US3759574A - Method of producing hydrocarbons from an oil shale formation - Google Patents
Method of producing hydrocarbons from an oil shale formation Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3759574A US3759574A US00075009A US3759574DA US3759574A US 3759574 A US3759574 A US 3759574A US 00075009 A US00075009 A US 00075009A US 3759574D A US3759574D A US 3759574DA US 3759574 A US3759574 A US 3759574A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- fluid
- water
- oil shale
- formation
- zone
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 103
- 239000004058 oil shale Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 98
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 74
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 title abstract description 27
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 title abstract description 27
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 121
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 95
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 95
- 238000002386 leaching Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 45
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 16
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 58
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 claims description 32
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 29
- 239000010448 nahcolite Substances 0.000 claims description 25
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 20
- 238000005065 mining Methods 0.000 claims description 19
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000002378 acidificating effect Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000002360 explosive Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- BVKZGUZCCUSVTD-UHFFFAOYSA-L Carbonate Chemical compound [O-]C([O-])=O BVKZGUZCCUSVTD-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000003079 shale oil Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000006227 byproduct Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000004901 spalling Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011343 solid material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 abstract description 15
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 abstract description 11
- 238000011065 in-situ storage Methods 0.000 abstract description 9
- 230000000149 penetrating effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 description 72
- 235000010755 mineral Nutrition 0.000 description 71
- 235000002639 sodium chloride Nutrition 0.000 description 15
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 14
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 12
- 230000001965 increasing effect Effects 0.000 description 12
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 11
- UHOVQNZJYSORNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N Benzene Chemical compound C1=CC=CC=C1 UHOVQNZJYSORNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 9
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 8
- 238000004326 stimulated echo acquisition mode for imaging Methods 0.000 description 8
- FAPWRFPIFSIZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-M Sodium chloride Chemical compound [Na+].[Cl-] FAPWRFPIFSIZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 6
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000002474 experimental method Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000000197 pyrolysis Methods 0.000 description 6
- UIIMBOGNXHQVGW-UHFFFAOYSA-M Sodium bicarbonate Chemical compound [Na+].OC([O-])=O UIIMBOGNXHQVGW-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 5
- 238000004090 dissolution Methods 0.000 description 5
- BVKZGUZCCUSVTD-UHFFFAOYSA-M Bicarbonate Chemical class OC([O-])=O BVKZGUZCCUSVTD-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 4
- VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrochloric acid Chemical compound Cl VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- CDBYLPFSWZWCQE-UHFFFAOYSA-L Sodium Carbonate Chemical compound [Na+].[Na+].[O-]C([O-])=O CDBYLPFSWZWCQE-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 4
- 239000011800 void material Substances 0.000 description 4
- -1 HCl Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- ISWSIDIOOBJBQZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Phenol Chemical compound OC1=CC=CC=C1 ISWSIDIOOBJBQZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- YXFVVABEGXRONW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Toluene Chemical compound CC1=CC=CC=C1 YXFVVABEGXRONW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 150000007513 acids Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 239000007864 aqueous solution Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000010442 halite Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 3
- 150000004760 silicates Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 229910000030 sodium bicarbonate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 235000017557 sodium bicarbonate Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 239000011780 sodium chloride Substances 0.000 description 3
- 241001625808 Trona Species 0.000 description 2
- 150000004649 carbonic acid derivatives Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- RWGFKTVRMDUZSP-UHFFFAOYSA-N cumene Chemical compound CC(C)C1=CC=CC=C1 RWGFKTVRMDUZSP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000013505 freshwater Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000035699 permeability Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000565 sealant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000638 solvent extraction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 2
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- BPQQTUXANYXVAA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Orthosilicate Chemical compound [O-][Si]([O-])([O-])[O-] BPQQTUXANYXVAA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000010793 Steam injection (oil industry) Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910001514 alkali metal chloride Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- VCNTUJWBXWAWEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-J aluminum;sodium;dicarbonate Chemical compound [Na+].[Al+3].[O-]C([O-])=O.[O-]C([O-])=O VCNTUJWBXWAWEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-J 0.000 description 1
