Method of producing shale oil from a subterranean oil shale formation

Patent · Tue Mar 17 04:00:00 EST 1970

OSTI ID:5263447

Closmann, P J; Nordgren, R P

A method of recovering shale oil from a normally impermeable subterranean oil-shale formation consists of extending at least a pair of boreholes into the formation and forming generally vertical fractures extending along generally parallel paths from each of the boreholes. Hot fluid is injected through at least one of the well boreholes until flow into at least one of the fractures is thermally closed by the swelling shut of the walls of the fracture. Fluid in the borehole, in which at least one fracture has been thermally closed, is pressurized until at least one new fracture is formed and the steps of injecting hot fluid and the pressurizing of fluid are repeated at successively higher temperatures and pressures, until the resultant fractures form a channel interconnecting the boreholes through which fluid can flow from one borehole to another. The walls of the fractures interconnecting the boreholes are leached at a controlled temperature until channels provided between the boreholes are capable of remaining open while hot fluid is circulated between the boreholes. (13 claims)

• Assignee: Shell Oil Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3501201
• OSTI ID: 5263447
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040401* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BOREHOLES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CAVITIES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMMINUTION
DECOMPOSITION
DISSOLUTION
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPANSION
FAILURES
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURES
FRACTURING
FUELS
HIGH PRESSURE
HYDRAULIC FRACTURES
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
LEACHING
MATERIALS
MINERAL OILS
OIL SHALES
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PRESSURIZING
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
RETORTING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SHALE OIL
THERMAL EXPANSION