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Method for producing shale oil from a subterranean oil shale formation

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5649715
A method is described for producing shale oil from a subterranean oil-shale formation, wherein a chimney of fragmented oil shale is formed in the formation by exploding a relatively high energy explosive device. The chimney has a substantially void space formed at the top. A liquid is flowed through the voids formed between the oil-shale fragments, the liquid being adapted to selectively by-pass small voids and plug larger voids formed between the fragments at least in the substantially vertical central portion of the chimney. Hydrocarbons at the top of the chimney are ignited and a combustion supporting fluid is flowed into the chimney at the top, thereby advancing a combustion front down the chimney to the bottom. The fluid-flow path of th fluid supporting the combustion tends to be confined to the vertical outlyng portions of the chimney and the untreated small voids within th chimney, until the heat from the combustion front thermally mobilizes the liquid plugging the larger voids. (16 claims)
Assignee:
Shell Oil Co.
Patent Number(s):
US 3565171
OSTI ID:
5649715
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040401* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHIMNEYS
COMBUSTION
DECOMPOSITION
DISASTERS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINEERING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EXPLOSIVE STIMULATION
EXPLOSIVES
FLOODS
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROCARBONS
IGNITION
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
MATERIALS
MINERAL OILS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
OIL SHALE DEPOSITS
OIL SHALES
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
RETORTING
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALE OIL
STIMULATION
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WELL STIMULATION