Method for loading explosive laterally from a borehole
Abstract
There is provided a method for forming an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale. At least one void is excavated in the formation, leaving zones of unfragmented formation adjacent the void. An array of main blastholes is formed in the zone of unfragmented formation and at least one explosive charge which is shaped for forming a high velocity gas jet is placed into a main blasthole with the axis of the gas jet extending transverse to the blasthole. The shaped charge is detonated for forming an auxiliary blasthole in the unfragmented formation adjacent a side wall of the main blasthole. The auxiliary blasthole extends laterally away from the main blasthole. Explosive is placed into the main blasthole and into the auxiliary blasthole and is detonated for explosively expanding formation towards the free face for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles in the in situ oil shale retort.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Occidental Oil Shale, Inc., Grand Junction, CO (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 863942
- Patent Number(s):
- 4281878
- Application Number:
- 06/099553
- Assignee:
- Occidental Oil Shale, Inc. (Grand Junction, CO)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING
E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21C - MINING OR QUARRYING
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC20-78LC10036
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 1979 Dec 03
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- method; loading; explosive; laterally; borehole; provided; forming; situ; oil; shale; retort; subterranean; formation; containing; void; excavated; leaving; zones; unfragmented; adjacent; array; main; blastholes; formed; zone; charge; shaped; velocity; gas; jet; placed; blasthole; axis; extending; transverse; detonated; auxiliary; wall; extends; explosively; expanding; towards; free; fragmented; permeable; mass; particles; velocity gas; explosively expanding; expanding formation; subterranean formation; gas jet; permeable mass; formation particles; fragmented permeable; containing oil; situ oil; shale retort; oil shale; unfragmented formation; explosive charge; shaped charge; formation adjacent; formation containing; extending transverse; extends laterally; /299/102/
Citation Formats
Ricketts, Thomas E. Method for loading explosive laterally from a borehole. United States: N. p., 1981.
Web.
Ricketts, Thomas E. Method for loading explosive laterally from a borehole. United States.
Ricketts, Thomas E. Thu .
"Method for loading explosive laterally from a borehole". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/863942.
@article{osti_863942,
title = {Method for loading explosive laterally from a borehole},
author = {Ricketts, Thomas E.},
abstractNote = {There is provided a method for forming an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale. At least one void is excavated in the formation, leaving zones of unfragmented formation adjacent the void. An array of main blastholes is formed in the zone of unfragmented formation and at least one explosive charge which is shaped for forming a high velocity gas jet is placed into a main blasthole with the axis of the gas jet extending transverse to the blasthole. The shaped charge is detonated for forming an auxiliary blasthole in the unfragmented formation adjacent a side wall of the main blasthole. The auxiliary blasthole extends laterally away from the main blasthole. Explosive is placed into the main blasthole and into the auxiliary blasthole and is detonated for explosively expanding formation towards the free face for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles in the in situ oil shale retort.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1981},
month = {1}
}