Wells – Processes – In situ combustion
Patent
1978-06-07
1980-01-29
Novosad, Stephen J.
Wells
Processes
In situ combustion
166263, 166272, 166299, 299 17, E21B 4324, E21B 4326
Patent
active
041856937
ABSTRACT:
A method of producing hydrocarbonaceous liquids and gases from subterranean kerogen-containing oil shale formations comprising (a) penetrating the oil shale deposits with at least two well bores; (b) fracturing the oil shale deposits in a lower vertical portion thereof; (c) igniting the hydrocarbonaceous deposit; (d) introducing through the first well bore a free oxygen-containing gas to the ignited point of the oil shale deposit to effect thermal decomposition of the hydrocarbonaceous material therein and to propagate a combustion zone through the fractured communication area and the second well bore, thereby forming a region of combusted shale between the first well bore and the second well bore; (e) allowing the combustion to continue until a sufficient volume of combusted shale has been formed; (f) then jetting an aqueous liquid into and through the combusted shale zone to remove the mineral residue remaining after combustion; (g) positioning conventional explosives in the oil shale deposit in the vicinity of the washed-out cavity formed in step (g) above; (h) detonating the explosives, thereby causing the oil shale deposit to be fragmented and to collapse into the cavity, thus creating a rubblized zone of relatively high permeability and porosity; (i) then igniting the oil shale and introducing a free oxygen-containing gas at the top of the rubblized zone to combust and retort the rubblized hydrocarbonaceous deposit. Alternatively, a heated liquid may be introduced at a temperature of from around 700.degree. to 1000.degree. F. to effect production of hydrocarbonaceous liquids or gases from the rubblized oil shale.
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Crumb Robert E.
Martin William L.
Young Gary C.
Conoco Inc.
Novosad Stephen J.
Schupbach, Jr. Cortlan R.
Suchfield George A.
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