US3589773A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Management of underground water problems
Assignee: American Oil Shale Corp
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Filing: 1968-06-05
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Granted: 1971-06-29
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Expires: 1988-06-05
Abstract
Abstract The detonation of a large size nuclear device in a geological formation is used to prevent or minimize flooding of working areas such as conventional mines or nuclearly created chimneys of broken rock from which valuable minerals are to be recovered. For instance, the preliminary detonation of a large size nuclear device underneath a subterranean aquifer upstream from a mineral zone which is to be mined in a conventional manner or processed after shattering by nuclear detonation will create an underground water storage reservoir into which the aquifer can drain. This prevents such aquifer from being tapped and drained into the mine or nuclearly detonated chimney which contains the mineral being exploited. The mineral zone when shattered downstream by a nuclear detonation can then be exploited in place by retorting or other treatment, eventually allowing the water to drain into the retorted cavity created by the second detonation, and by progressively setting of further shattering detonations downstream from such a previously created underground reservoir and repeating whatever treatment may be appropriate. By storing the water in the upstream nuclear cavity during burning or other treatment operation it is conserved for any further use that may be desired when the retorting or treating phase is finished. In the case of a mineral such as shale, the nahcolite, dawsonite, and other minerals which are present therein are made soluble by the retorting operation and can then be dissolved from the remaining mineral residue when the water level in the treated chimney is raised. In a mineral formation such as natural gas or oil where there is an impermeable capping on top of the production zone with a contained water zone thereabove, the nuclear device is placed at a point such that the lower part of the chimney created by the nuclear detonation is much below the production zone. This permits any water tapped in from above to drain into the lower part of the chimney without interfering with normal gas or oil production.
Inventors
- 👤 Rod P Dixon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:29
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/25; E21B43/26; E21B43/263; E21B43/2635; E21B43/28; E21B43/283
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An improved process for recovering mineral product from a subterranean working area in a geological formation wherein a source of subterranean water is located at a place laterally spaced from said working area and is predisposed to drain into said working area, which process comprises forming an underground nuclear chimney in said formation by placing and detonating a nuclear explosive under substantially nonventing conditions in said formation between said working area and said source of water such that water present in said formation drains off into said nuclear chimney and the working area is relatively free from water, and recovering mineral product from said working area while said nuclear chimney is filling with water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
An improved process for recovering mineral product from a subterranean working area in a geological formation wherein a source of subterranean water is located at a place laterally spaced from said working area and is predisposed to drain into said working area, which process comprises forming an underground nuclear chimney in said formation by placing and detonating a nuclear explosive under substantially nonventing conditions in said formation between said working area and said source of water such that water present in said formation drains off into said nuclear chimney and the working area is relatively free from water, and recovering mineral product from said working area while said nuclear chimney is filling with water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said subterranean working area is a coal mine in the vicinity of sUbterranean water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said subterranean working area is a metalliferous ore mine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein a nuclear explosive is detonated in proximity to a previously flooded mine such that water is drained from said mine into the nuclear chimney, thereby extending the productive life of said mine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein subterranean water and fluid hydrocarbons are trapped in a mineral formation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
a process according to claim 1 wherein a subterranean aquifer traverses an underground mineral formation on top of a substantially impermeable bed and wherein a nuclear explosive device is detonated in said formation under nonventing conditions creating a chimney of permeable rubble upstream on the aquifer relative to a productive area where product is to be recovered, the yield and location of said device being such that its detonation fractures said impermeable aquifer bed and provides a reservoir for the water to collect in while recovery of substantially water insoluble product is in progress downstream therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process according to claim 6 wherein a second nuclear detonation is set off under nonventing conditions to create a second chimney of permeable rubble downstream from said first mentioned chimney and product is recovered from said second chimney.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 6 wherein said first chimney has a permeability such that voids constitute about 25 to 40 percent of its volume.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 8 wherein the formation is an oil shale formation and shale oil is recovered from the second chimney therein by underground combustion and retorting.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
A process according to claim 8 wherein upon filling of said first chimney with water the latter overflows into the second chimney from which water insoluble product has been depleted by the application of heat, and the water leaches out water soluble product mineral from the treated rubble in said second chimney and the resulting aqueous solution is recovered therefrom.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process according to claim 10 wherein said soluble mineral is dawsonite.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process according to claim 8 wherein a plurality of nuclear devices are set off in a laterally spaced relationship in a line which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow of the aquifer thereby substantially completely blocking the water from a productive area located downstream from said line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 12 wherein the plurality of nuclear devices is so spaced one from the other that the formation therebetween is broken and made permeable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a process for recovering oil from an oil shale formation which is blasted and fractured by underground detonation of a nuclear explosive device and retorted in situ in a productive chimney formed by said detonation, and which formation contains a subterranean aquifer having a substantially impermeable bed extending through a portion of said formation which is fractured by said detonation, the improvement which comprises fracturing the said impermeable bed and creating an upstream chimney containing broken rock by setting off another underground nuclear detonation in said formation, said other nuclearly detonated chimney being located upstream on the aquifer from said productive chimney, thereby diverting water from the aquifer into said upstream chimney while retorting is in progress in said productive chimney.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a process for recovering oil from an oil shale formation which is blasted and fractured by underground detonation of a nuclear explosive device and retorted in situ in a productive chimney formed by said detonation, and which formation contains a subterranean aquifer having a substantially impermeable bed extending through a portion of said formation which is fractured by said detonation, the improvement which comprises fracturing the said impermeable bed and creating an upstream chimney containing broken rock by setting off another underground nuclear detonation in said formation, said other nuclearly detonated chimney being located upstream on the aquifer from said productive chimney, thereby diverting water from the aquifer into said upstream chimney while retorting is in progress in said productive chimney.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
A process according to claim 14 wherein a plurality of productive chimneys is nuclearly detonated in sequence downstream from the said upstream chimney leaving substantially unfractured formation therebetween, said downstream chimneys being kept substantially free of water during the progress of retorting therein as the water collects in a chimney upstream therefrom.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
A process according to claim 15 wherein several sequences of chimneys are detonated downstream along the aquifer, the chimneys of a later detonated sequeNce extending to a greater depth than and being located between chimneys of a prior detonated sequence while avoiding the creation of permeability between chimneys which are being retorted and chimneys which are collecting water.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
A process according to claim 15 wherein a plurality of chimneys for the diversion and collection of water is nuclearly detonated side-by-side across the aquifer upstream from the productive chimneys and prior to the formation of said productive chimneys, and wherein the productive chimneys are detonated in said formation in a pattern wherein they are spaced from each other both in a downstream direction and in a transverse direction relative to the flow of the aquifer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA776485A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-28 | 1974-12-28 | 1975-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-28 | 1978-12-28 | 1979-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-28 | 1982-12-28 | 1983-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |