Method for extraction of hydrocarbon fuels or contaminants using electrical energy and critical fluids

US9187979B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Brian C. Considine · Chelmsford, US
• John A. Cogliandro · Dedham, US
• Maureen P. Cogliandro · Dedham, US
• John M. Moses · Mitchell, CA
• John R. Hannon · Salem, US
• John P. Markiewicz · Andover, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 30, 2008
• Grant date: Nov 17, 2015
• Expiry date: Feb 17, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C10J2200/152
• WIPO field: Civil engineering
• WIPO sector: Other 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).