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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Method of recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon-containing shale formation

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5594012
The method for recovering hydrocarbon from hydrocarbon-containing bentonitic shales consists of the step of contacting the shale with an aqueous liquid to cause it to swell and disintegrate. The aqueous slurry of swollen bentonitic clay and hydrocarbon is recovered and the hydrocarbon separated from it. The method may be applied with the same success in shallow hydrocarbon-containing bentonitic shale formations, which may even outcrop, as in deep hydrocarbon-containing bentonitic shale formations. The formation so treated has at least 2 wells drilled into it, which wells are interconnected by fracturing. One is the injection well, the other(s) producing wells for producing the shale slurry. 3 claims.
Assignee:
Shell Oil Co
Patent Number(s):
US 3407003
OSTI ID:
5594012
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English