Patent ID: 7559367
Filing Date: 2009-07-14
Classification: C10G,E21B

Abstract:
1. A system for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising: a conduit located in an opening in the formation, the conduit comprising ferromagnetic material; an electrical conductor positioned inside the conduit, and electrically coupled to the conduit at or near an end portion of the conduit so that the electrical conductor and the conduit are electrically coupled in series and electrical current flows in the electrical conductor in a substantially opposite direction to electrical current flow in the conduit during application of electrical current to the system; wherein, during application of electrical current to the system, the flow of electrons is substantially confined to the inside of the conduit by the electromagnetic field generated from electrical current flow in the electrical conductor so that the outside surface of the conduit is at or near substantially zero potential at 25° C.; and the conduit is configured to generate heat and heat the formation during application of electrical current to the system.