Method for forming uniform flow rubble bed

Patent · Tue Aug 06 00:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:6410381

Ricketts, T E

An in situ oil shale retort containing a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles having a generally uniform permeability across horizontal cross-sections of the retort is provided. To form the retort, a void is excavated in a subterranean formation within the boundaries of the retort site, while at least one zone of unfragmented formation is left adjacent the void. A plurality of explosive charges are placed in the zone of unfragmented formation in a selected pattern; an array of central explosive charges and a plurality of perimeter charges arranged in rows surrounding the central charges. The spacing distance between each row of perimeter charges and an adjacent outer row of central charges is about equal. The combination of spacing distance and powder factor of the central charges is selected to produce a center portion of the fragmented permeable mass having a first average particle size (d/sub 1/) and a first average void fraction (e/sub 1/). The powder factor for each row of perimeter charges and the spacing distance between each outer row of central charges and an adjacent row of perimeter charges is selected to produce a perimeter portion of the fragmented permeable mass having a second particle size (d/sub 2/) and a second void fraction (e/sub 2/), the second average particle size (d/sub 2/) and the second average void fraction (e/sub 2/) being related to the first average particle size (d/sub 1/) and the first average void fraction (e/sub 1/) so that the relation

• Assignee: Occidental Oil Shale, Inc.
• Patent Number(s): US 4533181
• OSTI ID: 6410381
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 29 Mar 1984; Other Information: PAT-APPL-594833
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
OIL SHALES
EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING
IN-SITU RETORTING
RETORTS
DESIGN
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
PARTICLE SIZE
PERMEABILITY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COMMINUTION
DECOMPOSITION
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
DISTRIBUTION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINEERING
EQUIPMENT
EXPLOSIVES
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FUELS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
MATERIALS
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
RETORTING
SIZE
040401* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- In Situ Methods
True & Modified