skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Method for attenuating seismic shock from detonating explosive in an in situ oil shale retort

Abstract

In situ oil shale retorts are formed in formation containing oil shale by excavating at least one void in each retort site. Explosive is placed in a remaining portion of unfragmented formation within each retort site adjacent such a void, and such explosive is detonated in a single round for explosively expanding formation within the retort site toward such a void for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in each retort. This produces a large explosion which generates seismic shock waves traveling outwardly from the blast site through the underground formation. Sensitive equipment which could be damaged by seismic shock traveling to it straight through unfragmented formation is shielded from such an explosion by placing such equipment in the shadow of a fragmented mass in an in situ retort formed prior to the explosion. The fragmented mass attenuates the velocity and magnitude of seismic shock waves traveling toward such sensitive equipment prior to the shock wave reaching the vicinity of such equipment.

Inventors:
;
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
5628495
Patent Number(s):
US 4192553
Assignee:
Occidental Oil Shale Inc
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: Filed date 3 Apr 1978; Other Information: PAT-APPL-892736
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS; OIL SHALES; EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING; IN-SITU RETORTING; ATTENUATION; EXCAVATION; EXPLOSIONS; SEISMIC WAVES; SHALE OIL; BITUMINOUS MATERIALS; CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; COMMINUTION; DECOMPOSITION; ENERGY SOURCES; FOSSIL FUELS; FRACTURING; FUELS; IN-SITU PROCESSING; MATERIALS; MINERAL OILS; OILS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; PROCESSING; RETORTING; 040401* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- In Situ Methods, True & Modified

Citation Formats

Hefelfinger, R, and Studebaker, I G. Method for attenuating seismic shock from detonating explosive in an in situ oil shale retort. United States: N. p., 1980. Web.
Hefelfinger, R, & Studebaker, I G. Method for attenuating seismic shock from detonating explosive in an in situ oil shale retort. United States.
Hefelfinger, R, and Studebaker, I G. 1980. "Method for attenuating seismic shock from detonating explosive in an in situ oil shale retort". United States.
@article{osti_5628495,
title = {Method for attenuating seismic shock from detonating explosive in an in situ oil shale retort},
author = {Hefelfinger, R and Studebaker, I G},
abstractNote = {In situ oil shale retorts are formed in formation containing oil shale by excavating at least one void in each retort site. Explosive is placed in a remaining portion of unfragmented formation within each retort site adjacent such a void, and such explosive is detonated in a single round for explosively expanding formation within the retort site toward such a void for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in each retort. This produces a large explosion which generates seismic shock waves traveling outwardly from the blast site through the underground formation. Sensitive equipment which could be damaged by seismic shock traveling to it straight through unfragmented formation is shielded from such an explosion by placing such equipment in the shadow of a fragmented mass in an in situ retort formed prior to the explosion. The fragmented mass attenuates the velocity and magnitude of seismic shock waves traveling toward such sensitive equipment prior to the shock wave reaching the vicinity of such equipment.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5628495}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Mar 11 00:00:00 EST 1980},
month = {Tue Mar 11 00:00:00 EST 1980}
}