Patent US4082145A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4082145A
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Determining the locus of a processing zone in an in situ oil shale retort by sound monitoring
Assignee: Occidental Oil Shale Inc
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Filing: 1977-05-18
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Granted: 1978-04-04
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Expires: 1997-05-18
Abstract
Abstract The locus of a processing zone advancing through a fragmented permeable mass of particles in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale is determined by monitoring for sound produced in the retort, preferably by monitoring for sound at at least two locations in a plane substantially normal to the direction of advancement of the processing zone. Monitoring can be effected by placing a sound transducer in a well extending through the formation adjacent the retort and/or in the fragmented mass such as in a well extending into the fragmented mass.
Inventors
- 👤 W. Brice Elkington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:57
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/243; E21B47/00; E21C; E21C41/00; E21C41/16; E21C41/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
In a method for recovering gaseous and liquid products from an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, the in situ retort containing a fragmented permeable mass of particles containing oil shale and having a combustion processing zone and a retorting processing zone advancing downwardly therethrough, wherein the method comprises the steps of: introducing into the in situ oil shale retort on the trailing side of the combustion processing zone a combustion zone feed comprising oxygen to advance the combustion processing zone downwardly through the fragmented mass of particles and produce combustion gas in the combustion processing zone; passing combustion gas and any unreacted portion of the combustion zone feed through a retorting processing zone in the fragmented mass of particles on the advancing side of the combustion processing zone, wherein oil shale is retorted and gaseous and liquid products are produced; withdrawing liquid products and a retort off gas comprising said gaseous products, combustion gas and any gaseous unreacted portion of the combustion zone feed from the in situ oil shale retort from the advancing side of the retorting processing zone; the improvement comprising determining the locus of the combustion zone by (i) placing a plurality of sound transducers at a plurality of locations in the formation adjacent the fragmented mass and vertically spaced apart from each other, at least two of the selected locations being at about the same elevation and (ii) monitoring signals emitted by the transducers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
In a method for recovering gaseous and liquid products from an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, the in situ retort containing a fragmented permeable mass of particles containing oil shale and having a combustion processing zone and a retorting processing zone advancing downwardly therethrough, wherein the method comprises the steps of: introducing into the in situ oil shale retort on the trailing side of the combustion processing zone a combustion zone feed comprising oxygen to advance the combustion processing zone downwardly through the fragmented mass of particles and produce combustion gas in the combustion processing zone; passing combustion gas and any unreacted portion of the combustion zone feed through a retorting processing zone in the fragmented mass of particles on the advancing side of the combustion processing zone, wherein oil shale is retorted and gaseous and liquid products are produced; withdrawing liquid products and a retort off gas comprising said gaseous products, combustion gas and any gaseous unreacted portion of the combustion zone feed from the in situ oil shale retort from the advancing side of the retorting processing zone; the improvement comprising determining the locus of the combustion zone by (i) placing a plurality of sound transducers at a plurality of locations in the formation adjacent the fragmented mass and vertically spaced apart from each other, at least two of the selected locations being at about the same elevation and (ii) monitoring signals emitted by the transducers.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for determining the locus of a processing zone advancing through a fragmented permeable mass of particles in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, the method comprising the step of monitoring for sound produced in the retort at at least two locations spaced apart from each other in a plane substantially normal to the direction of advancement of the processing zone through the fragmented mass.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for determining the locus of a processing zone advancing through a fragmented permeable mass of particles in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, the method comprising the step of monitoring for sound produced in the retort at at least two locations spaced apart from each other in a plane substantially normal to the direction of advancement of the processing zone through the fragmented mass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 in which the step of monitoring comprises monitoring sound intensity at a plurality of frequencies.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 2 in which the step of monitoring comprises monitoring for sound produced in the retort at at least three selected locations spaced apart from each other in a plane substantially normal to the direction of advancement of the processing zone through the fragmented mass.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 including the step of placing a sound transducer in each of three conduits extending into the fragmented mass for monitoring for sound produced in the retort.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 including the step of placing a sound transducer in each of three wells extending through unfragmented formation adjacent the fragmented mass for monitoring for sound produced in the retort.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 including the step of placing a sound transducer in at least one conduit extending into the fragmented mass for monitoring for sound produced in the retort.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 including the step of moving a sound transducer to a plurality of selected locations spaced apart from each other along the direction of advancement of the processing zone through the fragmented mass for monitoring for sound produced in the retort.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 in which the sound transducer is moved within a conduit extending into the fragmented mass.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 in which the sound transducer is moved in a well extending through unfragmented formation adjacent the fragmented mass.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 in which the step of monitoring comprises monitoring sound intensity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the processing zone is a combustion zone and sound intensity is monitored at a frequency selected from the group consisting of about 125 hertz, about 250 hertz, about 500 hertz, and combinations thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 in which the processing zone is a combustion zone and sound intensity is monitored at a frequency characteristic of sound produced by burning of hydrocarbons.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 in which the step of monitoring comprises monitoring for sound produced in the retort at a plurality of locations spaced apart from each other along the direction of advancement of the processing zone.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for determining the locus of a processing zone advancing through a fragmented permeable mass of particles in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, the method comprising the step of monitoring for sound produced in the processing zone, wherein monitoring for sound is by at least one sound transducer within the fragmented mass.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for determining the locus of a processing zone advancing through a fragmented permeable mass of particles in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, the method comprising the step of monitoring for sound produced in the processing zone, wherein monitoring for sound is by at least one sound transducer within the fragmented mass.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 15 in which the processing zone advances downwardly through the fragmented mass, and the step of monitoring comprises monitoring for sound produced in the retort at at least two locations spaced apart from each other and at about the same elevation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 15 in which the processing zone advances downwardly through the fragmented mass, and the step of monitoring comprises monitoring for sound produced in the retort at at least three locations spaced apart from each other and at about the same elevation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 including the step of placing a sound transducer in a conduit extending into the fragmented mass for monitoring for sound produced in the processing zone.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method as claimed in claim 18 in which the processing zone advances downwardly through the fragmented mass and the conduit extends substantially vertically through the fragmented mass and including the step of moving such a sound transducer vertically within the conduit to a plurality of selected locations vertically spaced apart from each other for monitoring for sound produced in the processing zone.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 in which the step of monitoring comprises monitoring sound intensity.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 20 in which the processing zone is a combustion zone and the step of monitoring comprises monitoring sound volume at a frequency selected from the group consisting of about 125 hertz, about 250 hertz, about 500 hertz, and combinations thereof.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for determining the locus of a processing zone advancing through a fragmented permeable mass of particles in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, the method comprising the steps of: drilling at least two bore holes extending through unfragmented formation adjacent the fragmented mass; and monitoring within each of the bore holes for sound produced in the retort.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for determining the locus of a processing zone advancing through a fragmented permeable mass of particles in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, the method comprising the steps of: drilling at least two bore holes extending through unfragmented formation adjacent the fragmented mass; and monitoring within each of the bore holes for sound produced in the retort.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 22 in which the step of monitoring comprises monitoring sound intensity.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 in which the processing zone is a combustion zone and the step of monitoring comprises monitoring sound intensity at a frequency selected from the group consisting of about 125 hertz, about 250 hertz, about 500 hertz, and combinations thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method as claimed in claim 22 in which the processing zone advances downwardly through the fragmented mass and the step of drilling comprises drilling at least three substantially vertical bore holes extending through unfragmented formation adjacent the fragmented mass and the step of monitoring includes moving a sound transducer within each bore hole to a plurality of selected locations vertically spaced apart from each other for monitoring for sound produced in the retort.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for determining the locus of a processing zone advancing through a fragmented permeable mass of particles in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, the method comprising the steps of: providing at least one cased bore hole extending into the fragmented mass; and monitoring within such a bore hole for sound produced in the retort.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for determining the locus of a processing zone advancing through a fragmented permeable mass of particles in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, the method comprising the steps of: providing at least one cased bore hole extending into the fragmented mass; and monitoring within such a bore hole for sound produced in the retort.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 26 in which the step of monitoring comprises monitoring sound intensity.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 26 in which the processing zone is a combustion zone and the step of monitoring comprises monitoring sound intensity at a frequency characteristic of sound emitted by the burning of hydrocarbons.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as claimed in claim 26 in which the processing zone advances downwardly through the fragmented mass and the step of monitoring includes moving in such a bore hole a sound transducer to a plurality of selected locations vertically spaced apart from each other for monitoring for sound produced in the retort.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for determining the locus of a processing zone advancing downwardly through a fragmented permeable mass of particles in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, the method comprising the step of monitoring for sound produced in the retort at at least three locations at substantially the same elevation.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for determining the locus of a processing zone advancing downwardly through a fragmented permeable mass of particles in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, the method comprising the step of monitoring for sound produced in the retort at at least three locations at substantially the same elevation.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for determining the locus of a processing zone advancing through a fragmented permeable mass of particles in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, the method comprising the steps of: drilling at least three bore holes spaced apart from each other extending through unfragmented formation adjacent the fragmented mass; and monitoring for sound produced in the retort at a location within each of the bore holes in a plane substantially normal to the direction of advancement of the processing zone through the fragmented mass.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for determining the locus of a processing zone advancing through a fragmented permeable mass of particles in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, the method comprising the steps of: drilling at least three bore holes spaced apart from each other extending through unfragmented formation adjacent the fragmented mass; and monitoring for sound produced in the retort at a location within each of the bore holes in a plane substantially normal to the direction of advancement of the processing zone through the fragmented mass.
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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) | 1981-04-03 | 1981-10-03 | 1982-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-03 | 1985-10-03 | 1986-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-03 | 1989-10-03 | 1990-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |