Slurry backfilling of in-situ oil shale retort

Patent · Tue Dec 26 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:5976924

Speer, T L; Watson, G H

A process for the slurry backfilling of subterranean in situ oil shale retorts is described. A subterranean in situ retort is formed so that the retort contains a mass of rubblized oil shale. A retorting fluid is passed through the rubblized mass so as to retort it and recover hydrocarbons. The retort is cooled. A slurry consisting of water and spent oil shale from surface retorting is introduced into the subterranean retort. The slurry consists of water and a material capable of forming a porous structure at one or more points in the subterranean retort so as to form one or more drainage paths for the removal of water from the slurry. Thus, the spent shale from surface retorting is effectively disposed of, and a mechanically and environmentally suitable underground formation is established.

• Assignee: Standard Oil Co. of Indiana
• Patent Number(s): US 4131416
• OSTI ID: 5976924
• 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
040900* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Waste management
BACKFILLING
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
OIL SHALES
PROCESSING
RETORTING
SPENT SHALES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT