Method for explosively expanding a pillar for forming an in situ oil shale retort

Patent · Tue Sep 22 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5863805

Ricketts, T E

An in situ oil shale retort is formed in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, a horizontally extending void is excavated within the boundaries of the retort site leaving a zone of unfragmented formation above and/or below such a void, at least one pillar of unfragmented formation is left within the side boundaries of such a void for providing temporary support for overburden above the void, such a pillar is explosively expanded so that a principal portion of the pillar fragments travel to the side boundaries of the void and such a zone of unfragmented formation is explosively expanded toward the void. Accumulation of sufficient pillar fragments adjacent the side boundaries of the retort can substantially offset a tendency for fragments of the expanded zone of formation to form a mound thereby forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles within the retort with a reasonably flat upper surface. Such a fragmented permeable mass is retorted in situ to produce shale oil.

• Assignee: Occidental Oil Shale Inc
• Patent Number(s): US 4290649
• OSTI ID: 5863805
• 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
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COMMINUTION
DECOMPOSITION
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FUELS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
MATERIALS
MINERAL OILS
OIL SHALES
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PERMEABILITY
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
RETORTING
RETORTS
SHALE OIL
VOIDS