US3882941A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
In situ production of bitumen from oil shale
Assignee: Cities Service Research and Development Co
•
Filing: 1973-12-17
•
Granted: 1975-05-13
•
Expires: 1993-12-17
Abstract
Abstract Hydrocarbons are recovered from oil shale deposits by introducing hot fluids into the deposits through wells and then shutting in the wells to allow kerogen in the deposits to be converted to bitumen which is then recovered through the wells after an extended period of soaking.
Inventors
- 👤 Arnold H Pelofsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:17
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/18; E21B43/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A PROCESS FOR RECOVERING HYDROCARBON PRODUCT FROM ASUBTERRANEAN DEPOSIT OF OIL SHALE WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF: A. INTRODUCING HEAT ENERGY IN THE FORM OF HOT FLUIDS NOT CONTAINING OXYGEN INTO SAID DEPOSIT THROUGH ONE OR MORE WELLS EXTENDING INTO THE DEPOSITS, SAID HEATING ENERGY BEING INTRODUCED IN QUANTITIES SUFFICIENT TO HEAT THE DEPOSIT IN THE VICINITY OF THE WELLS TO MORE THAN ABOUT 50%F ABOVE IS TRANSITION TEMPERATURE AND UNTIL THE PRESSURE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WELLS IS FROM AT LEAST 200 TO ABOUT 1,000 PSIABOUT THE FORMATION PRESSURE OF THE DEPOSIT;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A PROCESS FOR RECOVERING HYDROCARBON PRODUCT FROM ASUBTERRANEAN DEPOSIT OF OIL SHALE WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF: A. INTRODUCING HEAT ENERGY IN THE FORM OF HOT FLUIDS NOT CONTAINING OXYGEN INTO SAID DEPOSIT THROUGH ONE OR MORE WELLS EXTENDING INTO THE DEPOSITS, SAID HEATING ENERGY BEING INTRODUCED IN QUANTITIES SUFFICIENT TO HEAT THE DEPOSIT IN THE VICINITY OF THE WELLS TO MORE THAN ABOUT 50%F ABOVE IS TRANSITION TEMPERATURE AND UNTIL THE PRESSURE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WELLS IS FROM AT LEAST 200 TO ABOUT 1,000 PSIABOUT THE FORMATION PRESSURE OF THE DEPOSIT;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The process of claim 1 in which steps (a) and (b) are repeated until the deposit has been heated to more than 50F* above its transition temperature and then allowed to drop to less than 50F* above its transition temperature throughout a sphere having a radius of at least about 50 feet from the bottom of each of said wells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 2 in which at least about 75 percent of the kerogen in the spheres is converted to bitumen before bitumen is produced through the wells.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The process of claim 2 in which the deposit of oil shale is at least about 200 feet thick, the radius of each of the spheres is between about 50 and about 500 feet and the periphery of each sphere is at least 50 feet from the boundary of the deposit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 in which heat energy is injected in the form of hot fluids at a temperature of between about 500*and about 2,000*F.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 in which step (b) takes at least about 6 months.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3284281A
Cited
US3322194A
Cited
US3358762A
Cited
US3382922A
Cited
US3515213A
Cited
US3480082A
Cited
US3550685A
Cited
US3618663A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |