Method of bulking an in situ oil shale retort substantially full of fragmented shale

Patent · Tue Nov 23 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6614183

Ricketts, T E

A method for forming an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale is provided. The in situ oil shale retort has a top boundary, generally vertically extending side boundaries, and a bottom boundary of unfragmented formation. A first portion of formation is excavated for forming at least one void within the boundaries, leaving a remaining portion of formation within the boundaries adjacent the void or voids. A remaining portion of unfragmented formation within the retort boundaries is explosively expanded toward such a void for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in the retort. A void space remains between the upper surface of the fragmented mass and overlying unfragmented formation. A lower portion of the overlying formation is explosively expanded downwardly toward the void space for substantially filling the retort with formation particles. A sill pillar of unfragmented formation is left extending between an air level base of operation and the top boundary of the retort being formed.

• Assignee: Occidental Oil Shale Inc
• Patent Number(s): US 4360233
• OSTI ID: 6614183
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 30 Oct 1980; Other Information: PAT-APPL-202072
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
OIL SHALES
IN-SITU RETORTING
SHALE OIL
RECOVERY
EXPANSION
EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMMINUTION
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FUELS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
MATERIALS
MINERAL OILS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
RETORTING
040401* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- In Situ Methods
True & Modified