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Method for controlling void in an in-situ oil shale retort

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6521379

Liquid and gaseous products are recovered from an in-situ oil shale retort formed in a retort site in a subterranean formation containing oil shale. A void is excavated in the subterranean formation within the boundaries of the retort site and a zone of unfragmented formation is left in the retort site adjacent the void. A retort inlet is at one upper edge of the retort site and a retort outlet is at the lower edge of the retort site opposite the retort inlet. Explosive charges are placed in the zone of unfragmented formation and detonated in an asymmetrical time delay sequence for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles which substantially fills the retort to the top boundary in the region of the retort inlet. A combustion zone is formed in the fragmented permeable mass adjacent the inlet and a retort inlet mixture comprising an oxygen-supplying gas is introduced into the fragmented mass for sustaining the combustion zone and advancing the combustion zone diagonally through the fragmented mass from the inlet toward the outlet. A retorting zone is on the advancing side of the combustion zone for producing liquid and gaseous products and the liquid and gaseous products are withdrawn through the retort outlet.

Assignee:
Occidental Oil Shale, Inc.
Patent Number(s):
US 4440444
OSTI ID:
6521379
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 REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COMBUSTION CONTROL
COMBUSTION KINETICS
COMBUSTION WAVES
COMMINUTION
CONTROL
DECOMPOSITION
DESIGN
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING
FLUID WITHDRAWAL
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FUELS
GASES
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
KINETICS
MATERIALS
MINERAL OILS
OIL SHALES
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
REACTION KINETICS
RECOVERY
RETORTING
RETORTS
SHALE GAS
SHALE OIL