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
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 1978 Apr 10
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Process of breaking and rendering permeable a subterranean rock mass
Investigation of the Geokinetics horizontal in situ oil shale retorting process. Seventh annual report, 1983
Related Subjects
oil
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process
producing
subterranean
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retort
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containing
permeable
fragmented
material
series
explosive
charges
emplaced
particular
configuration
comprising
initiating
functions
produce
upward
flexure
overburden
initiate
fragmentation
formed
followed
predetermined
time
sequence
retreating
lines
developing
zone
continued
lateral
characterized
plurality
5-spot
patterns
positioned
fired
zigzag
forming
rows
delays
firing
successive
disclosed
time delays
shale deposit
explosive charges
predetermined time
oil recovery
time delay
oil shale
chamber containing
recovery process
explosive charge
shale oil
subterranean oil
time sequence
particular configuration
particular time
determined time
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