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In situ oil shale retort with variations in surface area corresponding to kerogen content of formation within retort site

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6013873

An in situ oil retort is formed in a subterranean formation containing oil shale. The formation consists of at least one stratum of relatively higher average kerogen content which is included in formation of relatively lower average kerogen content. A void is excavated in a retort site in the formation, leaving a remaining portion of unfragmented formation within the retort site adjacent to the void. The portion of unfragmented formation within the retort site is explosively expanded toward the void to form a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in an in situ retort in which fragmented formation particles from the stratum of higher kerogen content have a lower surface area per unit volume than the average surface area per unit volume of the fragmented mass. This can be accomplished when the higher kerogen content portion has a larger particle size than the average particle in the fragmented mass, or when it has a larger void fraction than the average void fraction of the fragmented mass. When the fragmented mass is retorted, there is no substantial increase in resistance to flow of gas through the fragmented mass due to the relatively higher thermal expansion of fragmented formation particles having the higher kerogen content. 26 claims.

Assignee:
Occidental Oil Shale Inc.
Patent Number(s):
US 4149595
OSTI ID:
6013873
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
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
DECOMPOSITION
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
EXPANSION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
KEROGEN
LEVELS
MATERIALS
MINERAL OILS
OIL SHALES
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MATTER
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SIZE
PRESSURE DROP
PROCESSING
RETORTING
RETORTS
SHALE OIL
SIZE
SURFACE AREA
SURFACE PROPERTIES
THERMAL EXPANSION
UNDERGROUND