Recovery of hydrocarbons from deep underground deposits of tar s

Details Recovery of hydrocarbons from deep underground deposits of tar s Recovery of hydrocarbons from deep underground deposits of tar s

1981-09-25

1984-06-05

Pate, III, William F.

Mining or in situ disintegration of hard material

In situ conversion of solid to fluid

Dissolving or chemical reaction

299 11, E21B 4324

Patent

active

044524919

ABSTRACT:
A method is provided for mining deep tar sand deposits which minimizes energy losses and surface subsidance due to cavity collapse. A well is sunk through the overburden and tar sands deposit into the bedrock below the deposit; the well is sealed and pressurized with steam and inert gas. Hot aqueous fluid is directed against the deposit to melt the tar and form a tar-sand-water slurry which is passed to a surface recovery plant. Pressure is maintained in the well sufficiently high to hold the overburden. Energy losses are minimized by maintaining the pressure both in the well and the surface plant above the boiling point of the water at the temperature used, which may be as high as 450.degree. F. or more, subsidence is prevented by keeping at least a 10 foot thick ceiling of tar sands throughout the operation, and by backfilling the well with an aqueous slurry of sand after mining operations are complete, before releasing pressure on the well.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3050289 (1962-08-01), Gerner
patent: 3459003 (1969-08-01), O'Neal
patent: 3472553 (1969-10-01), Miller
patent: 3510168 (1970-05-01), Camp
patent: 4101172 (1978-07-01), Rabbitts
patent: 4109715 (1978-08-01), Adamson
patent: 4212353 (1980-07-01), Hall
patent: 4234232 (1980-11-01), Smith et al.

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