Process for the exploitation of bitumenscontaining strata by underground preparation and gasification

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS FOR THE RECOVERY OF SOLID BITUMENS FROM UNDERGROUND STRATA DEPOSITS, THE STEPS OF: (A) INJECTING THROUGH BOREHOLES LEADING INTO SAID STRATA A HEATED MIXTURE OF NON-CONDENSIBLE GASES AND CONDENSIBLE HYDROCARBONS AT A PRESSURE ABOVE THE FRACTURING PRESSURE OF SAID STRATA WHEREBY SAID CONDENSIBLE HYDROCARBONS ARE CONDENSED IN THE COOLER PORTIONS OF SAID STRATA WITH THE FORMATION OF BUBBLES OF NON-CONDENSIBLE GASES IN THE FIGURES; (B) PASSING INTO SAID STRATA ALONG WITH A HEAT TRANSFER MEDIUM A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF OXYGEN-RELEASING COMPOSITIONS AND EXPLOSIVES, SAID MEMBER DISSOLVED IN VOLATILE SOLVENTS WHEREBY SAID MEMBER IS PRECIPITATED IN SAID STRATA IN A HIGHLY REACTIVE CONDITION; (C) EVAPORATING SAID SOLVENTS BY SUBSEQUENTLY INTRODUCING A HOT FLUID MEDIUM; AND (D) IGNITING SAID MEMBER.