Search for energy from the Antrim. [Michigan]

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6552630

Matthews, R D; Humphrey, J P

The Dow Chemical Co.'s interest in oil shale was directed in the 1950s toward in situ processes and local shales, specifically the Antrim, a black Devonian shale which occasionally produces natural gas and which yields 9 to 10 gal of oil per ton when retorted. It underlies most of the lower peninsula of Michigan. Various field studies by Dow of the Antrim Shale have resulted in the drilling of some 21 wells and the cutting of over 5,000 ft of core. Dow researchers have retorted Antrim Shale in laboratories and in surface retorts, and underground combustion experiments have been conducted in a quarry and through boreholes at depths of 1,200 ft and 2,600 ft below the surface. Both high pressure air and oxygen have been used underground at reactants. Hydraulic fracturing and chemical explosives have been used on a massive scale in attempts to generate the necessary fracture permeability for in situ retorting. The costs have been large and the technological problems yet to be solved are formidable; however, the potential of the eastern oil shale is so large that a continuing effort has been recommended to the federal government.

• Research Organization: Dow Chemical Co
• OSTI ID: 6552630
• Report Number(s): CONF-770431-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Journal Volume: SPE-6494
• 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
AIR
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BLACK SHALES
BOREHOLES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CAVITIES
CHATTANOOGA FORMATION
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
COMMINUTION
COST
DECOMPOSITION
DEVONIAN PERIOD
DRILLING
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EXPLORATION
EXPLOSIVES
FEDERAL REGION V
FIELD TESTS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FUELS
GASES
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
MATERIALS
MICHIGAN
MINERAL OILS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OIL SHALES
OIL YIELDS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN
PALEOZOIC ERA
PERMEABILITY
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
RECOVERY
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
RETORTING
SHALE GAS
SHALE OIL
TESTING
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
USA
WELL DRILLING
YIELDS