Method for producing shale oil from an oil shale formation

Patent · Tue May 26 04:00:00 EDT 1970

OSTI ID:7155081

Vogel, J V

Shale oil is produced from a subterranean oil-shale formation by extending a pair of boreholes into the formation only to a depth corresponding with the oil-shale formation. A generally horizontal fracture is formed in the oil-shale formation extending between the boreholes so that a gaseous fluid may be circulated from one borehole through the fracture and out the other borehole while maintaining a pressure on the fluid sufficient to maintain a permeable channel through which fluid can flow. The permeability of the channel is maintained by lifting the weight of the earth overburden above the channel and permitting expansion of the solid mineral residue left after retorting the kerogen and removing the products from the oil-shale formation. The gaseous component of the circulating fluid is heated to a temperature sufficient to retort and mobilize any organic components in the oil-shale formation. The depths of the boreholes through which the heated circulated fluid is flowing are adjusted to correspond with the uppermost depth along which the fluid is circulating through the permeable channel. (7 claims)

• Assignee: Shell Oil Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3513914
• OSTI ID: 7155081
• 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
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BOREHOLES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CAVITIES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GAS INJECTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
MATERIALS
MINERAL OILS
OIL SHALES
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
PYROLYSIS
RESERVOIR ROCK
RETORTING
SHALE OIL
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES