Patent US3967853A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3967853A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Producing shale oil from a cavity-surrounded central well
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1975-06-05
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Granted: 1976-07-06
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Expires: 1995-06-05
Abstract
Abstract In producing shale oil by circulating hot fluid into and out of void spaces within a subterranean oil shale, a plurality of cavities are formed around a central well, the cavities and the well are interconnected by leaching an areally extensive void space within a layer of water-soluble mineral, and hot fluid is circulated in through the cavities and out through the central well.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip J. Closmann
- 👤 Min Jack Tham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:47
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/2405; E21B43/28; E21B43/281; E21B43/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A process for producing shale oil from a subterranean oil shale which contains or is contiguous with an areally extensive layer of water-soluble mineral, which process comprises: forming a plurality of cavities in horizontally-spaced locations surrounding a central well; casing or lining the borehole of the central well in a manner that restricts the rubbling or disaggregating of earth formations that form the wall of the borehole; solution-mining portions of the areally extensive layer of water-soluble mineral to form a generally horizontal, substantially solids-free passageway that interconnects the cavities and the central well; and circulating hot fluid into the cavities, through the passageway interconnecting the cavities with the central well, and out through the central well to recover shale oil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A process for producing shale oil from a subterranean oil shale which contains or is contiguous with an areally extensive layer of water-soluble mineral, which process comprises: forming a plurality of cavities in horizontally-spaced locations surrounding a central well; casing or lining the borehole of the central well in a manner that restricts the rubbling or disaggregating of earth formations that form the wall of the borehole; solution-mining portions of the areally extensive layer of water-soluble mineral to form a generally horizontal, substantially solids-free passageway that interconnects the cavities and the central well; and circulating hot fluid into the cavities, through the passageway interconnecting the cavities with the central well, and out through the central well to recover shale oil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 in which multiple patterns of cavity-surrounded central wells are formed with the ratio of cavities to central wells being at least one.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The process of claim 1 in which the hot fluid composition is adjusted to provide proportions of hot solvent fluid and hot non-solvent gas that maintain a selected rate of expansion of the cavity walls without causing an unduly rapid rate of disaggregation of oil shale to fine solids.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 3 in which the hot solvent fluid consists essentially of steam and the hot non-solvent gas consists essentially of the products of an underground combustion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-07-06 | 1980-01-05 | 1980-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-06 | 1984-01-05 | 1984-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-06 | 1988-01-05 | 1988-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |