temperature sufficient to liberate gaseous hydrocarbons from the kerogen present in the gaseous hydrocarbons deposit and recovering the gaseous hydrocarbons by transporting the gaseous hydrocarbons via the production tubing to the surface. The gaseous hydrocarbons formation heating device comprises a controller configured to control the permanently-installed array of heating elements.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . The gaseous hydrocarbons formation heating device of claim  12 , wherein the individual, independently-controllable heating elements are configured to provide the production tubing a temperature profile that is non-cylindrically symmetrical. 
     
     
         3 . The gaseous hydrocarbons formation heating device of claim  12 , further comprising a plurality of sensors, the sensors being at least one selected from the group consisting of array temperature sensors capable of measuring a temperature profile of the permanently-installed array of heating elements, gaseous hydrocarbons temperature sensors capable of measuring a temperature distribution of gaseous hydrocarbons in the production tubing, and gaseous hydrocarbons flow sensors capable of measuring a gaseous hydrocarbons flow profile into and along the production tubing. 
     
     
         4 . The gaseous hydrocarbons formation heating device of  claim 3 , wherein the controller receives input from the plurality of sensors and adjusts the temperature profile of the permanently-installed array of heating elements based on said input. 
     
     
         5 . The gaseous hydrocarbons formation heating device of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the temperature of the permanently-installed array of heating elements to a defined temperature based on a production metric of the gaseous hydrocarbons deposit. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The gaseous hydrocarbons formation heating device of claim  12 , further comprising a production tubing heater comprising a plurality of tube heaters distributed along a length of a portion of the production tubing away from the permanently-installed array of heating elements. 
     
     
         8 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A gaseous hydrocarbons formation heating device, comprising:
 a permanently-installed array of heating elements,   a production tubing disposed in a well bore in a geological formation, wherein the permanently-installed array of heating elements is disposed in or on the production tubing; and   a controller,   wherein the permanently-installed array of heating elements comprises at least two individual, independently-controllable heating elements controlled by the controller,   wherein the heating elements have a length of 1 to 25 m and a width of 5 cm to 15 cm,   wherein the heating elements are circumferentially disposed around the production tubing, and   wherein the heating elements are separated along the circumference of the production tubing by 50 to 100% of the width of the individual, independently-controllable heating elements.   
     
     
         13 . The gaseous hydrocarbons formation heating device of  claim 12 , wherein the individual, independently-controllable heating elements are capable of giving the permanently-installed array a temperature profile that is non-cylindrically symmetrical. 
     
     
         14 . The gaseous hydrocarbons formation heating device of  claim 12 , wherein the permanently-installed array of heating elements is capable of being heated to a temperature of 200 to 325° F. 
     
     
         15 . The gaseous hydrocarbons formation heating device of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of sensors connected to the controller, the sensors being at least one selected from the group consisting of array temperature sensors, gaseous hydrocarbons temperature sensors, and gaseous hydrocarbons flow sensors. 
     
     
         16 . The gaseous hydrocarbons formation heating device of  claim 15 , wherein the controller receives input from the plurality of sensors and adjusts the temperature profile of the permanently-installed array of heating elements based on said input. 
     
     
         17 . The gaseous hydrocarbons formation heating device of  claim 12 , further comprising a photovoltaic array disposed at an aboveground location, the aboveground location located proximal to a wellhead of the production tubing. 
     
     
         18 . The gaseous hydrocarbons formation heating device of  claim 17 , further comprising an energy storage device, connected to both the photovoltaic array and the permanently-installed array of heating elements. 
     
     
         19 . The gaseous hydrocarbons formation heating device of  claim 18 , further comprising an energy distributor connected to the photovoltaic array, the energy storage device, and the permanently-installed array of heating elements, the energy distributor configured to, during times with sunlight, distribute energy collected by the photovoltaic array during times of sunlight to the energy storage device and the permanently-installed array of heating elements and to, during times without sunlight, distribute energy from the energy storage device to the permanently-installed array of heating elements. 
     
     
         20 . The gaseous hydrocarbons formation heating device of  claim 19 , wherein the energy distributor is configured to provide an energy distribution to the permanently-installed array of heating elements so as to maintain a total heating during times with sunlight equal to a total heating during times without sunlight. 
     
     
         21 . The gaseous hydrocarbons formation heating device of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a plurality of lateral tubes fluidly connected to the production tubing and connected to the production tubing between the individual, independently-controllable heating elements.