Patent ID: 8701760

Claim:
A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon formation, the method comprising: transmitting RF energy into the hydrocarbon formation using an antenna laterally extending within the hydrocarbon formation, the hydrocarbon formation comprising a first hydrocarbon portion above and adjacent the antenna and comprising hydrocarbons, a second hydrocarbon portion above the first hydrocarbon portion and comprising hydrocarbons, and a rock stratum between the first hydrocarbon portion and the second hydrocarbon portion, the rock stratum comprising water and rock; the RF energy being transmitting into the hydrocarbon formation so that the first and second hydrocarbon portions are heated, water in the rock stratum is heated and steam is produced, and fissures are created in the rock based upon the steam fracturing the rock; and recovering the hydrocarbons from the first and second hydrocarbon portions, wherein heated hydrocarbons in the second hydrocarbon portion flow through the fissures in the rock stratum.