Patent ID: 7891416
Filing Date: 2011-02-22
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A downhole heating apparatus for heating a fluid stream, said apparatus comprising: an elongated, tubular heating member having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein at least one of the inner surface or outer surface is polygonal in shape, said polygonal shape formed of at least three coextensive flat surfaces; a tubular mixing member, the mixing member in fluid communication with the heating member, wherein the mixing member comprises a mixing conduit, the mixing conduit having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the mixing conduit comprises a plurality of apertures through the inner surface; a shroud disposed around said heating member and said mixing member, thereby forming a heating chamber and a mixing chamber, respectively, wherein said heating chamber has a first flow annulus formed between said shroud and said heating member and a second flow annulus formed within said heating member, and wherein said mixing chamber has a first flow annulus formed between said shroud and said mixing member and a second flow annulus formed within said mixing conduit, wherein the downhole heating apparatus comprises a plurality of heating chambers and a plurality of mixing chambers, each heating chamber in fluid communication with at least one mixing chamber and wherein each heating chamber and each mixing chamber are connected to one another in series and alternating between at least one heating chamber and at least one mixing chamber.