Characterization of in situ oil shale retorts prior to ignition

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:865098

Turner, Thomas F ^[1]; Moore, Dennis F ^[1]

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1. Laramie, WY

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.

• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4460218
• OSTI ID: 865098
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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
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