US3972372A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Exraction of hydrocarbons in situ from underground hydrocarbon deposits
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-03-10
•
Granted: 1976-08-03
•
Expires: 1995-03-10
Abstract
Abstract A method of extracting hydrocarbons in situ from an underground hydrocarbon deposit (such as petroleum or lignite). A selected part of the deposit is heated by electrical induction to temperatures high enough to drive off hydrocarbon fractions as gases or vapors, which are then collected. The deposit may be heated through a coking and cracking stage. The electrical induction heating is conveniently effected by passing alternating current through a conductive path encompassing that part of the deposit to be heated.
Inventors
- 👤 Sidney T. Fisher
- 👤 Charles B. Fisher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:21
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/243; E21B43/2401
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of extraction and processing in situ of hydrocarbons located in an underground hydrocarbon deposit, comprising: heating a selected portion of said deposit by means of electric induction heating coils substantially surrounding said selected portion of said deposit to a temperature sufficient to vaporize or gasify at least some of the hydrocarbons located in said selected portion, and collecting the said vaporized or gasified hydrocarbons.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of extraction and processing in situ of hydrocarbons located in an underground hydrocarbon deposit, comprising: heating a selected portion of said deposit by means of electric induction heating coils substantially surrounding said selected portion of said deposit to a temperature sufficient to vaporize or gasify at least some of the hydrocarbons located in said selected portion, and collecting the said vaporized or gasified hydrocarbons.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the selected portion of the deposit is heated to a temperature sufficient to cause cracking of the hydrocarbons into fractions that are distilled off as gases or vapors, and then collected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as defined in claim 1, comprising heating the deposit to a temperature sufficient to distill off lighter hydrocarbon fractions, collecting lighter hydrocarbon fractions, heating the deposit to a temperature sufficient to cause coking of residual hydrocarbons in the deposit, heating the deposit further to a temperature sufficient to cause cracking of the coked hydrocarbons, distilling off cracked hydrocarbon fractions, and collecting the cracked hydrocarbon fractions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as defined in claim 3, additionally comprising injecting a catalyst into the deposit for facilitating the cracking of the coked hydrocarbons.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 3, comprising the additional step, following the collecting of the cracked hydrocarbon fractions, of burning in situ the hydrocarbon residue remaining in the said selected portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as defined in claim 5, additionally comprising extracting heat from the deposit during or following the burning step by means of heat exchange, and utilizing the heat thus extracted for the generation of mechanical energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as defined in claim 5, additionally comprising extracting heat from the deposit during or following the burning step by means of heat exchange, and utilizing the heat thus extracted as process heat in the subsequent refining of the collected hydrocarbons.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the deposit is in its natural state, accompanied by entrapped water, additionally comprising injecting water into the deposit after the temperature of the deposit reaches the boiling point of the entrapped water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the water injected into the deposit is injected in the form of steam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the deposit comprises bitumen entrapped in sand.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the deposit comprises kerogen entrapped in shale.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the deposit comprises lignite.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of extraction and processing in situ of hydrocarbons located in an underground hydrocarbon deposit, comprising: heating by electrical induction a selected portion of said deposit to a temperature sufficient to distill off lighter hydrocarbon fractions, collecting lighter hydrocarbon fractions, further heating the deposit by electrical induction to a temperature sufficient to cause coking of residual hydrocarbons in the deposit, further heating the deposit by electrical induction to a temperature sufficient to cause cracking of the coked hydrocarbons, distilling off cracked hydrocarbon fractions collecting the cracked hydrocarbon fractions, burning in situ the hydrocarbon residue remaining in the said selected portion, and extracting heat from the deposit during or following the burning step by means of heat exchange, and utilizing the heat thus extracted as process heat in the subsequent refining of the collected hydrocarbons.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of extraction and processing in situ of hydrocarbons located in an underground hydrocarbon deposit, comprising: heating by electrical induction a selected portion of said deposit to a temperature sufficient to distill off lighter hydrocarbon fractions, collecting lighter hydrocarbon fractions, further heating the deposit by electrical induction to a temperature sufficient to cause coking of residual hydrocarbons in the deposit, further heating the deposit by electrical induction to a temperature sufficient to cause cracking of the coked hydrocarbons, distilling off cracked hydrocarbon fractions collecting the cracked hydrocarbon fractions, burning in situ the hydrocarbon residue remaining in the said selected portion, and extracting heat from the deposit during or following the burning step by means of heat exchange, and utilizing the heat thus extracted as process heat in the subsequent refining of the collected hydrocarbons.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US849524A
Cited
US1510655A
Cited
US2472445A
Cited
US2780450A
Cited
US3113620A
Cited
US3127935A
Cited
US3294167A
Cited
US3379248A
Cited
US3605888A
Cited
US3848671A
Cited
US3880238A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-03 | 1980-02-02 | 1980-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-03 | 1984-02-02 | 1984-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-03 | 1988-02-02 | 1988-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |