Patent ID: 9650878
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: E21B

Claim:
1. A system for disrupting convective heat flow within a body of hydrocarbonaceous material comprising: a) a body of hydrocarbonaceous material having a distributed void space therein with sufficient porosity to allow convective flow within the void space; b) a bulk fluid oriented in the void space of the body of hydrocarbonaceous material; c) a heat source configured to induce convective flow of the bulk fluid; and d) a convective barrier oriented within an upper portion of the body of hydrocarbonaceous material configured to disrupt the convective flow; and e) a fluid barrier substantially encapsulating the body of hydrocarbonaceous material, wherein the convective barrier is within the fluid barrier and protects a top portion of the fluid barrier from convective flow while allowing convective flow below the convective barrier.