Shale oil recovery process
A process of producing within a subterranean oil shale deposit a retort chamber containing permeable fragmented material wherein a series of explosive charges are emplaced in the deposit in a particular configuration comprising an initiating round which functions to produce an upward flexure of the overburden and to initiate fragmentation of the oil shale within the area of the retort chamber to be formed, the initiating round being followed in a predetermined time sequence by retreating lines of emplaced charges developing further fragmentation within the retort zone and continued lateral upward flexure of the overburden. The initiating round is characterized by a plurality of 5-spot patterns and the retreating lines of charges are positioned and fired along zigzag lines generally forming retreating rows of W's. Particular time delays in the firing of successive charges are disclosed.
- Research Organization:
- Geokinetics Inc., Concord, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC20-78LC10787
- Assignee:
- Geokinetics Inc. (Concord, CA)
- Patent Number(s):
- 4,205,610
- Application Number:
- 05/895243
- OSTI ID:
- 863591
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
5-spot
chamber
chamber containing
characterized
charges
comprising
configuration
containing
continued
delays
deposit
determined time
developing
disclosed
emplaced
explosive
explosive charge
explosive charges
fired
firing
flexure
followed
formed
forming
fragmentation
fragmented
functions
initiate
initiating
lateral
lines
material
oil
oil recovery
oil shale
overburden
particular
particular configuration
particular time
patterns
permeable
plurality
positioned
predetermined
predetermined time
process
produce
producing
recovery
recovery process
retort
retreating
rows
sequence
series
shale
shale deposit
shale oil
subterranean
subterranean oil
successive
time
time delay
time delays
time sequence
upward
zigzag
zone