IP Library Granted Patent US 7,683,296
Granted Patent B2
US 7,683,296 · App. 11/788,860 · Granted Mar 23, 2010

Adjusting alloy compositions for selected properties in temperature limited heaters

Assignee: Shell Oil Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,683,296
App. No.
11/788,860
Granted
Mar 23, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

Heaters for treating a subsurface formation are described herein. Such heaters can be obtained by using the systems and methods described herein. The heater includes a heater section including iron, cobalt, and carbon. The heater section has a Curie temperature less than a phase transformation temperature. The Curie temperature is at least 740° C. The heater section provides, when time varying current is applied to the heater section, an electrical resistance.

Claims (57)

1. A heater, comprising:

a heater section having at least 50% by weight iron, at least 6% by weight cobalt, at least 9% by weight chromium, and at least 0.5% by weight vanadium;

wherein the heater section has a Curie temperature (T c ) less than a phase transformation temperature, wherein the T c is at least 740° C.; and

wherein the heater section is configured to provide, when time varying current is applied, an electrical resistance.

2. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heater section further comprises carbon.

3. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heater section further comprises titanium.

4. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heater section further comprises manganese.

5. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heater section further comprises nickel.

6. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heater section further comprises silicon.

7. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heater section further comprises manganese, silicon, nickel, or combinations thereof.

8. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the content of chromium in the heater section is at least 11% by weight.

9. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heater section has at most 1% by weight of manganese.

10. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heater section has at most 1% by weight of nickel.

11. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heater section has at most 1% by weight of silicon.

12. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heater section has at most 1% by weight of vanadium.

13. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heater section has at most 1% by weight of titanium.

14. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heater section is configured to provide a reduced amount of heat at or near, and above, the Curie temperature.

15. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heater is located in a subsurface formation.

16. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heater is configured to provide heat to a subsurface formation.

17. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heater is configured to provide heat to a hydrocarbon containing formation such that at least some hydrocarbons in the formation are mobilized and/or pyrolyzed.

18. A heater, comprising:

a heater section having at least 50% by weight iron, at least 9% by weight chromium, at least 0.1% by weight carbon, and at least some titanium with at most 1% by weight of titanium;

wherein the heater section has a Curie temperature (T c ) less than a phase transformation temperature, wherein the T c is at least 800° C.; and

wherein the heater section is configured to provide, when time varying current is applied, an electrical resistance.

19. The heater of claim 18 , wherein the heater section further comprises one or more metals capable of forming carbides.

20. The heater of claim 18 , wherein the heater section further comprises one or more metals capable of forming carbides, wherein at least one of the metals is titanium.

21. The heater of claim 18 , wherein the heater section further comprises at least 6% by weight of cobalt.

22. The heater of claim 18 , wherein the heater section is configured to provide a reduced amount of heat at or near, and above, the Curie temperature.

23. The heater of claim 18 , wherein the heater is located in a subsurface formation.

24. The heater of claim 18 , wherein the heater is configured to provide heat to a subsurface formation.

25. The heater of claim 18 , wherein the heater is configured to provide heat to a hydrocarbon containing formation such that at least some hydrocarbons in the formation are mobilized and/or pyrolyzed.

26. A heater, comprising:

a heater section comprising iron, cobalt, chromium, vanadium, and carbon;

wherein the heater section has a Curie temperature (T c ) less than a phase transformation temperature, and the T c is at least 740° C.; and

wherein the heater section is configured to provide, when time varying current is applied to the heater section, an electrical resistance.

27. The heater of claim 26 , wherein the heater section further comprises one or more metals capable of forming carbides.

28. The heater of claim 26 , wherein the heater section further comprises one or more metals capable of forming carbides, wherein at least one of the metals is vanadium.

29. The heater of claim 26 , wherein the heater section has at least 6% by weight of cobalt.

30. The heater of claim 26 , wherein the heater section has at least 11% by weight of chromium.

31. The heater of claim 26 , wherein the heater section has at most 1% by weight of vanadium.

32. The heater of claim 26 , wherein the heater section is configured to provide a reduced amount of heat at or near, and above, the Curie temperature.

33. The heater of claim 26 , wherein the heater is located in a subsurface formation.

34. The heater of claim 26 , wherein the heater is configured to provide heat to a subsurface formation.

35. The heater of claim 26 , wherein the heater is configured to provide heat to a hydrocarbon containing formation such that at least some hydrocarbons in the formation are mobilized and/or pyrolyzed.

36. A heater, comprising:

a heater section comprising iron, chromium, titanium, and carbon;

wherein the heater section has a Curie temperature (T c ) less than a phase transformation temperature, and the T c is at least 800° C.; and

wherein the heater section is configured to provide, when time varying current is applied to the heater section, an electrical resistance.

37. The heater of claim 36 , wherein the heater section further comprises one or more metals capable of forming carbides.

38. The heater of claim 36 , wherein the heater section further comprises one or more metals capable of forming carbides, wherein at least one of the metals is titanium.

39. The heater of claim 36 , wherein the heater section further comprises at least 6% by weight of cobalt.

40. The heater of claim 36 , wherein the heater section has at least 9% by weight of chromium.

41. The heater of claim 36 , wherein the heater section has at most 1% by weight of titanium.

42. The heater of claim 36 , wherein the heater section is configured to provide a reduced amount of heat at or near, and above, the Curie temperature.

43. The heater of claim 36 , wherein the heater is located in a subsurface formation.

44. The heater of claim 36 , wherein the heater is configured to provide heat to a subsurface formation.

45. The heater of claim 36 , wherein the heater is configured to provide heat to a hydrocarbon containing formation such that at least some hydrocarbons in the formation are mobilized and/or pyrolyzed.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Apr 11, 2011
From: SHELL EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION COMPANY
To: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 026101/0884 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2007
From: BRADY JR., MICHAEL PATRICK; HORTON JR., JOSEPH ARNO; VITEK, JOHN MICHAEL
To: SHELL OIL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 019701/0052 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 6079429800 · Apr 21, 2006
Provisional Application 6085309600 · Oct 20, 2006
Related Publication 20080035347A1 · Feb 14, 2008