System for producing a uniform rubble bed for in situ processes
Abstract
A method and a cutter are disclosed for producing a large cavity filled with a uniform bed of rubblized oil shale or other material, for in situ processing. A raise drill head has a hollow body with a generally circular base and sloping upper surface. A hollow shaft extends from the hollow body. Cutter teeth are mounted on the upper surface of the body and relatively small holes are formed in the body between the cutter teeth. Relatively large peripheral flutes around the body allow material to drop below the drill head. A pilot hole is drilled into the oil shale deposit. The pilot hole is reamed into a large diameter hole by means of a large diameter raise drill head or cutter to produce a cavity filled with rubble. A flushing fluid, such as air, is circulated through the pilot hole during the reaming operation to remove fines through the raise drill, thereby removing sufficient material to create sufficient void space, and allowing the larger particles to fill the cavity and provide a uniform bed of rubblized oil shale. 4 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 7259541
- Patent Number(s):
- 4391467
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 6-253125
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 10 Apr 1981
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS; CAVITIES; CONSTRUCTION; OIL SHALES; COMMINUTION; BOREHOLES; DRILL BITS; DRILLING EQUIPMENT; GAS INJECTION; IN-SITU RETORTING; OIL SHALE FINES; POROSITY; REMOVAL; UNDERGROUND SPACE; BITUMINOUS MATERIALS; CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; DECOMPOSITION; ENERGY SOURCES; EQUIPMENT; FLUID INJECTION; FOSSIL FUELS; FUELS; IN-SITU PROCESSING; MATERIALS; PROCESSING; RETORTING; ROCKS; SEDIMENTARY ROCKS; SHALES; SPACE; 040300* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Drilling, Fracturing & Mining
Citation Formats
Galloway, T R. System for producing a uniform rubble bed for in situ processes. United States: N. p., 1983.
Web.
Galloway, T R. System for producing a uniform rubble bed for in situ processes. United States.
Galloway, T R. Tue .
"System for producing a uniform rubble bed for in situ processes". United States.
@article{osti_7259541,
title = {System for producing a uniform rubble bed for in situ processes},
author = {Galloway, T R},
abstractNote = {A method and a cutter are disclosed for producing a large cavity filled with a uniform bed of rubblized oil shale or other material, for in situ processing. A raise drill head has a hollow body with a generally circular base and sloping upper surface. A hollow shaft extends from the hollow body. Cutter teeth are mounted on the upper surface of the body and relatively small holes are formed in the body between the cutter teeth. Relatively large peripheral flutes around the body allow material to drop below the drill head. A pilot hole is drilled into the oil shale deposit. The pilot hole is reamed into a large diameter hole by means of a large diameter raise drill head or cutter to produce a cavity filled with rubble. A flushing fluid, such as air, is circulated through the pilot hole during the reaming operation to remove fines through the raise drill, thereby removing sufficient material to create sufficient void space, and allowing the larger particles to fill the cavity and provide a uniform bed of rubblized oil shale. 4 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1983},
month = {7}
}