Characterization of in situ oil shale retorts prior to ignition
Abstract
Method and system for characterizing a vertical modified in situ oil shale retort prior to ignition of the retort. The retort is formed by mining a void at the bottom of a proposed retort in an oil shale deposit. The deposit is then sequentially blasted into the void to form a plurality of layers of rubble. A plurality of units each including a tracer gas cannister are installed at the upper level of each rubble layer prior to blasting to form the next layer. Each of the units includes a receiver that is responsive to a coded electromagnetic (EM) signal to release gas from the associated cannister into the rubble. Coded EM signals are transmitted to the receivers to selectively release gas from the cannisters. The released gas flows through the retort to an outlet line connected to the floor of the retort. The time of arrival of the gas at a detector unit in the outlet line relative to the time of release of gas from the cannisters is monitored. This information enables the retort to be characterized prior to ignition.
- Inventors:
-
- Laramie, WY
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 865098
- Patent Number(s):
- 4460218
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- 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
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- characterization; situ; oil; shale; retorts; prior; ignition; method; characterizing; vertical; modified; retort; formed; mining; void; bottom; proposed; deposit; sequentially; blasted; form; plurality; layers; rubble; units; including; tracer; gas; cannister; installed; upper; level; layer; blasting; receiver; responsive; coded; electromagnetic; signal; release; associated; signals; transmitted; receivers; selectively; cannisters; released; flows; outlet; line; connected; floor; time; arrival; detector; unit; relative; monitored; information; enables; characterized; tracer gas; outlet line; shale deposit; shale retorts; line connected; gas flows; situ oil; shale retort; gas flow; oil shale; layer prior; detector unit; ignition method; information enables; /299/166/
Citation Formats
Turner, Thomas F, and Moore, Dennis F. Characterization of in situ oil shale retorts prior to ignition. United States: N. p., 1984.
Web.
Turner, Thomas F, & Moore, Dennis F. Characterization of in situ oil shale retorts prior to ignition. United States.
Turner, Thomas F, and Moore, Dennis F. Sun .
"Characterization of in situ oil shale retorts prior to ignition". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865098.
@article{osti_865098,
title = {Characterization of in situ oil shale retorts prior to ignition},
author = {Turner, Thomas F and Moore, Dennis F},
abstractNote = {Method and system for characterizing a vertical modified in situ oil shale retort prior to ignition of the retort. The retort is formed by mining a void at the bottom of a proposed retort in an oil shale deposit. The deposit is then sequentially blasted into the void to form a plurality of layers of rubble. A plurality of units each including a tracer gas cannister are installed at the upper level of each rubble layer prior to blasting to form the next layer. Each of the units includes a receiver that is responsive to a coded electromagnetic (EM) signal to release gas from the associated cannister into the rubble. Coded EM signals are transmitted to the receivers to selectively release gas from the cannisters. The released gas flows through the retort to an outlet line connected to the floor of the retort. The time of arrival of the gas at a detector unit in the outlet line relative to the time of release of gas from the cannisters is monitored. This information enables the retort to be characterized prior to ignition.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1984},
month = {1}
}