Method for producing shale oil from an oil shale formation

Patent · Tue Jul 20 04:00:00 EDT 1971

OSTI ID:5539238

Herce, J A

The rate of recovery, amount of recovery and/or the nature of the petroleum materials that are recovered from a subterranean oil-shale formation are improved by use of at least one phenolic compound having unique oil-extracting properties. At least one well-bore hole is drilled into a permeable zone formed within a subterranean oil-shale formation and an aromatic organic Bronsted acid, such as a phenolic compound is circulated through per se or in a fluid carrier. Shale oil and circulating extracting fluid material are then recovered from the permeable zone and the shale oil is separated from the extracting material. The formation should be preheated prior to injection or the circulating fluid should be injected hot in carrying out this process. (6 claims)

• Assignee: Shell Oil Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3593790
• OSTI ID: 5539238
• 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
ADDITIVES
AROMATICS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BOREHOLES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CAVITIES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
MATERIALS
OIL SHALES
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PERMEABILITY
PHENOLS
PROCESSING
RESERVOIR TEMPERATURE
RETORTING
WELLS