US3205942A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for recovery of hydrocarbons by in situ heating of oil shale
Assignee: ExxonMobil Oil Corp
•
Filing: 1963-02-07
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Granted: 1965-09-14
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Expires: 1983-02-07
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl R Sandberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:12
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/243; E21B43/247
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A METHOD FOR IN SITU COMBUSTION OF OIL SHALE HAVING INTERCONNECTED FRACTURES, WHICH FRACTURES ARE ORIENTED PREDOMINANTLY VERTICALLY AND ALIGNED IN THE MAJORITY ALONG A REGIONAL FRACTURE TREND, AND A PREDOMINANT FLUID PERMEABILITY IN ONE DIRECTION, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: (A) PASSING A COMBUSTION FRONT FROM AN INJECTION WELL TO A PRODUCTION WELL FOR RETORTING SHALE OIL PRODUCTS FROM OIL SHALE WHEREIN SAID WELLS ARE PROVIDED FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERCONNECTING NATURAL VERTICAL FRACTURES PRESENT IN THE OIL SHALE AND THE INJECTION AND PRODUCTION WELLS ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE MAJOR DIRECTION OF FLUID PERMEABILITY OF THE OIL SHALE WITH THE PRODUCTION WELL IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH A VERTICAL FRACTURE ALIGNED WITH THE REGIONAL FRACTURE TREND, AND (B) RECOVERING SHALE OIL PRODUCTS FROM THE PRODUCTION WELL.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A METHOD FOR IN SITU COMBUSTION OF OIL SHALE HAVING INTERCONNECTED FRACTURES, WHICH FRACTURES ARE ORIENTED PREDOMINANTLY VERTICALLY AND ALIGNED IN THE MAJORITY ALONG A REGIONAL FRACTURE TREND, AND A PREDOMINANT FLUID PERMEABILITY IN ONE DIRECTION, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: (A) PASSING A COMBUSTION FRONT FROM AN INJECTION WELL TO A PRODUCTION WELL FOR RETORTING SHALE OIL PRODUCTS FROM OIL SHALE WHEREIN SAID WELLS ARE PROVIDED FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERCONNECTING NATURAL VERTICAL FRACTURES PRESENT IN THE OIL SHALE AND THE INJECTION AND PRODUCTION WELLS ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE MAJOR DIRECTION OF FLUID PERMEABILITY OF THE OIL SHALE WITH THE PRODUCTION WELL IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH A VERTICAL FRACTURE ALIGNED WITH THE REGIONAL FRACTURE TREND, AND (B) RECOVERING SHALE OIL PRODUCTS FROM THE PRODUCTION WELL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
150 words
A STRUCTURE FOR PRODUCING SHALE OIL PRODUCTS COMPRISING: (A) AN OIL SHALE HAVING INTERCONNECTED FRACTURES, WHICH FRACTURES ARE ORIENTED PREDOMINANTLY VERTICALLY AND ALIGNED IN THE MAJORITY ALONG A REGIONAL FRACTURE TREND, AND A PERDOMINANT FLUID PERMEABILITY IN ONE DIRECTION, (B) A PLURALITY OF MEANS FOR CONVEYING FLUIDS MEETING IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE VERTICAL FRACTURES AT SPACED-APART LOCATIONS IN THE OIL SHALE, (C) ONE OF SAID MEANS MEETING WITH A VERTICAL FRACTURE ALIGNED WITH THE REGIONAL FRACTURE TREND AND ORIENTED FROM OTHER OF THE MEANS ON A LINE IN SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE MAJOR DIRECTION OF FLUID PERMEABILITY IN THE OIL SHALE, (D) MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A HEAT CREATING GAS INTO THE OIL SHALE CONNECTED WITH ONE OF SAID MEANS FOR CONVEYING FLUIDS, AND (E) MEANS FOR REMOVING SHALE OIL PRODUCTS FROM THE OIL SHALE TO THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH CONNECTED WITH OTHER OF SAID MEANS FOR CONVEYING FLUIDS.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
150 words
A STRUCTURE FOR PRODUCING SHALE OIL PRODUCTS COMPRISING: (A) AN OIL SHALE HAVING INTERCONNECTED FRACTURES, WHICH FRACTURES ARE ORIENTED PREDOMINANTLY VERTICALLY AND ALIGNED IN THE MAJORITY ALONG A REGIONAL FRACTURE TREND, AND A PERDOMINANT FLUID PERMEABILITY IN ONE DIRECTION, (B) A PLURALITY OF MEANS FOR CONVEYING FLUIDS MEETING IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE VERTICAL FRACTURES AT SPACED-APART LOCATIONS IN THE OIL SHALE, (C) ONE OF SAID MEANS MEETING WITH A VERTICAL FRACTURE ALIGNED WITH THE REGIONAL FRACTURE TREND AND ORIENTED FROM OTHER OF THE MEANS ON A LINE IN SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE MAJOR DIRECTION OF FLUID PERMEABILITY IN THE OIL SHALE, (D) MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A HEAT CREATING GAS INTO THE OIL SHALE CONNECTED WITH ONE OF SAID MEANS FOR CONVEYING FLUIDS, AND (E) MEANS FOR REMOVING SHALE OIL PRODUCTS FROM THE OIL SHALE TO THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH CONNECTED WITH OTHER OF SAID MEANS FOR CONVEYING FLUIDS.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1968-09-13 | 1969-03-15 | 1969-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1972-09-13 | 1973-03-15 | 1973-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1976-09-13 | 1977-03-15 | 1977-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |