AU2011205183A1

AU2011205183A1 - Apparatus for extraction of hydrocarbon fuels or contaminants using electrical energy and critical fluids

Info

Publication number: AU2011205183A1
Application number: AU2011205183A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John A. Cogliandro; Maureen P. Cogliandro; Brian C. Considine; John R. Hannon; John P. Markiewicz; John M. Moses
Original assignee: Schlumberger Technology BV
Current assignee: Schlumberger Technology BV
Priority date: 2005-12-20
Filing date: 2011-08-05
Publication date: 2011-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 2026-09-12
Also published as: AU2011205183B2

Abstract

A system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down a borehole to heat the body 5 of fixed fossil fuels comprising an RF generator coupled to a transmission line for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator; means for providing a critical fluid down the borehole for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; means included with the critical fluid 10 for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi, and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the 15 overburden and wherein the system comprises means, added to the critical fluid, for modifying the polarity and solvent characteristics of the critical fluid. 73 10 OTHER MODIFIERS, CONTAMINANTS & CATALYSTS 41 40 GAS CO2 ,/,7 6GAS GAS/LIQUID 42 C02 SEPARATOR 44 STORAGE STORAGE 39 R.F TANK TANK |36 130 OIL GENERATOR <78 30 = 4 4 d 46 IN LINE 305 9 IMPEDANCE 72MIXER 8)28 2 MATCHING 72 8 ~- 6 48CIRCUIT GAS/LIQUID 52 24 22 AUXILIARY SEPARATOR 42 32 WELL C02 84 APPARATUS STORAGE \\82 -- 50 '

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Standard Patent Applicant(s): SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY B.V. Invention Title: Apparatus for extraction of hydrocarbon fuels or contaminants using electrical energy and critical fluids The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: 2 APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTION OF HYDROCARBON FUELS OR CONTAMINANTS USING ELECTRICAL ENERGY AND CRITICAL FLUIDS 5 RELATED APPLICATION This patent application is a divisional application of Australian patent application no. 2006333537. This patent: application relates to the subject matter disclosed in Australian 10 patent application no. 2006333537. Some description of the invention of Australian patent application no. 2006333537 is included herein to facilitate understanding of the present invention. If necessary, reference may be made to the disclosure of Australian patent application no. 2006333537 to understand the 15 present invention and the whole of the disclosure of Australian patent application no. 2006333537 is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD 20 This invention relates generally to extraction of hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels in subsurface formations such as oil shale, heavy oil in aging wells, coal, lignite, peat and tar sands, and in particular to a method and apparatus for extraction of kerogen oil and hydrocarbon gas from 25 oil shale in situ utilizing electrical energy and critical fluids (CF), and extraction of contaminants or residue from a body of fixed earth or from a vessel in situ utilizing electrical energy and critical fluids (CF). 30 BACKGROUND ART Oil shale, also known as organic rich marlstone, contains organic matter comprised mainly of an insoluble solid material called kerogen. Kerogen decomposes during pyrolysis into kerogen oil and hydrocarbon gasses, which can be used as fuels or further 35 refined into other transportation fuels or products. Shale oil and hydrocarbon gas can be generated from kerogen by a pyrolysis process, i.e. a treatment that consists of heating oil shale to 3 elevated temperatures, typically 300 to 5000 C. Prior to pyrolysis, kerogen products at room temperature have substantial portions of high viscosity non-transformed material such that they cannot be accessed within the rock/sand matrix. The shale 5 oil is then refined into usable marketable products. Early attempts to process bodies of oil shale in situ by heating the kerogen in the oil shale, for example, injecting super-heated steam, hot liquids or other materials into the oil shale formation, have not been economically viable even if 10 fundamentally feasible (which some were not). Early and current attempts to process bodies of oil shale above ground to obtain the kerogen in the oil shale, for example, by mining, crushing and heating the shale in a retort type oven, have not been environmentally feasible nor economically viable. 15 It is well known to use critical fluids for enhanced oil and gas recovery by injecting naturally occurring carbon dioxide into existing reservoirs in order to maximize the output of oil and gas. By pumping carbon dioxide or air into the reservoirs, the existing oil or gas is displaced, and pushed up to levels where 20 it is more easily extracted. An article by M. Koel et al. entitled "Using Neoteric Solvents in Oil Shale Studies", Pure Applied Chemistry, Vol. 73, No. 1, PP 153-159, 2001 discloses that supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) at elevated temperatures with carbon dioxide 25 modified with methanol or water can be used to extract kerogen from ground shale. This study was targeted at replacing analytical techniques using conventional solvents. Most of these solvents are not environmentally desirable and are impractical for use on a large scale. 30 In a paper by Treday, J. and Smith, J, JAIChE, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp 658-668, supercritical toluene is shown to be effective for the extraction of kerogen from shale. This study used oil shale which was mined, carried to above ground levels, and ground to 14" diameter particles in preparation for the extraction. This labor 35 intensive preparation process was to increase diffusivity, as the in-situ diffusivity reported would not support toluene's critical 4 point of 320 degrees Celsius. "In-Situ" diffusivity of 5x10

M

2 /s was estimated, resulting in a penetration of a few centimeters per day which was insufficient. Furthermore the cost of toluene and the potential environmental impact of using 5 toluene in-situ were prohibitive. Finally, maintaining the temperature of 320 degrees Celsius would be expensive in a toluene system. In a paper by Willey et. al, "Reactivity Investigation of Mixtures of Propane on Nitrous Oxide", scheduled for publication 10 in December, 2005 in Process Safety Progress, the use of CO 2 to inhibit an oxidation reaction from becoming a hazardous runaway reaction is demonstrated. However in this article it is not contemplated to use such a reactant for in-situ fossil fuel processing, shale heating, etc. 15 Critical fluids are compounds at temperatures and pressures approaching or exceeding the thermodynamic critical point of the compounds. These fluids are characterized by properties between those of gasses and liquids, e.g. diffusivities are much greater than liquids, but not as great as gasses and viscosity is lower 20 than typical liquid viscosities. Density of critical fluids is a strong function of pressure. Density can range from gas to liquid, while the corresponding solvent properties of a critical fluid also vary with temperature and pressure which can be used to advantage in certain circumstances and with certain methods. 25 Critical fluids were first discovered as a laboratory curiosity in the 1870's and have found many commercial uses. Supercritical and critical CO 2 have been used for coffee decaffeination, wastewater cleanup and many other applications. Many efforts have been attempted or proposed to heat large 30 volumes of subsurface formations in situ using electric resistance, gas burner heating, steam injection and electromagnetic energy such as to obtain kerogen oil and gas from oil shale. Resistance type electrical elements have been positioned down a borehole via a power cable to heat the shale 35 via conduction. Electromagnetic energy has been delivered via an antenna or microwave applicator. The antenna is positioned down 5 a borehole via a coaxial cable or waveguide connecting it to a high-frequency power source on the surface. Shale heating is accomplished by radiation and dielectric absorption of the energy contained in the electromagnetic (EM) wave radiated by the 5 antenna or applicator. This is superior to more common resistance heating which relies solely on conduction to transfer the heat. It is superior to steam heating which requires large amounts of water and energy present at the site. U.S. Patent No. 3,881,550 issued May 6, 1975 to Charles B. 10 Barry and assigned to Ralph M. Parson Company, discloses a process for in situ recovery of hydrocarbons or heavy oil from tar sand formations by continuously injecting a hot solvent containing relatively large amounts of aromatics into the formations, and alternatively steam and solvents are cyclically 15 and continuously injected into the formation to recover values by gravity drainage. The solvents are injected at a high temperature and consequently lie on top of the oil shale or tar sand and accordingly no complete mixing and dissolving of the heavy oil takes place. 20 U.S. Patent No. 4,140,179 issued February 20, 1979 to Raymond Kasevich, et al. and assigned to Raytheon Company discloses a system and method for producing subsurface heating of a formation comprising a plurality of groups of spaced RF energy radiators (dipole antennas) extending down boreholes to oil 25 shale. The antenna elements must be matched to the electrical conditions of the surrounding formations. However, as the formation is heated, the electrical conditions can change whereby the dipole antenna elements may have to be removed and changed due to changes in temperature and content of organic material. 30 U.S. Patent No. 4,508,168, issued April 2, 1985 to Vernon L. Heeren and assigned to Raytheon Company, is incorporated herein by reference and describes an RF applicator positioned down a borehole supplied with electromagnetic energy through a coaxial transmission line whose outer conductor terminates in a choking 35 structure comprising an enlarged coaxial stub extending back along the outer conductor. It is desirable that the frequency of 6 an RF transmitter be variable to adjust for different impedances or different formations, and/or the output impedance of an impedance matching circuit be variable so that by means of a standing wave, the proper impedance is reflected through a 5 relatively short transmission line stub and transmission line to the radiating RF applicator down in the formation. However, this approach by itself requires longer application of RF power and more variation in the power level with time. The injection of critical fluids (CF) will reduce the heating dependence, due 10 solely on RF energy, simplifying the RF generation and monitoring equipment and reducing electrical energy consumed. The same is true if simpler electrical resistance heaters are used in place of the RF. Also, the injection of critical fluids (CF) as in the present invention increases the total output of the system, 15 regardless of heat temperature or application method, due to its dilutent and carrier properties. The process described in U.S. Patent 4,140,179 and U.S. Patent No. 4,508,168 and other methods using resistance heaters, require a significant amount of electric power to be generated at 20 the surface to power the process and does not provide an active transport method for removing the products as they are formed and transporting them to the surface facilities. C0 2 , or another critical fluid, which also acts as an active transport mechanism, can potentially be capped in the shale after the extraction is 25 complete thereby reducing greenhouse gases released to the atmosphere. U.S. Patent No. 5,065,819 issued November 19, 1991 to Raymond S. Kasevich and assigned to KAI Technologies discloses an electromagnetic apparatus for in situ heating and recovery of 30 organic and inorganic materials of subsurface formations such as oil shale, tar sands, heavy oil or sulfur. A high power RF generator which operates at either continuous wave or in a pulsed mode, supplies electromagnetic energy over a coaxial transmission line to a downhole collinear array antenna. A 35 coaxial liquid-dielectric impedance transformer located in the wellhead couples the antenna to the RF generator.

7 However, this requires continuous application and monitoring of the RF power source and the in-ground radiating hardware, to provide the necessary heating required for reclamation. 5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect of this invention there is provided a system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down a borehole to 10 heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising an RF generator coupled to a transmission line for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator; means for providing a critical fluid down the borehole for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined 15 pressure; means included with the critical fluid for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 20 500 psi and 5000psi, and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the overburden and wherein the system comprises means, added to the critical 25 fluid, for modifying the polarity and solvent characteristics of the critical fluid. In another aspect of this invention there is provided a system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising: 30 means for transmitting electrical energy down a borehole to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising an RF generator coupled to a transmission line for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator; means for providing a critical fluid down the borehole for 35 diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; 8 means included with the critical fluid for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 5 500 psi and 5000psi, and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the overburden and wherein the system comprises means for mixing critical 10 fluids, reactants, catalysts or modifiers prior to entering the borehole. In another aspect of this invention there is provided a system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising: 15 means for transmitting electrical energy down a borehole to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising an RF generator coupled to a transmission line for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator; means for providing a critical fluid down the borehole for 20 diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; means included with the critical fluid for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; 25 means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi, and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the overburden, 30 wherein the system comprises a wellhead positioned on top of the borehole for receiving the critical fluid and the electrical energy and transferring the critical fluid and the electrical energy down the borehole, and wherein said wellhead comprises means for RF energy 35 decoupling including an RF choke connected to a filter capacitor for each thermocouple line extending down the borehole.

9 In another aspect of this invention there is provided a system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down a borehole to 5 heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising an RF generator coupled to a transmission line for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator; means for providing a critical fluid down the borehole for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined 10 pressure; means included with the critical fluid for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 15 500 psi and 5000psi, and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the overburden, wherein the system comprises a wellhead positioned on top of 20 the borehole for receiving the critical fluid and the electrical energy and transferring the critical fluid and the electrical energy down the borehole, and wherein said wellhead comprises means for RF energy decoupling including a hollow RF choke, the RF choke being formed 25 by thermocouple wires extending down the borehole which are insulated and rotated to form a coil, each end of the thermocouple wires being connected to a filter capacitor. In another aspect of this invention there is provided a system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed 30 fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down a borehole to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising an RF generator coupled to a transmission line for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator; 10 means for providing a critical fluid down the borehole for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; means included with the critical fluid for initializing a 5 reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi, and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the 10 hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the overburden, wherein the system comprises a wellhead positioned on top of the borehole for receiving the critical fluid and the electrical energy and transferring the critical fluid and the electrical 15 energy down the borehole, and wherein the wellhead comprises a plurality of ground wires extending radially a distance of approximately one wavelength of the electrical energy frequency and spaced apart at predetermined intervals of approximately 15 degrees. 20 In another aspect of this invention there is provided a system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down a borehole to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising an RF generator 25 coupled to a transmission line for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator; means for providing a critical fluid down the borehole for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; 30 means included with the critical fluid for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi, and 11 wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the overburden, wherein the system comprises a wellhead positioned on top of 5 the borehole for receiving the critical fluid and the electrical energy and transferring the critical fluid and the electrical energy down the borehole, and wherein the wellhead comprises a grounding screen positioned adjacent to an outer surface of the wellhead forming a ground 10 plane, and a plurality of ground wires extending radially from the perimeter of the grounding screen at a distance of approximately one wavelength of the electrical energy frequency and spaced apart at predetermined intervals. In another aspect of this invention there is provided a 15 system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising a plurality of boreholes, each of the boreholes comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down each of the boreholes to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising a 20 central RF generator coupled to transmission lines for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator in each of the boreholes; means for providing critical fluids down each of the boreholes for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a 25 predetermined pressure; means included with the critical fluids for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for controlling the electrical energy and the critical 30 fluids to each of the boreholes; and means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi; and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the 35 overburden and 12 wherein the system comprises means, added to the critical fluid, for modifying the polarity and solvent characteristics of the critical fluid. In another aspect of this invention there is provided a 5 system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising a plurality of boreholes, each of the boreholes comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down each of the boreholes to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising a 10 central RF generator coupled to transmission lines for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator in each of the boreholes; means for providing critical fluids down each of the boreholes for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a 15 predetermined pressure; means included with the critical fluids for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for controlling the electrical energy and the critical 20 fluids to each of the boreholes; and means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi; and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the 25 overburden and wherein the system comprises means in each of the boreholes for mixing critical fluids, reactants, catalysts or modifiers prior to entering the borehole. In another aspect of this invention there is provided a 30 system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising a plurality of boreholes, each of the boreholes comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down each of the boreholes to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising a 35 central RF generator coupled to transmission lines for 13 transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator in each of the boreholes; means for providing critical fluids down each of the boreholes for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a 5 predetermined pressure; means included with the critical fluids for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for controlling the electrical energy and the critical 10 fluids to each of the boreholes; and means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi; and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the 15 overburden, wherein the system comprises a wellhead positioned on top of each of the boreholes for receiving the critical fluids and the electrical energy and transferring the critical fluids and the electrical energy down the borehole, and 20 wherein said wellhead comprises means for RF energy decoupling including an RF choke connected to a filter capacitor for each thermocouple line extending down the borehole. In another aspect of this invention there is provided a system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed 25 fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising a plurality of boreholes, each of the boreholes comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down each of the boreholes to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising a central RF generator coupled to transmission lines for 30 transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator in each of the boreholes; means for providing critical fluids down each of the boreholes for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; 14 means included with the critical fluids for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for controlling the electrical energy and the critical 5 fluids to each of the boreholes; and means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi; and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the 10 overburden, wherein the system comprises a wellhead positioned on top of each of the boreholes for receiving the critical fluids and the electrical energy and transferring the critical fluids and the electrical energy down the borehole, and 15 wherein said wellhead comprises means for RF energy decoupling including a hollow RF choke, the RF choke being formed by thermocouple wires extending down the borehole which are insulated and rotated to form a coil, each end of the thermocouple wires being connected to a filter capacitor. 20 In another aspect of this invention there is provided a system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising a plurality of boreholes, each of the boreholes comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down each of the 25 boreholes to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising a central RF generator coupled to transmission lines for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator in each of the boreholes; means for providing critical fluids down each of the 30 boreholes for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; means included with the critical fluids for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; 35 means for controlling the electrical energy and the critical fluids to each of the boreholes; and 15 means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi; and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the 5 overburden, wherein the system comprises a wellhead positioned on top of each of the boreholes for receiving the critical fluids and the electrical energy and transferring the critical fluids and the electrical energy down the borehole and 10 wherein each of the wellheads comprises a plurality of ground wires extending radially a distance of approximately one wavelength of the the electrical energy frequency and spaced apart at predetermined intervals of approximately 15 degrees. In another aspect of this invention there is provided a 15 system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising a plurality of boreholes, each of the boreholes comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down each of the boreholes to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising a 20 central RF generator coupled to transmission lines for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator in each of the boreholes; means for providing critical fluids down each of the boreholes for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a 25 predetermined pressure; means included with the critical fluids for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for controlling the electrical energy and the critical 30 fluids to each of the boreholes; and means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi; and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the 35 overburden, 16 wherein the system comprises a wellhead positioned on top of each of the boreholes for receiving the critical fluids and the electrical energy and transferring the critical fluids and the electrical energy down the borehole and 5 wherein each of the wellheads comprises a grounding screen positioned adjacent to an outer surface of the wellhead forming a ground plane, and a plurality of ground wires extending radially from the perimeter of the grounding screen at a distance of approximately one wavelength of the electrical energy frequency 10 and spaced apart at predetermined intervals. In another aspect of this invention there is provided a system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down a borehole to 15 heat the body of fixed fossil fuels; means for providing a critical fluid down said borehole for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; means included with the critical fluid for initializing a 20 reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; a wellhead positioned on top of said borehole for receiving said critical fluid and said electrical energy and transferring said critical fluid and said electrical energy down said 25 borehole, means for decoupling RF energy from thermocouple wires extending down said borehole using an RF choke connected to a filter capacitor for each thermocouple line; and means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi and 30 wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the overburden. In another aspect of this invention there is provided a system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed 35 fossil fuels beneath an overburden including a plurality of boreholes, said system comprising: 17 means for transmitting electrical energy down each of said boreholes to heat said body of fixed fossil fuels; means for providing a critical fluid down each of said boreholes for diffusion into said body of fixed fossil fuels at a 5 predetermined pressure; means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi; means, included with said critical fluid, for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause said 10 hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for controlling the electrical energy and the critical fluid to each of the boreholes; a wellhead positioned on top of a predetermined number of said boreholes for receiving said critical fluids and said 15 electrical energy and transferring said critical fluids and said electrical energy down said borehole; and said wellhead comprises means for decoupling RF energy from thermocouple wires extending down said borehole using an RF choke connected to a filter capacitor for each thermocouple line and 20 wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the overburden. In an embodiment, the system comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above 25 the overburden. The system comprises means at the ground surface for separating the hydrocarbon fuel, gases, critical fluids, or contaminants. The means for transmitting electrical energy down a borehole comprises an RF generator coupled to a transmission line for transferring electrical energy to a RF Applicator. The 30 means for providing critical fluids comprises means for providing carbon dioxide (C0 2 ). The means for initiating a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels comprises a reactant including nitrous oxide (N 2 0) or Oxygen (02). The means for initiating a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels comprises a catalyst 35 including one of nano-sized iron oxide (Fe 2 0 3 ), silica aerogel, and nano-sized alumina (AL 2 0 3 ) aerogel. The system comprises 18 means, added to the critical fluid, for modifying the polarity and solvent characteristics of the critical fluid. The system comprises means for mixing critical fluids, reactants, catalysts or modifiers prior to entering the borehole. The system 5 comprises a wellhead positioned on top of the borehole for receiving the critical fluid and the electrical energy and transferring the critical fluid and the electrical energy down the borehole. The wellhead comprises means for decoupling RF energy from thermocouple wires extending down the borehole. 10 The RF energy decoupling means comprises an RF choke connected to a filter capacitor for each thermocouple line. Also, the RF energy decoupling means comprises a hollow RF choke, the RF choke being formed by the thermocouple wires which are insulated and rotated to form a coil, each end of the 15 thermocouple wires being connected to a filter capacitor. The wellhead comprises a grounding screen positioned adjacent to an outer surface of the wellhead forming a ground plane to eliminate electromagnetic radiation eminating from around the wellhead for operator safety and performance. The wellhead comprises a 20 plurality of ground wires extending radially a distance oE approximately one wavelength of the electrical energy frequency and spaced apart at predetermined intervals of approximately 15 degrees. The wellhead comprises a grounding screen positioned adjacent to an outer surface of the wellhead forming a ground 25 plane, and a plurality of ground wires extending radially from the perimeter of the grounding screen at a distance of approximately one wavelength of the electrical energy frequency and spaced apart at predetermined intervals. The system comprises an auxiliary well spaced apart from the borehole and 30 extending down to the body of fixed fossil fuels for extracting the released hydrocarbon fuels. The auxiliary well comprises an auxiliary wellhead, a well pipe extending downward from the wellhead, a pump coupled to the auxiliary wellhead for bringing fuel products up to a ground surface above the overburden, and a 35 gas/liquid separator coupled to the auxiliary wellhead.

19 Objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as 5 presently perceived. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The appended claims particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of this invention. The various objects, 10 advantages and novel features of this invention will be more fully apparent from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method of producing hydrocarbon 15 fuel products from a body of fixed fossil fuels according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B in combination illustrate the system apparatus of the present invention including a sectional view of a wellhead and borehole RF applicator. 20 FIG. 3A illustrates a first apparatus for obtaining thermocouple data using an RF choke to decouple RF energy from the thermocouple lines. FIG. 33 illustrates a second apparatus for obtaining thermocouple data using the thermocouple wires to form a hollow 25 RF choke to decouple RF energy from the thermocouple lines. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a wellhead illustrating a ground plane at the surface having a surface grounding screen close to the wellhead to eliminate electromagnetic radiation for personnel safety and radial ground wires. 30 FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a first alternate embodiment of the method of producing hydrocarbon fuel products from a body of fixed fossil fuels without preheating. FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a second alternate embodiment of the method of producing hydrocarbon fuel products from a body of 35 fixed fossil fuels having repetitive cycles.

20 FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a third alternate embodiment of the method of producing hydrocarbon fuel products from a body of fixed fossil fuels without the use of reactants or catalysts. FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an auxiliary well apparatus. 5 FIG. 9 is a simplified diagram of the system in Figs. 2A and 2B showing the well head, borehole and RF applicator positioned in the ground at a predetermined angle. FIG. 10 is an illustration of the application of the system of the present invention as shown in Figures 2A and 2B in an 10 aging oil well comprising heavy oil. FIG. 11 is a plan view of a plurality of systems of Figs 2A and 2B showing a central RF generator and a control station. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 15 Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, FIG. 1 shows the steps of a method 19 of producing hydrocarbon fuel products, such as kerogen oil 98 and gas, from a body of fixed fossil fuels, such as oil shale 14, or tar sand beneath an overburden 1:2, or heavy petroleum from a spent well, or hydrocarbon fuels from 20 coal, lignite or peat. FIGs. 2A and 2B together illustrate a system 10 for accomplishing the method of FIG. 1. The method 19 comprises a step 21 of transmitting electrical energy to heat a body of fixed fossil fuels, such as oil shale 14, to a first predetermined temperature such as 150 25 degrees Celsius to begin the kerogen 98 pyrolysis process, of fracturing and modifying the shale sufficiently to allow the critical fluids to easily penetrate deep into the formation and to reduce the total energy input required in some instances. Step 21 is a preheating step to increase the speed of the 30 critical fluid diffusion and depth of the critical fluids penetration into the body of fixed fossil fuels. The electrical energy down a borehole is provided by an RF generator 44 which generates electromagnetic energy and known to one skilled in the art. 35 The next step 23 provides critical fluids (CF), such as carbon dioxide (C0 2 ), with reactants, such as nitrous oxide (N 2 0) 21 or oxygen (02), and catalysts may be added such as nano-sized iron oxide (Fe 2 0 3 ), silica aerogel, and nano-sized Alumina (A1 2 0 3 ) aerogel, down the borehole 16 for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuel or oil shale 14. However, in addition to the 5 oxidants and catalysts, other modifiers can be added to the critical fluids to enhance the extraction of kerogen. Materials such as water or alcohols (e.g. methanol), can be added to modify the polarity and solvent characteristics of the critical fluid. Modifiers can also participate in reactions improving the product 10 quality and quantity by the addition of hydrogen to kerogen (known as hydrogen donor solvents). Tetralin and methanol are examples of hydrogen donor solvents. The introduction of critical fluids may be at various pressures, from 300 PSI to 5000 PSI. In the preferred embodiment 15 of Figure 1, the critical fluids are introduced at 700 psi prior to a second heating in step 25; in step 25 further heating of the critical fluids (C0 2 ) and the fixed fossil fuels occurs by transmitting electrical energy down the borehole 16 to reach a second predetermined temperature, in the range of 200 to 250 20 degrees Celsius. The lower initiation temperature uses less electrical energy and increases the overall process return on energy invested. This heating initiates an oxidation reaction, heating the critical fluids (CO 2 ) reactants, catalysts and the fixed fossil fuels with an oxidation of a small fraction of the 25 fixed fossil fuels causing the temperature to rise further to approximately 450 degrees Celsius and converts the kerogen to hydrocarbon fuel products such as kerogen oil 98 and gas to be released and extracted as a vapor, liquid, or dissolved in the critical fluids. In step 27 a decision is made as to whether or 30 not to perform pressure cycling by proceeding to step 33 where cycling pressure occurs in the borehole 16 between 500 psi and 5000 psi. Also, the pressure of the critical fluids may be increased at this point to 5000 PSI to assist in the removal of the fuel products; in step 29, removing the hydrocarbon fuel 35 products in the critical fluid occurs with a product return line 54 or lines extending from down in the borehole 16 or other 22 boreholes to the ground surface above the overburden 12. In step 31, when the hydrocarbon fuel products in the critical fluids leave the wellhead 34 via the product return line 40, they pass to a gas/liquid separator 42 for separating the critical fluid 5 (CO 2 ) from the products and return the critical fluid to the borehole 16 or to storage. Referring to FIG. 2A, a wellhead 34 is shown on top of a borehole 16 which has been drilled from the ground surface through the overburden 12, through the oil shale 14 and into a 10 substrate 15. Overburden 12 may be sedimentary material forming a substantially gas tight cap over the oil shale 14 region. A seal to the overburden 12 is formed by a steel casing 18 extending from above the surface downwardly in borehole 16 to a point beneath the loose surface material, and the steel casing 18 15 is sealed to the walls of the borehole 16 by concrete region 20 surrounding the steel casing 18 which is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. A lower portion of the wellhead 34, referred to as the wellhead casing 12 extends within the steel casing 18 and is attached to the steel casing 18, for example, by 20 welding. The steel casing 18 design and application is determined by the condition of the specific site and formation and is known to one skilled in the art. A critical fluid, such as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), is provided in a CO 2 storage tank 70, and CO 2 may also be provided from the 25 gas/liquid separator 42 which separates gases and liquids obtained from the external product return line 40 provided by the system 10. A pump or compressor 72 moves the CO 2 from the separator 42 to an in-line mixer 78. A nitrous oxide (N 2 0) storage tank 74 and an oxygen (02) storage tank 76 are provided 30 and their outputs are connected to the in-line mixer 78. Additional tanks 73 may be provided containing modifiers other reactants and other catalysts, such as nano-sized iron oxide (Fe 2 0 3 ), silica aerogel or nano-sized Alumina (A1 2 0 3 ). The mixture of the critical fluid, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), the nitrous 35 oxide (N 2 0) and Oxygen (02) are provided by the in-line mixer 78 into the wellhead 34, down the borehole 16 and into the body of 23 fixed fossil fuels for enhanced extracting, for example, of kerogen oil and gas 98 from oil shale 14. Still referring to FIG. 2A, a center conductor 50 of a coaxial transmission line 53 is supported by the wellhead 34 5 being suspended via a landing nipple 30 and a support ring 28, from an insulator disk 26 and extending down to the center portion of the borehole 16. A ground shield or pipe 52 of the coax transmission line 53 provides a ground return path through a center conductor support 24. An RF generator 44, which provides 10 electrical or electromagnetic energy in the frequency range between 100 KHZ and 100 MHZ, is coupled to an impedance matching circuit 46, and an RF coax line 48 from the impedance matching circuit 46 connects through a pressure window 49 to an input coax line 51 in the wellhead 34. The upper frequency of 100 MHZ is a 15 practical limit based on the wavelength in shale. Oil Shale has a dielectric constant from 4 to 20 depending on the amount of kerogen and other materials in the shale. At 100 MHZ and lower, the wavelength in shale will be 1 meter and greater, resulting in sufficient penetration of the RF energy for efficient heating. 20 The wavelength is inversely proportional to the frequency making lower frequencies even more effective. The input coax line 51 connects to the coax center conductor 50 via the landing nipple 30. The product return line 54 is located within the coax center 25 conductor 52, and it is supported by the landing nipple 30 in the wellhead 34. A ceramic crossover pipe 36 or other non-conductive pressure capable pipe isolates an external product return line 40 from RF voltage in the wellhead 34. A flexible coupling hose 38 is used to make up tolerances in the product return line 40 and 30 to reduce strain on the ceramic crossover pipe 36. A feed port 41 is provided at the top of the wellhead 34 in the external product return line 40 for a gas lift line. Referring to Figure 2A and Figure 2B, Figure 2B shows a sectional view of an RF applicator 100. The coaxial transmission 35 line 53 comprises several lengths of pipe (or coaxial ground shield) 52 joined together by a threaded couplings 60, and the 24 upper end of the upper length of pipe 52 is threaded into an aperture in the center of the wellhead casing 22. The lower length of pipe 52 is threaded into an adapter coupling 112 which provides an enlarged threaded coupling to an upper coaxial stub 5 110 extending back up the borehole 16 for a distance of approximately an electrical eighth of a wavelength of the frequency to be radiated into the body of fixed fossil fuel or oil shale 14 by a radiator 102. A lower stub 108 of the same diameter as upper coaxial stub 110 extends downwardly from 10 adapter coupling 112 for a distance equal to approximately an electrical quarter wavelength of the selected frequency band. If desired, a ceramic sleeve 106 having perforations may be placed in the fixed fossil fuel or oil shale 14 to prevent caving of the oil shale during the heating process. 15 The coaxial transmission line 53 (FIG 2A) has the inner or center conductor 50 made, for example, of steel pipe lengChs. The upper end of the upper section is attached to the support ring 28 and an insulator 32 spaces the inner conductor 50 electrically from the outer conductor 52. The inner conductor 50 20 extends downwardly through outer conductor 52 to a point beyond the lower end of tubular stub 108. An enlarged ceramic spacer 114 surrounds the inner conductor pipe 50 adjacent to a lower end of tubular stub 108 to space the inner conductor pipe 50 centrally within coaxial lower stub 108. 25 The region from the upper end of the upper stub or tubular member 110 to the lower end of lower stub or tubular member 108 is made an odd number of quarter wavelengths effective in oil shale in the operating frequency band of the device and forms an impedance matching section 104. More specifically, the distance 30 from the adapter coupling 112 to the lower end of tubular member 108 is made approximately a quarter wavelength effective in air at the operating frequency of the system 10. The impedance matching section 104 of RF applicator 100 comprising lower stub 108 together with portions of the inner conductor 50 adjacent 35 thereto act as an impedance matching transformer which improves 25 the impedance match between coaxial transmission line 53 and the RF radiator 102. The RF radiator 102 is formed by an enlarged section of a pipe or tubular member 88 threadably attached to the lower end of 5 the lowest inner conductor 50 by an enlarging coupling adapter 86 and the lower end of enlarged tubular member 88 has a ceramic spacer 92 attached to the outer surface through to space member 88 from the borehole 16 surface (FIG 2B). The RF radiator 102 is a half wave monopulse radiator and part of the RF applicator 100; 10 it is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,508,168 which, is incorporated herein by reference. Still referring to Figure 2B, the radiator 102 is shown in three positions within the borehole 16. When the kerogen oil 98 and gas extraction is completed to the desired level in the 15 lowest position in the borehole 16, the radiator 102 is raised so that it is in the position of radiator 102a, and likewise it may be raised again to the position of radiator 102b and so on to other desired locations. At each position a sequence of heating cycles 1,2,3, etc. described hereinafter occurs for penetration 20 of the oil shale 14 located at greater distances from the radiator 102. Referring to Figs 2A and 2B, an auxiliary well pipe 66 is provided spaced apart from the borehole 16 for providing an additional means for removing the fuel products, such as kerogen 25 oil and gas, from beneath the overburden 12. The lower portion of the auxiliary well pipe 66 comprises perforations 65 to allow the fuel products to enter the well pipe 66 and be removed. Referring to Figs 2A, 2B and Fig 8, Fig 8 is a block diagram of an auxiliary well apparatus 64 from which the auxiliary well 30 pipe 66 extends downward. The auxiliary well apparatus 64 comprises an auxiliary well head 69 on top of the auxiliary well pipe 66, a pump 68 for bringing the fuel products to the surface and a gas/liquid separator 67 which is similar to the gas/liquid separator 42 in Fig 2A and separates the oil, gas, critical 35 fluids and contaminants.

26 Referring to FIGs. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, FIG. 2A shows the thermocouple bundle 37 in the upper portion of wellhead 34 supported by the landing nipple 30, and are accessible through the thermocouple output connector 39 of the RF wellhead 34. In 5 this arrangement RF voltage is present on the thermocouple lines 56 when transmitting RF energy down hole. FIG. 3A shows a first embodiment for obtaining thermocouple data using RF chokes to decouple the thermocouple bundle 37 from the RF voltage in the wellhead 34. FIG. 3B shows a second embodiment for obtaining 10 thermocouple data using the thermocouple bundle 37 to form a hollow RF choke 140 to decouple RF energy for the thermocouple lines or wires 56 in the bundle 37. The thermocouple lines 56 extend down the borehole within the outer conductor 52. Referring to FIG. 3A, the individual thermocouple wires or 15 lines 56 in thermocouple bundle 37 are insulated from the wellhead 34, and they are connected to RF chokes 134 that are insulated from ground. Filter capacitors 132 are connected to the chokes 134 to eliminate radio frequency interference (RFI) in the thermocouple measurement system. The thermocouple output is 20 at the connector 39a that terminates the wires from point A at the junction between the RF chokes 134 and the filter capacitors 132. Referring to FIG. 3B, a special hollow RF choke 140 is wound using the insulated thermocouple bundle 37 which comprises the 25 insulated thermocouple wires inside of it, and the RF choke 140 is used to decouple the RF energy. The end of choke 140 is grounded to the RF wellhead 34 by a clamp 144 and the thermocouple wires 56 are connected at points B to filter capacitors 142 and an output connector 39b. 30 Referring now to Figure 4, a plan view of a wellhead having a surface grounding screen 152 positioned close to and around the wellhead 34 forming a ground plane to eliminate electromagnetic radiator for personnel and equipment safety. The ground screen 152 comprises a small mesh (i.e. 2 inches x 3 inches). In 35 addition to or instead of the grounding screen 152, ground wires 150 may be used extending radially a distance of one wavelength 27 (minimum) from the wellhead 34 at intervals of 15 degrees. When the grounding wires 151 are used in combination with the grounding screen 152, the grounding wires 151 are welded to the edges 153 of the grounding screen 152 to insure good RF contact. 5 In an array of wellheads 34, the ground should be continuous from wellhead to wellhead with the radial grounding wires extending outward from the perimeter of the wellhead field. Referring now to Figure 5, a flow chart of a first alternate embodiment is shown of the method 200 of producing hydrocarbon 10 fuel products from a body of fixed fossil fuels without preheating the body of fixed fossil fuels. In step 202, critical fluids such as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), a reactant such as nitrous oxide CN,0) , and a catalyst such as nano-sized iron oxide (Fe 2

O

3 ) are provided down the borehole 16 via wellhead 34 for diffusing 15 into a body of fixed fossil fuels such as oil shale 14 at a predetermined pressure in the range of 300 to 5000 psi. The use of reactants and catalysts improves the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the method or process. In Step 204, electrical energy is provided by the RF generator 44 down the borehole 16 to 20 heat the body of fixed fossil fuels and critical fluid (C0 2 ) to a predetermined temperature in the range of 200 to 250 degrees Celsius which causes a reaction of the reactant (N 2 0) with hydrocarbon fuel products in the body of fixed fossil fuels raising the temperature to approximately 350 to 450 degrees 25 Celsius at which point hydrocarbon fuel products are produced, such as kerogen oil 98 and gas 98 from the oil shale 14, which may be extracted as a vapor, liquid or dissolved in the critical fluid. Still referring to FIG. 5, in step 206 a decision is made 30 whether or not to cycle pressure. If a pressure cycle is performed, the cycling of pressure in the borehole 16 between 500 psi and 5000 psi is performed, and steps 202 and 204 are performed again as the pressure in the borehole 16 is cycled. However, during each cycle the pressure is controlled at the 35 injection point. In step 208 removing the hydrocarbon fuel products in the critical fluid occurs continuously via the 28 product return line 54 which extends to the ground surface above the overburden 12. In step 210 separating the critical fluid from the products is performed by the gas/liquid separator 42 (FIG. 2A), and the critical fluid (C0 2 ) is returned to the 5 borehole 16 or to the CO 2 storage tank 70. Referring to FIG. 6, a flow chart of a second alternate embodiment is shown of the method 220 of producing hydrocarbon fuel products from a body of fixed fossil fuels having repetitive cycles N. The addition of repetitive cycle N allows for 10 penetration of the heat and critical fluids to provide additional extraction at each elevation of the fixed fossil fuels, or for the movement of the RF radiator 102 and entire process up and down elevations within a borehole 16 at a fixed level of penetration. In step 222, electrical energy, which is provided 15 by the RF generator 44, is transmitted down the borehole 16 to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels to a first predetermined temperature of approximately 150 degrees Celsius. In step 224, critical fluids such as carbon dioxide (C0 2 ), a reactant such as nitrous oxide (N 2 0), and a catalyst such a nano-sized metal oxide 20 aerogel are provided down the borehole 16 at a predetermined pressure of between 300 and 5000 psi. The predetermined pressure is formation dependant, taking into account variables such as depth of the borehole, richness of the shale deposit, local geothermal conditions and the specific processing objectives. 25 These objectives are a combination of technical factors such as the solubility of the shale oil and economic factors such as optimum amount of oil to recover. They include variables that the operator may choose to optimize the process. An example includes a process optimized to recover a lower percentage of 30 total recoverable fuel in a rapid fashion. Such a quick recovery of a low percentage of fuels would have shorter cycle times and fewer cycles than a process optimized to recover a high percentage of the fuel from a specific borehole area. Each site specific iteration of the process can use a different combination 35 of temperature and pressure of the incoming critical fluid. For example, a 1 mhz RF transmitter may be used to heat the formation 29 to 150 degree Celsius. A 50 meter area around the RF transmitter .will reach 150 degrees Celsius in approximately 6 to 10 days. This preheating step in some situations increases the permeability of the shale, increasing the effectiveness and 5 permeation distance and reducing the time required for permeation of the critical fluids. Still referring to this example, the critical fluids would then be allowed to penetrate and react with the shale for a period of 21 to 90 days, depending on site specifics such as temperature and richness and porosity and 10 depending on the parameters desired for that particular extraction, such as depth of penetration and cycle time. In a similar example, without the use of RF preheating, the critical fluids may be allowed to penetrate and react for a longer period of time, for example 120 days, also depending on site specifics 15 and extraction parameters and goals. In some instances, the critical fluid can be pressurized and preheated. For example, if the critical fluids are preheated to 200 degrees Celsius, they would typically be injected into the borehole at about 3000 psi. If the critical fluids are injected with no preheating, and 20 remain at their typical storage temperature of -20 degrees Celsius, they could be injected at the storage pressure of 300 psi, if that temperature/pressure combination meets favorably with the other variables at that site. Naturally, the actual temperature and pressure of the critical fluids at the bottom of 25 the borehole 16 vary, being affected by several local conditions including depth, porosity of the shale, and geothermal temperatures. Still referring to Fig 6, in step 226 electrical energy from the RF generator 44 is provided down borehole 16 to further heat 30 the critical fluids and the fixed fossil fuels to a second predetermined temperature in the range of 200 to 250 degrees Celsius which causes a reaction of the reactant (N 2 0) with hydrocarbon fuel products in the body of fixed fossil fuels raising the temperature to approximately 400 degrees Celsius at 35 which point hydrocarbon fuel products are produced, such as kerogen oil 98 and gas from the oil shale 14. In step 223, a 30 decision is made whether or not to cycle pressure. If pressure cycling is performed, the cycling of pressure in borehole 16 occurs between 500 psi and 5000 psi, and steps 224 and 226 are performed again as the pressure in borehole 16 is cycled. 5 However, during each cycle the pressure is controlled at the injection point. During step 226, hydrocarbon fuel products are produced, and in step 230, removing the hydrocarbon fuel products in the critical fluid occurs continuously via the product return line 54 which extends to the ground surface. Cycling back to 10 step 224 and then step 226 N times, where the RF energy initiates oxidation with the hydrocarbon fuel products, and performing pressure cycling while performing step 224 and 226 produces additional hydrocarbon fuel products. In step 232, separating the critical fluid from the products is performed by the 15 gas/liquid separator 42 and the critical fluid (C0 2 ) is returned to the borehole 16 or to the CO 2 storage tank 70. The gas/liquid separator 42 may be embodied by a Horizontal Longitudinal Flow Separator (HLF) manufactured by NATCO Group, Inc., of 2950 North Loop West, Houston, Texas 77092. 20 Referring to FIG. 7, a flow chart of a third alternate embodiment is shown of the method 240 of producing hydrocarbon fuel products from a body of fixed fossil fuels without the use of reactants or catalysts, which may be more cost effective or environmentally acceptable, for certain site specific 25 applications. In step 242, a C0 2 critical fluid is provided down the borehole 16 for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure in the range of 300 to 5000 psi. In step 244, electrical energy is transmitted down the borehole 16 by RF generator 44 to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels and 30 critical fluid to a predetermined temperature of 300 to 400 degrees Celsius. For example, a 1 mhz RF transmission will heat 50 meters of surrounding area to 280 degrees Celsius in approximately 12-14 days, and to 380 degrees Celsius in 3 to 4 weeks depending on local site conditions. In step 246, cycling 35 pressure in borehole 16 is performed between 500 psi and 5000 psi. In step 248, removing the hydrocarbon fuel products in the 31 critical fluid occurs continuously via the product return line 54 which extends up to the ground surface and through the wellhead 34. As the hydrocarbon fuels products are removed, the method 240 cycles back to step 242 and repeats steps 242, 244 and 246 N 5 times producing more products until a reduction in such products occurs. Referring to FIG. 9, an alternate embodiment representation of system 10 of Figs. 2A and 2B is shown simplified with only the well head 34, borehole 16, and applicator 10:2, positioned in the 10 ground through the overburden 12 at a predetermined angle relative to vertical (as shown in Figs. 2A and 2B). This angular arrangement of system 10 is used to provide desired heating and distribution of the critical fluids in various applications and compositions, such as a landfill or peat bog. Angular borehole 15 arrangements may also be necessary to avoid various underground obstacles such as foundations or aquifers when a vertical borehole will meet with interference. The use of angular boreholes is well known to those skilled in the art and can be applied to both this apparatus and method. The RF applicator 102 20 is utilized in much the same fashion as in Figures 2A and 2B with the angular arrangement of the borehole being determined by the local conditions at the site, so as to extract the maximum contaminants or fuels using the fewest number of boreholes (16) and the least amount of electrical energy and the least volume of 25 critical fluids to accomplish the goals of that particular project. The predetermined angle, pressure and temperature is site dependant. The predetermined pressure is formation dependant, taking into account variables such as depth of the borehole, richness of 30 the shale deposit or concentration of contaminants, local geothermal conditions and the specific processing objectives. The objectives are a combination of technical factors such as the solubility of the shale oil and economic factors such as optimum amount of oil to recover or the amount of hydrocarbon fuels or 35 contaminants to recover from a peat bog, remediation site, etc. They include variables that the operator may choose to optimize 32 the process. An example includes a process optimized to recover a lower percentage of total recoverable fuel in a rapid fashion. Such a quick recovery of a low percentage of fuels would have shorter cycle times and fewer cycles than a process optimized to 5 recover a high percentage of the fuel from a specific borehole area. Each site specific iteration of the process can use a different combination of temperature and pressure of the incoming critical fluid. In some instances, the critical fluid can be pressurized and preheated, for example, if the critical fluids 10 are preheated to 200 degrees Celsius, they would typically be injected into the borehole at about 3000 psi. If the critical fluids are injected with no preheating, and remain at their typical storage temperature of -20 degrees Celsius, they could be injected at the storage pressure of 300 psi if that 15 temperature/pressure combination meets favorably with the other variables at that site. Naturally, the actual temperature and pressure of the critical fluids at the bottom of the borehole 16 vary, being affected by several local conditions including depth, porosity of the site, and geothermal temperatures. 20 Referring to FIG. 10, the system 10 of Figs. 2A and 2B is shown having borehole 16 extending through the overburden 12 down into an aging oil well where most of an oil deposit 123 was removed and heavy oil 124 remains. Critical fluids in combination with RF energy (system 10) are used to extract the 25 heavy oil to the surface via the product return line 54 in system 10, or via the auxiliary well pipe 66 and auxiliary well apparatus 64, or via the original oil well apparatus 120 and borehole 122. The method described in FIG. 1, FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 with or without the use of reactants in the critical 30 fluids may be used to recover the remaining heavy oil 124. The methods of FIGS. 1, 5, 7, 9 and 11 and the apparatus of Figs 2A and 2B may be used for remediation of oil, other hydrocarbon fuels and contaminants from a spill site, land fill or other environmentally sensitive situations by using a 35 combination of electrical energy and critical fluids. As described in FIG. 1, step 23, FIG. 5, Step 202 and FIG. 6, Step 33 224, critical fluids are supplied to the formation via the borehole 16. These critical fluids may have reactants or catalysts specifically chosen to physically or chemically bind or chemically neutralize or dissolve various hydrocarbon fuels, 5 chemicals or undesired contaminants at the site. These reactants or catalysts provide additional cleansing, working with the natural dilutent and scrubbing and transport properties of the critical fluids. Some of these reactants may be heat activated by the RF, and some may not require heat activation. Some may be 10 designed to be delivered and remain in-situ in the case of neutralizers and some may be designed to bind and carry undesired or desired compounds out of the site along with the critical fluids. For example, transuranic elements are a typical contaminate left behind by weapons manufacturing processes. 15 These are difficult to remove by conventional methods, however the addition of nano-sized chelating agents to the critical fluids helps suspend the Uranium in the CO 2 for transport. The RF heat adds additional efficiency and thermal gradient movement to the process for this type of difficult site remediation. Another 20 example is the trichloroethane cleaning solvents many factories and municipalities used and dumped into the environment in years past, or creosotes which were typically deposited by town gas plants. These contaminants are easily diluted and scrubbed with the natural properties of critical CO 2 and more thoroughly removed 25 with the addition of RF heating. Referring now to FIG. 11, a plan view of a plurality of systems 10a-10d of Figs 2A and 2B in a well field are shown having a central RF generator 44 connected to a control station 43. A plurality of boreholes 16a-16d are spaced apart in the 30 well field by distances as much as several hundred feet and connected by a coax cabling 45a-45d through impedance matching circuits 46a-46d to the central RF generator 44, that is slaved to the control station 43. Critical fluids are provided to the boreholes 16a-16d via piping from in-line mixers 78a-78d which 35 connect to the 02 storage tank 76, the N 2 0 storage tank 74 and the

CO

2 storage tank 70. Product from the boreholes 16a-16d is 34 routed to the gas/liquid separators 42a-42d where oil, gas and

CO

2 products and contaminants are derived. The RF power from central RF generator 44 may be shifted sequentially in any desired pattern to different radiators in different boreholes 5 16a-16d from a single RF generator based on inputs Il-I4 received from the control station 43. Similarly, the critical fluids may be shifted from one borehole to another as desired, based on inputs from the control station 43. Signals Il-I4 are fed to the control station 43 from the impedance matching circuits 46a-46d, 10 as well as temperature monitoring signals T1-T4 measured in the boreholes 16 at subsurface layers. These inputs are used to monitor and/or adjust the frequency and impedance matching of the central RF generator 44 via control signals Cl-C4 from the control station 43, and also to control the injection of critical 15 fluids into the boreholes 16a-16d. The number of systems 10a-10d may be increased or decreased depending on the size of the well field being worked to obtain the oil, gas or CO 2 . Further, a plurality of auxiliary production or extraction wells comprising pipes 66 and well apparatus 64 shown in Figures 20 2A and 2B may be added to the well field to increase the extraction of fuel products or contaminants. For example, in a remediation application, these additional auxiliary extraction wells, spaced at 50 meters or so from each RF/CF system 10, may help create a "flow" of contaminants out of a spoiled zone, while 25 the RF/CF are left "on" and in the "pressure" mode, and the simple extraction wells are left in the "on" low pressure (extract) mode so that the critical fluids "flow" from the pump 72 high pressure side to the extraction well low pressure side and bring the contaminants with them. This operation may operate 30 with or without the use of aerogels and catalysts. The extraction wells may be turned "off" for a period of time to allow pressure to build and to allow the CF to dilute and scrub, then turned back "on" to encourage the flow. This invention has been disclosed in terms of certain 35 embodiment. It will be apparent that many modifications can be made to the disclosed methods and apparatus without departing 35 from the invention. Therefore, it is the intent of the appended claims to cover all such variations and modification as come within the true spirit and scope of this invention. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description 5 of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of 10 further features in various embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. 15

Claims

1. A system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising: 5 means for transmitting electrical energy down a borehole to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising an RF generator coupled to a transmission line for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator; means for providing a critical fluid down the borehole 10 for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; means included with the critical fluid for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; 15 means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi, and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the overburden and 20 wherein the system comprises means, added to the critical fluid, for modifying the polarity and solvent characteristics of the critical fluid.

2. A system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of 25 fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down a borehole to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising an RF generator coupled to a transmission line for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator; 30 means for providing a critical fluid down the borehole for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; means included with the critical fluid for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the 35 hydrocarbon fuels to be released; 37 means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi, and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above 5 the overburden and wherein the system comprises means for mixing critical fluids, reactants, catalysts or modifiers prior to entering the borehole. 10

3. A system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down a borehole to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising an RF generator coupled to a transmission line for transferring electrical energy 15 to an RF applicator; means for providing a critical fluid down the borehole for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; means included with the critical fluid for initializing a 20 reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and SOOOpsi, and wherein the system further comprises means for removing 25 the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the overburden, wherein the system comprises a wellhead positioned on top of the borehole for receiving the critical fluid and the electrical energy and transferring the critical fluid and the 30 electrical energy down the borehole, and wherein said wellhead comprises means for RF enercjy decoupling including an RF choke connected to a filter capacitor for each thermocouple line extending down the borehole. 35

4. A system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising: 38 means for transmitting electrical energy down a borehole to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising an RF generator coupled to a transmission line for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator; 5 means for providing a critical fluid down the borehole for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; means included with the critical fluid for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the 10 hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi, and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above 15 the overburden, wherein the system comprises a wellhead positioned on top of the borehole for receiving the critical fluid and the electrical energy and transferring the critical fluid and the electrical energy down the borehole, and 20 wherein said wellhead comprises means for RF energy decoupling including a hollow RF choke, the RF choke being formed by thermocouple wires extending down the borehole which are insulated and rotated to form a coil, each end of the thermocouple wires being connected to a filter capacitor. 25

5. A system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down a borehole to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising an RF generator 30 coupled to a transmission line for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator; means for providing a critical fluid down the borehole for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; 39 means included with the critical fluid for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for cycling the pressure within the borehole 5 between 500 psi and 5000psi, and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the overburden, wherein the system comprises a wellhead positioned on top 10 of the borehole for receiving the critical fluid and the electrical energy and transferring the critical fluid and the electrical energy down the borehole, and wherein the wellhead comprises a plurality of ground wires extending radially a distance of approximately one 15 wavelength of the electrical energy frequency and spaced apart at predetermined intervals of approximately 15 degrees.

6. A system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising: 20 means for transmitting electrical energy down a borehole to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising an RF generator coupled to a transmission line for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator; means for providing a critical fluid down the borehole 25 for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; means included with the critical fluid for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; 30 means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi, and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the overburden, 35 wherein the system comprises a wellhead positioned on top of the borehole for receiving the critical fluid and the 40 electrical energy and transferring the critical fluid and the electrical energy down the borehole, and wherein the wellhead comprises a grounding screen positioned adjacent to an outer surface of the wellhead forming a 5 ground plane, and a plurality of ground wires extending radially from the perimeter of the grounding screen at: a distance of approximately one wavelength of the electrical energy frequency and spaced apart at predetermined intervals. 10

7. A system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising a plurality of boreholes, each of the boreholes comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down each of the boreholes to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising a 15 central RF generator coupled to transmission lines for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator in each of the boreholes; means for providing critical fluids down each of the boreholes for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a 20 predetermined pressure; means included with the critical fluids for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for controlling the electrical energy and the 25 critical fluids to each of the boreholes; and means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi; and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above 30 the overburden and wherein the system comprises means, added to the critical fluid, for modifying the polarity and solvent characteristics of the critical fluid. 41

8. A system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising a plurality of boreholes, each of the boreholes comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down each of the 5 boreholes to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising a central RF generator coupled to transmission lines for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator in each of the boreholes; means for providing critical fluids clown each of the 10 boreholes for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; means included with the critical fluids for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; 15 means for controlling the electrical energy and the critical fluids to each of the boreholes; and means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi; and wherein the system further comprises means for removing 20 the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the overburden and wherein the system comprises means in each of the boreholes for mixing critical fluids, reactants, catalysts or modifiers prior to entering the borehole. 25

9. A system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising a plurality of boreholes, each of the boreholes comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down each of the 30 boreholes to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising a central RF generator coupled to transmission lines for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator in each of the boreholes; means for providing critical fluids down each of the 35 boreholes for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; 42 means included with the critical fluids for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for controlling the electrical energy and the 5 critical fluids to each of the boreholes; and means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi; and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above 10 the overburden, wherein the system comprises a wellhead positioned on top of each of the boreholes for receiving the critical fluids and the electrical energy and transferring the critical fluids and the electrical energy down the borehole, and 15 wherein said wellhead comprises means for RF energy decoupling including an RF choke connected to a filter capacitor for each thermocouple line extending down the borehole.

10.A system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of 20 fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising a plurality of boreholes, each of the boreholes comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down each of the boreholes to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising a central RF generator coupled to transmission lines for 25 transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator in each of the boreholes; means for providing critical fluids clown each of the boreholes for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; 30 means included with the critical fluids for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for controlling the electrical energy and the critical fluids to each of the boreholes; and 35 means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi; and 43 wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the overburden, wherein the system comprises a wellhead positioned on top 5 of each of the boreholes for receiving the critical fluids and the electrical energy and transferring the critical fluids and the electrical energy down the borehole, and wherein said wellhead comprises means for RF energy decoupling including a hollow RF choke, the RF choke being formed 10 by thermocouple wires extending down the borehole which are insulated and rotated to form a coil, each end of the thermocouple wires being connected to a filter capacitor.

11.A system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of 15 fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising a plurality of boreholes, each of the boreholes comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down each of the boreholes to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising a central RF generator coupled to transmission lines for 20 transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator in each of the boreholes; means for providing critical fluids down each of the boreholes for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; 25 means included with the critical fluids for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for controlling the electrical energy and the critical fluids to each of the boreholes; and 30 means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi; and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the overburden, 35 wherein the system comprises a wellhead positioned on top of each of the boreholes for receiving the critical fluids and 44 the electrical energy and transferring the critical fluids and the electrical energy down the borehole and wherein each of the wellheads comprises a plurality of ground wires extending radially a distance oE approximately one 5 wavelength of the the electrical energy frequency and spaced apart at predetermined intervals of approximately 15 degrees.

12.A system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising a plurality 10 of boreholes, each of the boreholes comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down each of the boreholes to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels comprising a central RF generator coupled to transmission lines for transferring electrical energy to an RF applicator in each of the 15 boreholes; means for providing critical fluids clown each of the boreholes for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; means included with the critical fluids for initializing 20 a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for controlling the electrical energy and the critical fluids to each of the boreholes; and means for cycling the pressure within the borehole 25 between 500 psi and sooopsi; and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the overburden, wherein the system comprises a wellhead positioned on top 30 of each of the boreholes for receiving the critical fluids and the electrical energy and transferring the critical fluids and the electrical energy down the borehole and wherein each of the wellheads comprises a grounding screen positioned adjacent to an outer surface of the wellhead 35 forming a ground plane, and a plurality of ground wires extending radially from the perimeter of the grounding screen at a distance 45 of approximately one wavelength of the electrical energy frequency and spaced apart at predetermined intervals.

13.A system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of 5 fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down a borehole to heat the body of fixed fossil fuels; means for providing a critical fluid down said borehole for diffusion into the body of fixed fossil fuels at a 10 predetermined pressure; means included with the critical fluid for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause the hydrocarbon fuels to be released; a wellhead positioned on top of said borehole for 15 receiving said critical fluid and said electrical energy and transferring said critical fluid and said electrical energy down said borehole, means for decoupling RF energy from thermocouple wires extending down said borehole using an RF choke connected to a filter capacitor for each thermocouple line; and 20 means for cycling the pressure within the borehole between 500 psi and 5000psi and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above the overburden. 25

14.The system as recited in Claim 13 wherein said RF energy decoupling means comprises a hollow RF choke, said hollow RF choke being formed by said thermocouple wires which are insulated and rotated to form a coil, each end of said thermocouple wires 30 being connected to a filter capacitor.

15.The system as recited in Claim 13 wherein said wellhead comprises a grounding screen positioned adjacent to an outer surface of said wellhead forming a ground plane to eliminate 35 electromagnetic radiation emanating from around said wellhead for operator safety and performance. 46

16.The system as recited in Claim 13 wherein said wellhead comprises a plurality of ground wires extending radially a distance of approximately one wavelength of the electrical energy 5 frequency and spaced apart at predetermined intervals of approximately 15 degrees.

17.The system as recited in Claim 13 wherein said wellhead comprises a grounding screen positioned adjacent to an outer 10 surface of the wellhead forming a ground plane, and a plurality of ground wires extending radially from a perimeter of said grounding screen at a distance of approximately one wavelength of the electrical energy frequency and spaced apart at predetermined intervals. 15

18.A system for producing hydrocarbon fuels from a body of fixed fossil fuels beneath an overburden including a plurality of boreholes, said system comprising: means for transmitting electrical energy down each of 20 said boreholes to heat said body of fixed fossil fuels; means for providing a critical fluid down each of said boreholes for diffusion into said body of fixed fossil fuels at a predetermined pressure; means for cycling the pressure within the borehole 25 between 500 psi and 5000psi; means, included with said critical fluid, for initializing a reaction with the body of fixed fossil fuels to cause said hydrocarbon fuels to be released; means for controlling the electrical energy and the 30 critical fluid to each of the boreholes; a wellhead positioned on top of a predetermined number of said boreholes for receiving said critical fluids and said electrical energy and transferring said critical fluids and said electrical energy down said borehole; and 35 said wellhead comprises means for decoupling RF energy from thermocouple wires extending down said borehole using an RF 47 choke connected to a filter capacitor for each thermocouple line and wherein the system further comprises means for removing the hydrocarbon fuels from the borehole to a ground surface above 5 the overburden.

19.The system as recited in Claim 18 wherein said RF energy decoupling means comprises a hollow RF choke, said hollow RF choke being formed by said thermocouple wires which are insulated 10 and rotated to form a coil, each end of said thermocouple wires being connected to a filter capacitor.

20.The system as recited in Claim 18 wherein said wellhead comprises a grounding screen positioned adjacent to an outer 15 surface of each wellhead forming a ground plane to eliminate electromagnetic radiation emanating from around said wellhead for operator safety and performance.

21.The system as recited in Claim 18 wherein said wellhead 20 comprises a plurality of ground wires extending radially a distance of approximately one wavelength of the electrical energy frequency and spaced apart at predetermined intervals of approximately 15 degrees. 25

22.The system as recited in Claim 18 wherein said wellhead comprises a grounding screen positioned adjacent to an outer surface of said wellhead forming a ground plane, and a plurality of ground wires extending radially from a perimeter of said grounding screen at a distance of approximately one wavelength of 30 the electrical energy frequency and spaced apart at predetermined intervals.