Method for attenuating seismic shock from detonating explosive in an in situ oil shale retort
- Grand Junction, CO
In situ oil shale retorts are formed in formation containing oil shale by excavating at least one void in each retort site. Explosive is placed in a remaining portion of unfragmented formation within each retort site adjacent such a void, and such explosive is detonated in a single round for explosively expanding formation within the retort site toward such a void for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in each retort. This produces a large explosion which generates seismic shock waves traveling outwardly from the blast site through the underground formation. Sensitive equipment which could be damaged by seismic shock traveling to it straight through unfragmented formation is shielded from such an explosion by placing such equipment in the shadow of a fragmented mass in an in situ retort formed prior to the explosion. The fragmented mass attenuates the velocity and magnitude of seismic shock waves traveling toward such sensitive equipment prior to the shock wave reaching the vicinity of such equipment.
- Research Organization:
- Occidental Oil Shale, Inc., Grand Junction, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC20-78LC10036
- Assignee:
- Occidental Oil Shale, Inc. (Grand Junction, CO)
- Patent Number(s):
- 4,192,553
- Application Number:
- 05/892736
- OSTI ID:
- 863522
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 1978 Apr 03
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Method for explosive expansion toward horizontal free faces for forming an in situ oil shale retort
Method for forming an in situ oil shale retort with horizontal free faces
Related Subjects
attenuating
seismic
shock
detonating
explosive
situ
oil
shale
retort
retorts
formed
formation
containing
excavating
void
site
placed
remaining
portion
unfragmented
adjacent
detonated
single
explosively
expanding
forming
fragmented
permeable
mass
particles
produces
explosion
generates
waves
traveling
outwardly
blast
underground
sensitive
equipment
damaged
straight
shielded
placing
shadow
prior
attenuates
velocity
magnitude
wave
reaching
vicinity
explosively expanding
seismic shock
shock waves
shale retorts
expanding formation
permeable mass
formation particles
fragmented permeable
particles containing
containing oil
retort site
fragmented mass
shock wave
situ oil
shale retort
oil shale
unfragmented formation
remaining portion
formation containing
sensitive equipment
underground formation
formed prior
situ retort
particles contain
/299/102/181/