In situ oil shale retort with non-uniformly distributed void fraction

Claim 1

A method for flattening a combustion zone in a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, the method comprising the steps of: (a) explosively expanding unfragmented formation for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles comprising a first generally horizontally extending layer of formation particles extending substantially across the entire horizontal extent of the retort, the first layer having an effective average void fraction greater than the effective average void fraction of second generally horizontally extending adjacent layers of formation particles above and below such a first layer; (b) establishing a combustion zone in an upper region of the fragmented permeable mass above the first layer; (c) advancing the combustion zone downwardly through the fragmented permeable mass; and (d) spreading the combustion zone laterally across the first layer for forming an approximately flat combustion zone across substantially the entire horizontal extent of the retort.

Claim 2

A method for flattening a combustion zone in a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, the method comprising the steps of: (a) explosively expanding unfragmented formation for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles comprising a first generally horizontally extending layer of formation particles extending substantially across the entire horizontal extent of the retort, the first layer having an effective average void fraction greater than the effective average void fraction of second generally horizontally extending adjacent layers of formation particles above and below such a first layer; (b) establishing a combustion zone in an upper region of the fragmented permeable mass above the first layer; (c) advancing the combustion zone downwardly through the fragmented permeable mass; and (d) spreading the combustion zone laterally across the first layer for forming an approximately flat combustion zone across substantially the entire horizontal extent of the retort.

Claim 6

A method for recovering liquid and gaseous products from a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, the fragmented permeable mass of formation particles comprising at least one generally vertical region having a void fraction greater than the void fraction in regions of the fragmented permeable mass laterally adjacent such a generally vertical region, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a first generally horizontal layer of formation particles below at least a portion of such a generally vertical region, the first generally horizontal layer extending across substantially the entire horizontal cross-section of the retort and having an effective average void fraction greater than the effective average void fraction of adjacent horizontal layers of formation particles above and below the first layer; (b) establishing a combustion zone in an upper region of the fragmented permeable mass above the first generally horizontal layer; (c) introducing oxygen-supplying gas into the fragmented permeable mass on the trailing side of the combustion zone for: (i) sustaining the combustion zone and advancing the combustion zone through the retort, heat conveyed by flowing gases establishing a retorting zone in the fragmented permeable mass on the advancing side of the combustion zone; and (ii) advancing the retorting zone through the fragmented permeable mass on the advancing side of the combustion zone whereby kerogen is decomposed in the retorting zone for providing liquid and gaseous products, the combustion zone advancing more rapidly through the generally vertical region than through regions of the fragmented permeable mass laterally adjacent such generally vertical region, resulting in the combustion zone having a non-planar shape; (d) spreading the combustion zone laterally across the first generally horizontal layer for approximately flattening the combustion zone; and (e) withdrawing such liquid and gaseous products from the fragmented mass on the advancing side of the retorting zone.

Claim 7

A method for recovering liquid and gaseous products from a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, the fragmented permeable mass of formation particles comprising at least one generally vertical region having a void fraction greater than the void fraction in regions of the fragmented permeable mass laterally adjacent such a generally vertical region, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a first generally horizontal layer of formation particles below at least a portion of such a generally vertical region, the first generally horizontal layer extending across substantially the entire horizontal cross-section of the retort and having an effective average void fraction greater than the effective average void fraction of adjacent horizontal layers of formation particles above and below the first layer; (b) establishing a combustion zone in an upper region of the fragmented permeable mass above the first generally horizontal layer; (c) introducing oxygen-supplying gas into the fragmented permeable mass on the trailing side of the combustion zone for: (i) sustaining the combustion zone and advancing the combustion zone through the retort, heat conveyed by flowing gases establishing a retorting zone in the fragmented permeable mass on the advancing side of the combustion zone; and (ii) advancing the retorting zone through the fragmented permeable mass on the advancing side of the combustion zone whereby kerogen is decomposed in the retorting zone for providing liquid and gaseous products, the combustion zone advancing more rapidly through the generally vertical region than through regions of the fragmented permeable mass laterally adjacent such generally vertical region, resulting in the combustion zone having a non-planar shape; (d) spreading the combustion zone laterally across the first generally horizontal layer for approximately flattening the combustion zone; and (e) withdrawing such liquid and gaseous products from the fragmented mass on the advancing side of the retorting zone.

Claim 14

A method for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, comprising the steps of: (a) excavating a generally horizontally extending void in the subterranean formation, leaving a zone of unfragmented formation above the void; (b) forming at least two arrays of spaced apart substantially vertical columnar explosive charges in the zone of unfragmented formation, a first array nearest the void and a second array more remote from the void, the second array having a powder factor higher than the powder factor of the first array; and (c) detonating the first array of explosive charges for explosively expanding a lower portion of the unfragmented formation toward the void, forming a first horizontally extending layer of a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles in the in situ oil shale retort, while leaving a first void space between the first layer of formation particles and the remaining portion of the zone of unfragmented formation and, after a time delay, detonating the second array of explosive charges for explosively expanding an intermediate portion of the unfragmented formation toward the void, forming a second horizontally extending layer of the fragmented permeable mass of formation particles above such a first layer, the second layer having a higher effective average void fraction than the first layer.

Claim 15

A method for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, comprising the steps of: (a) excavating a generally horizontally extending void in the subterranean formation, leaving a zone of unfragmented formation above the void; (b) forming at least two arrays of spaced apart substantially vertical columnar explosive charges in the zone of unfragmented formation, a first array nearest the void and a second array more remote from the void, the second array having a powder factor higher than the powder factor of the first array; and (c) detonating the first array of explosive charges for explosively expanding a lower portion of the unfragmented formation toward the void, forming a first horizontally extending layer of a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles in the in situ oil shale retort, while leaving a first void space between the first layer of formation particles and the remaining portion of the zone of unfragmented formation and, after a time delay, detonating the second array of explosive charges for explosively expanding an intermediate portion of the unfragmented formation toward the void, forming a second horizontally extending layer of the fragmented permeable mass of formation particles above such a first layer, the second layer having a higher effective average void fraction than the first layer.

Claim 19

A method for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, comprising the steps of: (a) excavating a generally horizontally extending void in the subterranean formation, leaving a zone of unfragmented formation above the void; (b) explosively expanding the zone of unfragmented formation toward the void in a plurality of generally horizontal portions comprising the steps of: (i) expanding a first portion of the zone of unfragmented formation adjacent the void toward the void, wherein the volume of the void divided by the volume of the first portion plus the volume of the void defines a first available void ratio for forming a first horizontally extending layer of the fragmented mass of formation particles having a first effective average void fraction and leaving a first void space between the top of the first layer of formation particles and the bottom of a second portion of the zone of unfragmented formation; and (ii) expanding the second portion of the zone of unfragmented formation toward the first void space, wherein the volume of the first void space divided by the volume of the second portion plus the volume of the first void space defines a second available void ratio, the second available void ratio being greater than the first available void ratio for forming a second horizontally extending layer of the fragmented mass of formation particles having a second effective average void fraction, the second effective average void fraction being higher than the first effective average void fraction.

Claim 20

A method for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, comprising the steps of: (a) excavating a generally horizontally extending void in the subterranean formation, leaving a zone of unfragmented formation above the void; (b) explosively expanding the zone of unfragmented formation toward the void in a plurality of generally horizontal portions comprising the steps of: (i) expanding a first portion of the zone of unfragmented formation adjacent the void toward the void, wherein the volume of the void divided by the volume of the first portion plus the volume of the void defines a first available void ratio for forming a first horizontally extending layer of the fragmented mass of formation particles having a first effective average void fraction and leaving a first void space between the top of the first layer of formation particles and the bottom of a second portion of the zone of unfragmented formation; and (ii) expanding the second portion of the zone of unfragmented formation toward the first void space, wherein the volume of the first void space divided by the volume of the second portion plus the volume of the first void space defines a second available void ratio, the second available void ratio being greater than the first available void ratio for forming a second horizontally extending layer of the fragmented mass of formation particles having a second effective average void fraction, the second effective average void fraction being higher than the first effective average void fraction.

Claim 24

A method for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, comprising the steps of: (a) excavating at least an upper and a lower generally horizontally extending void in the subterranean formation, leaving an upper zone of unfragmented formation above the upper void, an intermediate zone of unfragmented formation comprising an upper portion and a lower portion between the upper and lower voids, and a lower zone of unfragmented formation below the lower void; (b) loading the upper and lower zones of unfragmented formation with explosive for expanding the upper zone of unfragmented formation downwardly toward the upper void and for expanding the lower zone of unfragmented formation upwardly toward the lower void; (c) loading the upper portion of the intermediate zone of unfragmented formation with explosive for expanding the upper portion upwardly toward the upper void and loading the lower portion of the intermediate zone of unfragmented formation with explosive for expanding the lower portion downwardly toward the lower void, the powder factor in one of the portions being higher than the powder factor in the other portion; (d) detonating the explosive in a single round comprising the steps of: (i) detonating the explosive in the upper zone for expanding the upper zone downwardly toward the upper void; (ii) detonating explosive in the intermediate zone for expanding the upper portion of the intermediate zone upwardly toward the upper void and expanding the lower portion of the intermediate zone downwardly toward the lower void; and (iii) detonating explosive in the lower zone for expanding the lower zone upwardly toward the lower void, the unfragmented formation expanded forming horizontal layers of formation particles comprising the fragmented permeable mass of formation particles in the retort, a first layer of formation particles formed from the upper zone of unfragmented formation, a second layer of formation particles formed from the upper portion of the intermediate zone of unfragmented formation, a third layer of formation particles formed from the lower portion of the intermediate zone of unfragmented formation, and a fourth layer of formation particles formed from the lower zone of unfragmented formation, the effective average void fraction of the layer of formation particles formed from the portion of the intermediate zone with a higher powder factor being higher than the effective average void fraction of adjacent layers of formation particles.

Claim 25

A method for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, comprising the steps of: (a) excavating at least an upper and a lower generally horizontally extending void in the subterranean formation, leaving an upper zone of unfragmented formation above the upper void, an intermediate zone of unfragmented formation comprising an upper portion and a lower portion between the upper and lower voids, and a lower zone of unfragmented formation below the lower void; (b) loading the upper and lower zones of unfragmented formation with explosive for expanding the upper zone of unfragmented formation downwardly toward the upper void and for expanding the lower zone of unfragmented formation upwardly toward the lower void; (c) loading the upper portion of the intermediate zone of unfragmented formation with explosive for expanding the upper portion upwardly toward the upper void and loading the lower portion of the intermediate zone of unfragmented formation with explosive for expanding the lower portion downwardly toward the lower void, the powder factor in one of the portions being higher than the powder factor in the other portion; (d) detonating the explosive in a single round comprising the steps of: (i) detonating the explosive in the upper zone for expanding the upper zone downwardly toward the upper void; (ii) detonating explosive in the intermediate zone for expanding the upper portion of the intermediate zone upwardly toward the upper void and expanding the lower portion of the intermediate zone downwardly toward the lower void; and (iii) detonating explosive in the lower zone for expanding the lower zone upwardly toward the lower void, the unfragmented formation expanded forming horizontal layers of formation particles comprising the fragmented permeable mass of formation particles in the retort, a first layer of formation particles formed from the upper zone of unfragmented formation, a second layer of formation particles formed from the upper portion of the intermediate zone of unfragmented formation, a third layer of formation particles formed from the lower portion of the intermediate zone of unfragmented formation, and a fourth layer of formation particles formed from the lower zone of unfragmented formation, the effective average void fraction of the layer of formation particles formed from the portion of the intermediate zone with a higher powder factor being higher than the effective average void fraction of adjacent layers of formation particles.

Claim 28

A method for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale comprising the steps of: (a) excavating at least an upper and a lower generally horizontally extending void in the subterranean formation, leaving an upper zone of unfragmented formation above the upper void, an intermediate zone of unfragmented formation between the upper and lower voids, and a lower zone of unfragmented formation below the lower void; (b) forming an array of substantially vertical columnar explosive charges in the upper zone of unfragmented formation; (c) forming an array of substantially vertical columnar explosive charges in the lower zone of unfragmented formation; (d) forming first and second vertically spaced apart arrays of substantially vertical columnar explosive charges in the intermediate zone of unfragmented formation, the first array for expanding a first portion of the intermediate zone of unfragmented formation toward one of the voids and the second array for expanding a second portion of the intermediate zone of unfragmented formation upwardly toward the upper void and downwardly toward the lower void, the first portion being smaller than the second portion; (e) detonating explosive charges in a single round comprising the steps of: (i) detonating the array of explosive charges in the upper zone for explosively expanding the upper zone of unfragmented formation downwardly toward the upper void; (ii) detonating the array of explosive charges in the lower zone for explosively expanding the lower zone of unfragmented formation upwardly toward the lower void; and (iii) detonating the first array of explosive charges in the intermediate zone for expanding the first portion of the intermediate zone toward one of the voids and thereafter detonating the second array of explosive charges in the intermediate zone for explosively expanding the second portion of the intermediate zone upwardly toward the upper void and downwardly toward the lower void, the unfragmented formation expanded forming horizontal layers of formation particles comprising the fragmented permeable mass of formation particles in the retort, the effective average void fraction of the layer of formation particles formed by expansion of the first portion of the intermediate zone of unfragmented formation being higher than the effective average void fraction of adjacent layers.

Claim 29

A method for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale comprising the steps of: (a) excavating at least an upper and a lower generally horizontally extending void in the subterranean formation, leaving an upper zone of unfragmented formation above the upper void, an intermediate zone of unfragmented formation between the upper and lower voids, and a lower zone of unfragmented formation below the lower void; (b) forming an array of substantially vertical columnar explosive charges in the upper zone of unfragmented formation; (c) forming an array of substantially vertical columnar explosive charges in the lower zone of unfragmented formation; (d) forming first and second vertically spaced apart arrays of substantially vertical columnar explosive charges in the intermediate zone of unfragmented formation, the first array for expanding a first portion of the intermediate zone of unfragmented formation toward one of the voids and the second array for expanding a second portion of the intermediate zone of unfragmented formation upwardly toward the upper void and downwardly toward the lower void, the first portion being smaller than the second portion; (e) detonating explosive charges in a single round comprising the steps of: (i) detonating the array of explosive charges in the upper zone for explosively expanding the upper zone of unfragmented formation downwardly toward the upper void; (ii) detonating the array of explosive charges in the lower zone for explosively expanding the lower zone of unfragmented formation upwardly toward the lower void; and (iii) detonating the first array of explosive charges in the intermediate zone for expanding the first portion of the intermediate zone toward one of the voids and thereafter detonating the second array of explosive charges in the intermediate zone for explosively expanding the second portion of the intermediate zone upwardly toward the upper void and downwardly toward the lower void, the unfragmented formation expanded forming horizontal layers of formation particles comprising the fragmented permeable mass of formation particles in the retort, the effective average void fraction of the layer of formation particles formed by expansion of the first portion of the intermediate zone of unfragmented formation being higher than the effective average void fraction of adjacent layers.