Wells – Processes – In situ combustion
Patent
1979-01-19
1980-09-30
Novosad, Stephen J.
Wells
Processes
In situ combustion
166251, 166259, E21B 4324
Patent
active
042249902
ABSTRACT:
A secondary combustion zone is established and its location controlled in a fragmented mass of particles containing oil shale in an in situ oil shale retort.
A processing zone including a primary combustion zone is established in the retort by igniting a portion of the mass of particles. An oxygen supplying gas is introduced into the retort to advance the processing zone through the fragmented mass. If the primary combustion zone is not substantially planar or has not progressed uniformly, a secondary combustion zone is established upstream of the primary combustion zone by introducing into the retort a retort inlet mixture comprising fuel and at least sufficient oxygen for combustion of the fuel at a temperature no greater than the primary combustion zone temperature.
The secondary combustion zone is caused to move upstream from its initial location in the in situ oil shale retort by reducing the ignition temperature of the retort inlet mixture. The secondary combustion zone is maintained at this upstream location and allowed to spread laterally through the fragmented mass, heating portions of such fragmented mass to the self-ignition temperature of oil shale. Heating the fragmented mass to the self-ignition temperature of oil shale spreads the primary combustion zone laterally across the fragmented mass at the upstream location.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3001776 (1961-09-01), Van Poollen
patent: 3097690 (1963-07-01), Terwilliger et al.
patent: 3127935 (1964-04-01), Poettmann et al.
patent: 3147804 (1964-09-01), Wyllie
patent: 3154143 (1964-10-01), Parrish
patent: 3454958 (1969-07-01), Parker
patent: 3460620 (1969-08-01), Parker
patent: 3548938 (1970-12-01), Parker
patent: 4084640 (1978-04-01), Allred
Novosad Stephen J.
Occidental Oil Shale Inc.
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