Patent US6604434B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3139928A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal process for in situ decomposition of oil shale
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1960-05-24
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Granted: 1964-07-07
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Expires: 1980-05-24
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas E Broussard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:06
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/243; E21B43/34; E21B43/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A METHOD FOR PROCESSING IN SITU AN IMPERMEABLE SHALE OIL-BEARING FORMATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECOVERING HYDROCARBONS THEREFROM WHEREIN A PERMEABLE CAVERN IS FORMED IN SAID SHALE FORMATION AT A POINT TRAVERSED BY A WELL, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SHALE OIL-BEARING FORMATION AND THE GROUND SURFACE THROUGH A WELL NORMALLY CLOSED AT THE TOP, INITIALLY RAISING THE TEMPERATURE OF THE WALLS OF SAID CLOSED WELL TO AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE PROMOTING PARTIAL SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION OF THE EXPOSED FORMATION TO RELEASE THE HYDROCARBONS FROM THE FORMATION EXPOSED TO HEAT, INJECTING A QUANTITY OF FREE OXYGEN-CONTAINING GAS INTO SAID CLOSED WELL TO PROMOTE HEAT GENERATION THEREIN, INCREASING THE PRESSURE WTIHIN SAID CAVERN BY INJECTING ANOTHER GAS WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY OXYGEN FREE AND HYDROCARBON FREE INTO SAID CLOSED WELL TO COMPRESS AND HOT GASES IN SAID WELL, MAINTAINING SAID CLOSED WELL AT SAID CONDITIONS FOR A TIME SUFFICIENT FOR HEAT TO PASS INTO PREVIOUSLY UNHEATED PORTIONS OF SAID SHALE OIL-BEARING FORMATION ADJACENT SAIOD WELL, AND SUBSEQUENTLY RELEASING THE PRESSURE FROM SAID WELL TO PRODUCE HYDROCARBONRICH HEATED GAS FROM SAID WELL.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
182 words
A METHOD FOR PROCESSING IN SITU AN IMPERMEABLE SHALE OIL-BEARING FORMATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECOVERING HYDROCARBONS THEREFROM WHEREIN A PERMEABLE CAVERN IS FORMED IN SAID SHALE FORMATION AT A POINT TRAVERSED BY A WELL, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SHALE OIL-BEARING FORMATION AND THE GROUND SURFACE THROUGH A WELL NORMALLY CLOSED AT THE TOP, INITIALLY RAISING THE TEMPERATURE OF THE WALLS OF SAID CLOSED WELL TO AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE PROMOTING PARTIAL SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION OF THE EXPOSED FORMATION TO RELEASE THE HYDROCARBONS FROM THE FORMATION EXPOSED TO HEAT, INJECTING A QUANTITY OF FREE OXYGEN-CONTAINING GAS INTO SAID CLOSED WELL TO PROMOTE HEAT GENERATION THEREIN, INCREASING THE PRESSURE WTIHIN SAID CAVERN BY INJECTING ANOTHER GAS WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY OXYGEN FREE AND HYDROCARBON FREE INTO SAID CLOSED WELL TO COMPRESS AND HOT GASES IN SAID WELL, MAINTAINING SAID CLOSED WELL AT SAID CONDITIONS FOR A TIME SUFFICIENT FOR HEAT TO PASS INTO PREVIOUSLY UNHEATED PORTIONS OF SAID SHALE OIL-BEARING FORMATION ADJACENT SAIOD WELL, AND SUBSEQUENTLY RELEASING THE PRESSURE FROM SAID WELL TO PRODUCE HYDROCARBONRICH HEATED GAS FROM SAID WELL.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1967-07-07 | 1968-01-06 | 1968-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1971-07-07 | 1972-01-06 | 1972-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1975-07-07 | 1976-01-06 | 1976-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |