Method for extraction of hydrocarbon fuels or contaminants using electrical energy and critical fluids
US7461693B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 2005 |
| Grant date | Dec 9, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 4, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC10J2200/152
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The extraction of hydrocarbon fuel products such as kerogen oil and gas from a body of fixed fossil fuels such as oil shale is accomplished by applying a combination of electrical energy and critical fluids with reactants and/or catalysts down a borehole to initiate a reaction of reactants in the critical fluids with kerogen in the oil shale thereby raising the temperatures to cause kerogen oil and gas products to be extracted as a vapor, liquid or dissolved in the critical fluids. The hydrocarbon fuel products of kerogen oil or shale oil and hydrocarbon gas are removed to the ground surface by a product return line. An RF generator provides electromagnetic energy, and the critical fluids include a combination of carbon dioxide (CO2), with reactants of nitrous oxide (N2O) or oxygen (O2).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.