US3630283A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of producing particles of rock in a subterranean situs
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-04-17
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Granted: 1971-12-28
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Expires: 1990-04-17
Abstract
Abstract The method of producing an accumulation of broken rock in a subterranean situs which includes the steps of forming a system of fractures of predetermined minimum width in the earth above a cavity and selectively emplacing an explosive in the fractures. The selectivity of the explosive emplacement is with respect to the vertical width of the fractures in which the explosive is placed, and is achieved by control of the mobility of the explosive, primarily, but not necessarily exclusively, through control of the explosive viscosity. After emplacement of the explosive in selected horizontally extending fractures of a critical minimum vertical thickness, the explosive is detonated to spall fractured rock into the subjacent cavity.
Inventors
- 👤 Carroll Field Knutson
- 👤 Charles Robert Boardman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 06:55
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/25; E21B43/26; E21B43/263
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of spalling overlying rock into an underground chimney comprising the steps of: emplacing liquid explosive material in fractures extending generally horizontally into the rock above the chimney and having a sufficient vertical width to allow effective detonation of the explosive, while concurrently excluding the liquid explosive from fractures having a lesser vertical width by adjusting the viscosity of the liquid explosive; and detonating said liquid explosive material, thereby causing a portion of the overlying rock to be fragmented and to fall into said cavity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of spalling overlying rock into an underground chimney comprising the steps of: emplacing liquid explosive material in fractures extending generally horizontally into the rock above the chimney and having a sufficient vertical width to allow effective detonation of the explosive, while concurrently excluding the liquid explosive from fractures having a lesser vertical width by adjusting the viscosity of the liquid explosive; and detonating said liquid explosive material, thereby causing a portion of the overlying rock to be fragmented and to fall into said cavity.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation comprising: drilling a well bore through the formation; placing an explosive in the well bore at a situs adjacent to the formation; detonating the explosive to form a chimney extending at least to the lower portion of the formation; subjecting the rock of the formation above the chimney to hydraulic pressure which is controlled to produce a system of fractures which are at least 1/8 inch in width; injecting a pumpable explosive mixture into said fractures while controlling the viscosity of the pumpable explosive mixture to prevent its entering fractures having a vertical width of less than 1/8 inch; detonating the pumpable explosive mixture in the fractures to spall rock into said chimney; and treating broken rock spalled into the chimney to recover hydrocarbons therefrom.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation comprising: drilling a well bore through the formation; placing an explosive in the well bore at a situs adjacent to the formation; detonating the explosive to form a chimney extending at least to the lower portion of the formation; subjecting the rock of the formation above the chimney to hydraulic pressure which is controlled to produce a system of fractures which are at least 1/8 inch in width; injecting a pumpable explosive mixture into said fractures while controlling the viscosity of the pumpable explosive mixture to prevent its entering fractures having a vertical width of less than 1/8 inch; detonating the pumpable explosive mixture in the fractures to spall rock into said chimney; and treating broken rock spalled into the chimney to recover hydrocarbons therefrom.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of spalling overlying rock into an underground chimney comprising the steps of: forming an asymmetrical pattern of fractures in the earth above said underground chimney; implacing liquid explosive material in the portion of such fractures having a sufficient vertical width to allow effective detonation of the explosive while concurrently excluding the liquid explosive from fractures having a lesser vertical width; and detonating said liquid explosive material, thereby causing a portion of the overlying rock to be fragmented and to fall into said cavity.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of spalling overlying rock into an underground chimney comprising the steps of: forming an asymmetrical pattern of fractures in the earth above said underground chimney; implacing liquid explosive material in the portion of such fractures having a sufficient vertical width to allow effective detonation of the explosive while concurrently excluding the liquid explosive from fractures having a lesser vertical width; and detonating said liquid explosive material, thereby causing a portion of the overlying rock to be fragmented and to fall into said cavity.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation comprising: drilling a well bore through the formation; placing an explosive in the well bore at a situs adjacent to the formation; detonating the explosive to form a chimney extending at least to the lower portion of the formation; subjecting a portion of the Formation above the chimney to hydraulic pressure to form an asymmetric fracture pattern while controlling the hydraulic pressure to form fractures which are at least 1/8 inch in width; injecting a pumpable explosive mixture into said fractures; detonating the pumpable explosive mixture in the fractures to spall rock into said chimney; and treating broken rock spalled into the chimney to recover hydrocarbons therefrom.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation comprising: drilling a well bore through the formation; placing an explosive in the well bore at a situs adjacent to the formation; detonating the explosive to form a chimney extending at least to the lower portion of the formation; subjecting a portion of the Formation above the chimney to hydraulic pressure to form an asymmetric fracture pattern while controlling the hydraulic pressure to form fractures which are at least 1/8 inch in width; injecting a pumpable explosive mixture into said fractures; detonating the pumpable explosive mixture in the fractures to spall rock into said chimney; and treating broken rock spalled into the chimney to recover hydrocarbons therefrom.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-27 | 1975-06-28 | 1975-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-27 | 1979-06-28 | 1979-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-27 | 1983-06-28 | 1983-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |