Method of developing subsurface freeze zone
US8104537B2 · kind B2 · utility
14Cited by
337References
15Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 15, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jan 31, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 15, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02C20/40
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method of lowering the temperature of a subsurface formation, e.g., comprising oil shale, includes injecting a cooling fluid under pressure into a wellbore. The wellbore is completed at or below a depth of the subsurface formation, and the wellbore includes a bore formed through the subsurface formation defining a diameter. The cooling fluid comprises a slurry having particles of frozen material. The cooling fluid is circulated across the formation in order to lower the temperature of at least a portion of the formation to a point that is at or below the freezing point of water.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.