Method for forming an in situ oil shale retort with horizontal free faces
Abstract
A method for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles in an in situ oil shale retort is provided. A horizontally extending void is excavated in unfragmented formation containing oil shale and a zone of unfragmented formation is left adjacent the void. An array of explosive charges is formed in the zone of unfragmented formation. The array of explosive charges comprises rows of central explosive charges surrounded by a band of outer explosive charges which are adjacent side boundaries of the retort being formed. The powder factor of each outer explosive charge is made about equal to the powder factor of each central explosive charge. The explosive charges are detonated for explosively expanding the zone of unfragmented formation toward the void for forming the fragmented permeable mass of formation particles having a reasonably uniformly distributed void fraction in the in situ oil shale retort.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Occidental Oil Shale, Inc., Grand Junction, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 864458
- Patent Number(s):
- 4366987
- Application Number:
- 06/208862
- 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: 1980 Nov 21
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- method; forming; situ; oil; shale; retort; horizontal; free; fragmented; permeable; mass; formation; particles; provided; horizontally; extending; void; excavated; unfragmented; containing; zone; left; adjacent; array; explosive; charges; formed; comprises; rows; central; surrounded; band; outer; boundaries; powder; factor; charge; equal; detonated; explosively; expanding; reasonably; uniformly; distributed; fraction; void fraction; uniformly distribute; explosively expanding; explosive charges; permeable mass; formation particles; fragmented permeable; containing oil; situ oil; shale retort; oil shale; uniformly distributed; unfragmented formation; explosive charge; formation containing; horizontally extending; horizontal free; /299/102/
Citation Formats
Ricketts, Thomas E., and Fernandes, Robert J. Method for forming an in situ oil shale retort with horizontal free faces. United States: N. p., 1983.
Web.
Ricketts, Thomas E., & Fernandes, Robert J. Method for forming an in situ oil shale retort with horizontal free faces. United States.
Ricketts, Thomas E., and Fernandes, Robert J. Sat .
"Method for forming an in situ oil shale retort with horizontal free faces". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864458.
@article{osti_864458,
title = {Method for forming an in situ oil shale retort with horizontal free faces},
author = {Ricketts, Thomas E. and Fernandes, Robert J.},
abstractNote = {A method for forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles in an in situ oil shale retort is provided. A horizontally extending void is excavated in unfragmented formation containing oil shale and a zone of unfragmented formation is left adjacent the void. An array of explosive charges is formed in the zone of unfragmented formation. The array of explosive charges comprises rows of central explosive charges surrounded by a band of outer explosive charges which are adjacent side boundaries of the retort being formed. The powder factor of each outer explosive charge is made about equal to the powder factor of each central explosive charge. The explosive charges are detonated for explosively expanding the zone of unfragmented formation toward the void for forming the fragmented permeable mass of formation particles having a reasonably uniformly distributed void fraction in the in situ oil shale retort.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983}
}