US3917344A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
In situ retorting system
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
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Filing: 1974-08-22
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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Expires: 1994-08-22
Abstract
Abstract A system for in situ retorting and recovery of carbonaceous values from underground formations of oil shale. A plurality of parallel access entries communicating with the surface extend horizontally at a level beneath the formation. Upright retort chambers are arranged at spaced intervals on opposite sides of each access entry. The bottom of each chamber is interconnected with one such access entry by means of a sealed transverse tunnel. The retort chambers are ignited from the top and the carbonaceous values released from the shale by a downwardly progressing heat front are collected at the bottom. Oil recovery conduits extend from the surface through vertically directed bore holes opening into the access entry, each such conduit branching at that point to interconnect with opposite pairs of retort chambers through the sealed tunnels. Further conduit means are provided for scavenging gaseous retort products through an annular space surrounding each of the oil recovery conduits so as to apply constant heat to the shale oil while it is being conducted to the surface. Means are also provided for insuring that a positive pressure is maintained in the access entries with respect to the bottom of the retort chambers.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert T Janssen
- 👤 Kailash Narayan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:14
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21C; E21C41/00; E21C41/16; E21C41/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
A system for recovering carbonaceous values from an underground mineral deposit comprising: a. at least one access entry extending substantially horizontally beneath the top of said deposit and communicating with the surface; b. a plurality of designated adjacent zones within said deposit extending along at least one side of said at least one access entry in spaced relation thereto; c. means for interconnecting the respective bases of said zones with said at least one access entry; d. means for retorting said zones within said deposit adapted to release said carbonaceous values therefrom in liquefied form and to cause downflow thereof to the respective bases of said zones together with the gases evolved in said retorting operation; e. sump means within said respective bases for collecting said liquefied values; f. a plurality of spaced apart oil recovery conduits extending substantially vertically from the surface into said at least one access entry, the lower end of each of said conduits being thereafter branched to extend into said sump means of at least two of said zones through said interconnecting means; and g. means for pumping said liquefied values from said sump means to the surface through said oil recovery conduits; and h. means for scavenging said gases from the respective bases of said zones to the surface so as to apply continuous external heating to each of said oil recovery conduits.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
229 words
A system for recovering carbonaceous values from an underground mineral deposit comprising: a. at least one access entry extending substantially horizontally beneath the top of said deposit and communicating with the surface; b. a plurality of designated adjacent zones within said deposit extending along at least one side of said at least one access entry in spaced relation thereto; c. means for interconnecting the respective bases of said zones with said at least one access entry; d. means for retorting said zones within said deposit adapted to release said carbonaceous values therefrom in liquefied form and to cause downflow thereof to the respective bases of said zones together with the gases evolved in said retorting operation; e. sump means within said respective bases for collecting said liquefied values; f. a plurality of spaced apart oil recovery conduits extending substantially vertically from the surface into said at least one access entry, the lower end of each of said conduits being thereafter branched to extend into said sump means of at least two of said zones through said interconnecting means; and g. means for pumping said liquefied values from said sump means to the surface through said oil recovery conduits; and h. means for scavenging said gases from the respective bases of said zones to the surface so as to apply continuous external heating to each of said oil recovery conduits.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said mineral deposit is oil shale.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein means are provided for maintaining a predetermined overpressure within said at least one access entry relative to the bases of said permeable zones.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said scavenging means comprises a plurality of gas collecting conduits respectively surrounding at least a portion of the length of said oil recovery conduits in concentric relation thereto and extending into said zones.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said means for interconnecting the respective bases of said zones with said at least one access entry comprises a plurality of substantially horizontal tunnels of predetermined length extending laterally from said at least one access entry to said respective bases.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as in claim 5 wherein gas-tight sealing means are provided within each of said interconnecting tunnels between said at least one access entry and the bases of said zones.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as in claim 6 wherein each of said sealing means comprises a bulkhead through which a respective pair of said concentric conduits are adapted to pass.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for recovery of carbonaceous values from a permeable underground zone within a mineral deposit comprising the steps of: a. inducing a downwardly directed heat front through the zone adapted to release said carbonaceous values therefrom in liquefied form and to cause downflow thereof to the base of the zone together with the gases evolved by said heat front; b. collecting said liquefied carbonaceous values at the base of the zone; c. separately conducting said liquefied carbonaceous values and said gas in a substantially horizontal direction from said base into a wellbore and thence to the surface, said wellbore being isolated from the heat of said zone; and d. continuously heating said liquefied carbonaceous values by means of said gas throughout said conducting step.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for recovery of carbonaceous values from a permeable underground zone within a mineral deposit comprising the steps of: a. inducing a downwardly directed heat front through the zone adapted to release said carbonaceous values therefrom in liquefied form and to cause downflow thereof to the base of the zone together with the gases evolved by said heat front; b. collecting said liquefied carbonaceous values at the base of the zone; c. separately conducting said liquefied carbonaceous values and said gas in a substantially horizontal direction from said base into a wellbore and thence to the surface, said wellbore being isolated from the heat of said zone; and d. continuously heating said liquefied carbonaceous values by means of said gas throughout said conducting step.
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) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |