Apparatus for passing electrical current through an underground formation

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Briefly stated, the present invention comprises an apparatus for passing electrical current from a D.
C.
power source through an underground formation for the purpose of extraction of carbonaceous fluids or gases from beneath the earth's surface.
The apparatus comprises a surface anode and a cathode in the formation remote from the anode.
The anode is comprised of a containment positioned proximate to the earth's surface and a first layer of material suitable for conduction positioned in the containment.
A second layer of material also suitable for conduction is positioned in contact with the first layer of conduction material.
A first conductor means connects the second layer of conduction material and the first terminal of the power source for supplying a flow of electrical current to the anode.
A layer of insulator material is positioned between the second layer of conduction material in the containment and the atmosphere.
The cathode is comprised of a wire screen housing of electrically conductive material positioned proximate to the underground formation.
Means are provided for supporting the screen housing at a predetermined position within a well bore and second conductor means are provided to connect the wire screen housing to the second terminal of the power source.
Electrical current from the power source is passed along the first conductor means, through the anode, through the underground formation, through the cathode, and along the second conductor means back to the other terminal of the power source.