Means for providing gas seal in production level drift for in situ oil shale retort

Patent · Tue Apr 29 04:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:5769062

Burton, R S

An in situ oil shale retort is formed in a subterranean formation containing oil shale. The retort contains a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale. During retorting, oxygen-supplying gas is introduced into an upper level of the fragmented mass for establishing a combustion zone and for advancing the combustion zone downwardly through the fragmented mass. Liquid and gaseous products, including shale oil and off gas, are withdrawn from a generally u-shaped production level drift at a lower level of the fragmented mass. Liquid in a lower portion of the U seals against the roof of the drift to provide a gas seal which inhibits passage of off gas from a first leg of the drift in communication with the retort to a second leg of the drift remote from the retort. A retaining wall in the second leg of the drift can provide lateral support for the liquid forming the gas seal, and help minimize the depth of excavation of the u-shaped drift. Shale oil and off gas can be separately withdrawn from the first leg of the drift.

• Assignee: Occidental Oil Shale Inc
• Patent Number(s): US 4200336
• OSTI ID: 5769062
• 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
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
CLOSURES
COMBUSTION
DECOMPOSITION
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRAGMENTATION
FUELS
GASES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
LIQUIDS
MATERIALS
OIL SHALES
OXIDATION
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
RETORTING
RETORTS
SAFETY
SEALS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TOXIC MATERIALS