US3565171A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for producing shale oil from a subterranean oil shale formation
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1968-10-23
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Granted: 1971-02-23
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Expires: 1988-10-23
Abstract
Abstract A method for producing shale oil from a subterranean oil shale formation wherein a chimney of fragmented oil shale is formed in the formation by exploding a relatively high energy explosive device therein, the chimney having a substantially void space formed at the top thereof. A liquid is flowed through the voids formed between the oil shale fragments, the liquid being adapted to selectively bypass small voids and plug larger voids formed between the fragments at least in the substantially vertical central portion of the chimney. Hydrocarbons at substantially the top of the chimney are ignited and a combustion supporting fluid is flowed into the chimney at substantially the top thereof, thereby advancing a combustion front down the chimney to substantially the bottom thereof. The fluid flow path of the fluid supporting the combustion tends to be substantially confined to the vertical outlying portions of the chimney and the untreated small voids within the chimney until the heat from the combustion front thermally mobilizes the liquid plugging the larger voids thus decomposing the plugging liquid thereby pyrolyzing substantially all of the fragmented oil shale along a substantially horizontal level within the chimney without the combustion front bypassing the portions of the fragmented oil shale adjacent to the small voids as the combustion front proceeds down the chimney.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip J Closmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:49
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/243; E21C; E21C41/00; E21C41/16; E21C41/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
In a method for producing shale oil from a subterranean formation comprising the steps of: placing a relatively high energy explosive device within the formation; exploding the relatively high energy explosive device within the oil shale formation, thereby forming a cavity within the oil shale formation having a roof beneath the overburden which subsequently collapses to form a chimney of fragmented oil shale within the oil shale formation, said chimney having a substantially void space formed adjacent to the top thereof; flowing a liquid through voids formed between said oil shale fragments in said chimney, said liquid being adapted to bypass small voids and selectively plug larger voids formed between said oil shale fragments at least in the substantially vertical central portion of said chimney; igniting hydrocarbons at substantially the top of said chimney; and flowing a combustion-supporting fluid through said chimney at substantially the top thereof thereby advancing a combustion front down said chimney to substantially the bottom thereof, said fluid flow path of said combustion-supporting fluid tending to be substantially confined to the vertical outlying portions of said chimney and the untreated small voids within said chimney until the heat from said combustion front thermally mobilizes the liquid plugging said larger voids thus decomposing said plugging liquid thereby pyrolyzing substantially all of the fragmented oil shale along a substantially horizontal level within said chimney without said combustion front bypassing the portions of said fragmented oil shale adjacent to said small voids as said combustion front proceeds down said chimney.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
In a method for producing shale oil from a subterranean formation comprising the steps of: placing a relatively high energy explosive device within the formation; exploding the relatively high energy explosive device within the oil shale formation, thereby forming a cavity within the oil shale formation having a roof beneath the overburden which subsequently collapses to form a chimney of fragmented oil shale within the oil shale formation, said chimney having a substantially void space formed adjacent to the top thereof; flowing a liquid through voids formed between said oil shale fragments in said chimney, said liquid being adapted to bypass small voids and selectively plug larger voids formed between said oil shale fragments at least in the substantially vertical central portion of said chimney; igniting hydrocarbons at substantially the top of said chimney; and flowing a combustion-supporting fluid through said chimney at substantially the top thereof thereby advancing a combustion front down said chimney to substantially the bottom thereof, said fluid flow path of said combustion-supporting fluid tending to be substantially confined to the vertical outlying portions of said chimney and the untreated small voids within said chimney until the heat from said combustion front thermally mobilizes the liquid plugging said larger voids thus decomposing said plugging liquid thereby pyrolyzing substantially all of the fragmented oil shale along a substantially horizontal level within said chimney without said combustion front bypassing the portions of said fragmented oil shale adjacent to said small voids as said combustion front proceeds down said chimney.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of recovering shale oil displaced from said combustion front.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 including: the step of extending at least a central well from a surfacE location to a first point adjacent to a substantially vertical central portion of said chimney; and subsequently flowing said liquid and said combustion-supporting fluid through said well and into said chimney.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of flowing a liquid through said voids includes the step of flowing said liquid from a plurality of vertical positions within said central well into said chimney.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of flowing said liquid includes flowing a liquid containing dispersed material which tends to cause the inflowing liquid to bypass said small voids and flow through said larger voids.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of flowing said liquid includes flowing a liquid having a density differing from the formation fluid being displaced from within the chimney in a manner such that gravity tends to segregate the inflowing liquid toward the nearest vertical extremity of the chimney.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of flowing said liquid includes flowing a liquid which is capable of substantially solidifying in situ thereby materially reducing the permeability of the larger voids in which it is present.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the step of flowing a liquid capable of substantially solidifying in situ includes flowing a liquid capable of being thermally converted from a substantial solid to a mobile fluid at a temperature between about 400* F. and 1,200* F.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of flowing a combustion-supporting fluid includes the step of flowing a heated fluid at a temperature exceeding the thermal conversion temperature of the substantially solidified liquid formed in situ within said larger voids.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 8 including the step of terminating the inflowing of liquid when a layer of the liquid extends over a significantly large proportion of the central cross-sectional area of the chimney and allowing said inflowing liquid to solidify in situ prior to igniting said hydrocarbons.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 10 including the steps of repeating the steps of flowing said liquid and terminating the inflowing of said liquid from a first point within said chimney to an additional point within said chimney closer than than said first point towards the center of said chimney.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said first point is a point substantially adjacent to the bottom vertical central portion of said chimney and said repeated steps move upwardly within said chimney along said vertical central portion thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said first point is a point substantially adjacent to the top vertical central portion of said chimney and said repeated steps move downwardly within said chimney along said vertical central portion thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 including the step producing substantially all of the liquids present at the bottom of said chimney after forming said chimney and prior to flowing a liquid through said voids so that most of the fluid remaining in said chimney is a gas.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of flowing a liquid through said voids includes the step of flowing a foaming thermosetting resin formulation through said voids.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of injecting a fluid adapted to wet preferentially oil shale fragments adjacent said small voids prior to flowing said liquid through said voids.
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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) | 1974-02-22 | 1974-08-24 | 1975-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-22 | 1978-08-24 | 1979-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-22 | 1982-08-24 | 1983-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |