Determining the locus of a processing zone in an in situ oil shale retort by sound monitoring

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:863044

Elkington, W. Brice

The locus of a processing zone advancing through a fragmented permeable mass of particles in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale is determined by monitoring for sound produced in the retort, preferably by monitoring for sound at at least two locations in a plane substantially normal to the direction of advancement of the processing zone. Monitoring can be effected by placing a sound transducer in a well extending through the formation adjacent the retort and/or in the fragmented mass such as in a well extending into the fragmented mass.

• Research Organization: Occidental Oil Shale, Inc., Grand Junction, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
• DOE Contract Number: FC20-78LC10036
• Assignee: Occidental Oil Shale, Inc. (Grand Junction, CO)
• Patent Number(s): 4,082,145
• Application Number: 05/798076
• OSTI ID: 863044
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 1977 May 18
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

determining
locus
processing
zone
situ
oil
shale
retort
sound
monitoring
advancing
fragmented
permeable
mass
particles
subterranean
formation
containing
determined
produced
preferably
locations
plane
substantially
normal
direction
advancement
effected
placing
transducer
extending
adjacent
subterranean formation
permeable mass
fragmented permeable
containing oil
fragmented mass
situ oil
shale retort
oil shale
formation adjacent
formation containing
substantially normal
processing zone
sound transducer
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