Method of rubbling oil shale
US4372615A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 1980 |
| Grant date | Feb 8, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 29, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21C41/24
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
This invention relates to a method of recovering shale oil from a subterranean formation containing oil shale. Unfragmented formation is explosively expanded in a single round of explosions for moving formation located at about the center of a zone of unfragmented formation a greater distance in a given time interval after the beginning of the round than formation located in the unfragmented formation outward from about the center of the unfragmented formation. The explosive expansion forms a fragmented mass of formation particles containing oil shale in the subterranean formation forming an in situ oil shale retort. Gas is introduced into the fragmented permeable mass in the in situ oil shale retort for establishing a retorting zone in the fragmented permeable mass wherein oil shale is retorted to produce gaseous and liquid products, and for advancing the retorting zone through the fragmented mass. Gaseous and liquid products are withdrawn from the bottom of the retort.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.