Conductively heating a subterranean oil shale to create permeability and subsequently produce oil
US4886118A · kind A · utility
437Cited by
111References
39Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 17, 1988 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 17, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/2405
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
Shale oil is produced from a subterranean interval of oil shale, where the interval is initially substantially impermeable and contains a specified grade and thickness of oil shale. Said interval is conductively heated from borehole interiors which are kept hotter than about 600.degree. C. and are heated at a rate such that kerogen pyrolysis products formed within the oil shale create and flow through horizontal fractures which subsequently extend into fluid-producing wells that are positioned in specified locations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.