US3618663A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shale oil production
Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
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Filing: 1969-05-01
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Granted: 1971-11-09
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Expires: 1989-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A nuclear device is positioned in a shale oil formation and detonated to produce a chimney of fractured oil shale with lean shale at the bottom and rich shale near the top of the chimney and producing shale oil by retorting with a heated gas, preferably at a low temperature for a prolonged period followed with retorting at a higher temperature to yield shale oil.
Inventors
- 👤 Riley B Needham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:18
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/2403
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
30 words
performing a geological survey of the oil shale along the length of said access well to determine the location of a rich shale section and an underlying lean shale section,
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 for forming said nuclear chimney in step (a) which comprises the additional steps of:
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
the temperature of the preheated fractured shale is increased to 600*-650* F. at a rate of 1/2* to 2* F. per day and said heating is continued within the latter temperature range for 3 to 70 days, and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
said preheated fractured shale is then rapidly heated to 700*-800* F., the final retorting temperature, and continued within this temperature range until said fractured shale is essentially produced.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
7 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
Disposing a nuclear device in said formation and positioning same in said formation so that upon subsequent detonation of said device the fragmented shale forming the nuclear produced chimney is lean at the bottom and the thick sections of rich shale are near the top of the chimney, and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
detonating the nuclear device to create a cavity in said formation, which cavity at least partially fills with collapsing oil shale to form said chimney of fractured and crumbled shale with lean shale at the bottom and rich shale near the top of said chimney.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said heating gas is introduced into the top of the chimney and said oil is recovered principally from the bottom thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said gas comprises essentially combustion gases.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3342257A
Cited
US3465819A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-08 | 1975-05-10 | 1975-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-08 | 1979-05-10 | 1979-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-08 | 1983-05-10 | 1983-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |