In situ method for recovering hydrocarbon from subterranean oil shale deposits

Patent · Tue Nov 03 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5699415

Friedman, R H

This patent describes in situ method for recovering hydrocarbons from subterranean oil shale deposits, the deposits comprising mineral rock and kerogen, comprising (a) penetrating the oil shale deposit with at least one well; (b) forming a zone of fractured and/or rubbilized oil shale material adjacent the well by hydraulic or explosive fracturing; (c) introducing a hydrogen donor solvent including tetralin into the portion of the oil shale formation treated in step (b) in a volume sufficient to fill substantially all of the void space created by the fracturing and rubbilizing treatment; (d) applying hydrogen to the tetralin and maintaining a predetermined pressure for a predetermined period of time sufficient to cause disintegration of the oil shale material; (e) thereafter introducing an oxidative environment into the portion of the oil shale deposit (f) producing the solvent in organic fragments to the surface of the earth, and (g) separating the organic fragments from the solvent.

• Assignee: Texaco Inc., White Plains, NY
• Patent Number(s): US 4703798
• OSTI ID: 5699415
• 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
AROMATICS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMMINUTION
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FUELS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN
HYDROTORTING PROCESS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
KEROGEN
MATERIALS
NONMETALS
OIL SHALES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MATTER
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
RETORTING
TETRALIN