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- BVKZGUZCCUSVTD-UHFFFAOYSA-N carbonic acid Chemical class OC(O)=O BVKZGUZCCUSVTD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000013043 chemical agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005336 cracking Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002178 crystalline material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910001647 dawsonite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000000354 decomposition reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910001873 dinitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012634 fragment Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000013467 fragmentation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000006062 fragmentation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000004820 halides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000007522 mineralic acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000007524 organic acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000003960 organic solvent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003208 petroleum Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002244 precipitate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001556 precipitation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002285 radioactive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012266 salt solution Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000012047 saturated solution Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003352 sequestering agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004299 sodium benzoate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910000029 sodium carbonate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004094 surface-active agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007669 thermal treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/16—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
- E21B43/24—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection
- E21B43/241—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection combined with solution mining of non-hydrocarbon minerals, e.g. solvent pyrolysis of oil shale
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/16—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
- E21B43/24—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection
- E21B43/2405—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection in association with fracturing or crevice forming processes
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/28—Dissolving minerals other than hydrocarbons, e.g. by an alkaline or acid leaching agent
- E21B43/281—Dissolving minerals other than hydrocarbons, e.g. by an alkaline or acid leaching agent using heat
Definitions
- ABSTRACT A method of producing hydrocarbons and optionally water-soluble minerals from a subterranean oil shale formation containing zone(s) of water-soluble minerals, by penetrating said formation with at least one borehole and leaching or dissolving the water-soluble minerals from the formation with a solvent fluid so as to form a cavern(s) and/or interconnected cavities, followed by fracturization and/or rubblization of the oil shale surrounding the caverns or cavities, and thereafter injecting into fracturized and/or rubblized zones, a pyrolyzing fluid to effect in-situ hydrocarbon recovery therefrom.
- FIG. 1 A first figure.
- This invention relates to the recovery of hydrocarbons and optionally water-soluble minerals from underground oil shale formations containing water-soluble mineral deposits. More particularly, it relates to hydrocarbon recovery by in-situ thermal fluid extraction of oil shale within a fracturized and/or rubblized portion of a subterranean oil shale formation in and around a cavern and/or interconnected cavities formed by leaching or dissolving, e.g., solution mining of the watersoluble minerals therefrom.
- Still another object of this invention is to effect insitu pyrolysis to produce hydrocarbons from oil shale subjected to leaching, rubblization and/or fracturization as indicated in the previous two paragraphs, and subsequently recovering the hydrocarbons by suitable means.
- Still another object of the present invention is to recover water-soluble minerals from a rich water-soluble mineral containing oil shale formation(s) that may be removed during the leaching and/or solution mining, rubblization and/or fracturization, and/or pyrolysis processes.
- Still another object of the present invention is to sequentially and/or simultaneously recover water-soluble minerals and hydrocarbons from rich Water-soluble mineral containing oil shale formations that may be removed during the leaching and/or solution mining, rubblization and/or fracturization and/or pyrolysis pro Fallss.
- the present invention is directed to recovery of hydrocarbons and optionally water-soluble minerals from water-soluble mineral containing oil shale formations by the following steps: (1) subjecting a rich watersoluble mineral zone(s) of an oil shale formation to a leaching, dissolving or solution mining process so as to dissolve and preferably remove the water-soluble minerals, thereby creating porosity to allow for thermal expansion of the oil shale and establish communication through the treated zone(s), (2) effecting in said leached zone(s) rubblization and/or fracturization so as to form zone(s) of rubblized and/or fractured oil shale with large surface area for more efiicient heat treatment by in-situ thermal fluid extraction (pyrolysis), and (3) injecting into the rubblized and/or fracturized oil shale zone(s) a pyrolyzing fluid to effect hydrocarbon recovery.
- the water-soluble mineral(s) and hydrocarbons may be recovered sequentially or simultaneously and if the latter, the two products can be separated by suitable means such as settling or solvent extraction above ground.
- the oil shale formation may contain more than one zone of rich water-soluble minerals which zones may be separated by impermeable oil shale layers of several feet to several hundred feet and each of these water-soluble mineral layers or zones can be leached or dissolved or solution mined in accordance with the process of the present invention.
- the water-soluble mineral zones may contain the same or different minerals such as carbonates, bicarbonates, halites or mixtures thereof.
- water-soluble minerals present in the oil shale is meant to include water-soluble silicates, halides, carbonates, and/or bicarbonates salts, such as alkali metal chloride, carbonate, bicarbonate and silicate, e.g., halite, trona, nahcolite and the like.
- the first or initial step should be so designed to create a cavern or interconnecting cavities in the watersoluble mineral bed(s) or zone(s) by dissolving, leaching or solution mining techniques through at least one borehole penetrating said formation.
- Leaching can be efiected by cold or hot aqueous solutions either at atmospheric or elevated pressures.
- hot solutions such as hot water or acidified hot water and/or steam
- more rapid dissolution is efl'ected of certain water-soluble minerals such as nahcolite, trona, halite to produce void spaces in the oil shale formation thereby providing and enhancing well communication, space for thermal expansion of the shale, and greater surface for contact with subsequent pyrolyzing fluid.
- Water can be cold or hot or steam or any other aqueous fluids can be used such as steam and/or water containing acids, e.g., HCl, or I-ICl I-IF, surfactants, sequestering agents, etc. If the initial cavities are not in communication, fracturing may be necessary.
- acids e.g., HCl, or I-ICl I-IF, surfactants, sequestering agents, etc. If the initial cavities are not in communication, fracturing may be necessary.
- leaching solutions can contain chemical agents to enhance dissolution of the minerals.
- decomposition of certain water-soluble minerals, e.g., bicarbonates, into solublizing materials may take place of such minerals as dawsonite and silicates which might be present in the formation, thereby increasing the porosity of the formation.
- water-soluble minerals e.g., bicarbonates
- solublizing materials may take place of such minerals as dawsonite and silicates which might be present in the formation, thereby increasing the porosity of the formation.
- the pH of the dissolution fluid is increased and thereby aids in the dissolution of silicates, etc.
- Leaching or solution mining of the water-soluble minerals such as halite or nahcolite can be accomplished by a suitable solution mining technique such as described in US. Pat. Nos. 2,618,475; 3,387,888; 3,393,013; 3,402,966; 3,236,564; 3,510,167 or Canadian Pat. Nos. 832,828 or 832,276 or as described in copending application Ser. No. 2,765 filed Jan. 17, 1970.
- Spalling and rubbling can be accomplished by the method described in US. Pat. No. 3,478,825 or by other means such as by hydraulic, explosive, nuclear and/or electrical means.
- rubblization is accomplished by hot fluid circulation through the cavern causing the walls to spall and fracture.
- In-situ thermal recovery of oil can be effected by a pyrolyzing fluid such as steam and/or hot water or solvent extraction means.
- the circulation of a pyrolyzing fluid not only effects oil recovery but also effects thermal rubbling and/or fracturization. Also, if the pyrolyzing fluid such as steam is used to extract and recover oil, more minerals may be dissolved perpetuating the process.
- pyrolyzing fluid a liquid or gas which by means of thermal, chemical and/or solvent action, interacts with the kerogen components of an oil shale to produce and entrain hydrocarbon such as steam
- a fluid can be hot fluids such as hot water of steam, or mixtures of hot water and strea, hot hydrocarbons and/or mixtures of such fluids with chemicals such as acids, e.g., HCl and/or organic solvents, benzene, toluene, cumene, phenol, etc.
- the kerogen pyrolyzing fluid can be heated by surface or borehole-located heating devices.
- the kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid can advantageously comprise or contain a solvent for the soluble mineral, such as steam condensate or a hot aqueous solution of organic and/or inorganic acid, having a temperature such as at least one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, such as from about 450 F to above about l,500 F and preferably from about 550 F to l,000 F.
- a solvent for the soluble mineral such as steam condensate or a hot aqueous solution of organic and/or inorganic acid
- a temperature such as at least one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, such as from about 450 F to above about l,500 F and preferably from about 550 F to l,000 F.
- the kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid contains or forms aqueous components
- its circulation through the treated oil shale formation can enlarge the cavern, by solution mining the soluble minerals, while shale oil is being produced.
- simultaneously or sequentially pyrolyzing and oil extracting fluids
- FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly diagrammatic, of an embodiment of the invention showing a formation penetration by more than one well.
- FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the invention, the formation being penetrated by a single well.
- FIG. 3 is a graphical illustration showing the solubility of sodium chloride (NaCl) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO in water as a function of temperature.
- FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a method for providing communication between a pair of well boreholes in accordance with the techniques of this invention.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration partially in vertical section illustrating the mechanism of single-well salt leaching.
- FIG. 6 is a graphical representation of maximum rate of nahcolite leaching as a function of leaching fluid temperature.
- FIG. 7 is a graphical representation of minimum time required to leach a nahcolite cavity of lOO-foot radius as a function of leaching fluid temperature.
- FIG. 8 is a graphical representation showing estimated maximum time to leach a nahcolite cavity of l00-foot radius as a function of leaching fluid injection rate and temperature.
- FIGS. 9-12 show graphical representations of various process parameters as a function of time in an example application of the process of this invention where the rubbling rate is 0.02 feet per day.
- FIGS. 13-16 show graphical representations of various process parameters as a function of time in an example application of the process of this invention where the rubbling rate is 0.1 feet per day.
- FIGS. 17-20 show graphical representations of various process parameters as a function of time for an example application of the process of this invention where the rubbling rate is 0.5 feet per day.
- FIG. 1 of the drawing a plurality of well boreholes are shown penetrating into a subterranean oil shale formation 9 which contain rich zones of watersoluble minerals 10, 10a and 10b.
- An injection well borehole 1 1 is shown extending into oil shale formation 9 and rich soluble mineral zone(s) 10 or multizones such as 10a and 10b that are located within the oil shale formation 9 and are also encountered by well borehole 12.
- Well boreholes 11 and 12 are illustrated as having casings l3 and 14, respectively, cemented in place in their respective boreholes by suitable sealants 15 through 16, respectively.
- the location of zones rich in substantially water-soluble minerals is determined in a conventional manner.
- Fluid communication between well boreholes l1 and 12 (FIG. 1) and the zones rich in water-soluble minerals therebetween may be established by solution mining a cavern or cavities 23, through the soluble mineral zones. Communication can be enhanced by means of conventional hydraulic, electric, and/or explosive fracturing techniques, all well known in the art. Where, for example, subterranean stresses in and around soluble mineral zones 10, a and 10b are conducive to the formation of horizontal fractures, the fluid communication between well boreholes 11 and 12 and the soluble mineral can be established by a conventional hydraulic fracturing technique. Referring to FIG.
- aqueous leaching or solution mining liquid is injected through tubing 17 down well borehole 11, out through perforations 18 opposite any or all of the soluble beds through the bed 10, 10a and/or 10b up borehole 12 through tubing via perforation l9 creating a leached cavern 23.
- the aqueous liquid may comprise water and/or steam or aqueous solutions of acid or acid-forming materials and is circulated at pressures either above or below the over-burden pressure.
- the circulating aqueous liquid dissolves the water-soluble minerals and mineral byproducts thereof are recovered from the fluid flowing out of well borehole 12, for example, by conventional evaporation and/or precipitation procedures.
- Fluid communication can also be established in one borehole between at least two spaced portions of the well borehole and the water-soluble minerals (as for example, in FIG. 2 communication is through the tubing string the ends of which are open to the water-soluble minerals and some distance apart.)
- a single well may be utilized by a dual zone completion arrangement as shown in FIG. 2 such that fluids can be injected at one point of the well and produced from another point of the same well.
- the wellbore is 26, the easing is 27, the sealant is 28, within the casing are the injection tubing string 29 and production tubing string 30, the borehole 26 penetrates oil shale formation 9 with mineral zone(s) 10 or or multizones 10a and 10b.
- Fracturing pressures are generated within the oil shale formation 9 while lower pressures are maintained within the cavern 23 which is formed within oil shale formation-9 by the removal of the water-soluble minerals. These pressures are preferably generated by merely circulating hot fluid through cavern 23. As the walls of the cavern(s) 23 (23a FIG. 2) are heated kerogen is pyrolyzed within the cavern walls and the pressures of the pyrolysis products increase until portions of the walls are spalled into the cavern 23 creating a rubblized zone 24 (24a FIG. 2) and surrounding fracture area 25 (25a FIG. 2).
- a kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid such as steam is circulated from well borehole 11 (FIG. 1) through the rubblized zone 24 and fractured zone 25 of oil shale formation 9 and out of well borehole 12. Hydrocarbon materials are then recovered from the heated fluid circulatingout of well borehole 12 by means well known in the art. Removal of hydrocarbons fromthe oil shale provides additional void space enlarging the original rubblized zone, perpetrating the process. Similar techniques can be applied to single wells as shown in FIG. 2.
- heating means such as heating means, pumping means, separators and heat exchangers may be used for pressurizing, heating, injecting, producing and separating components of the heated fluid circulating through the oil shale formation 9.
- the production of the fluid may be aided by downhole pumping means, not shown, or restricted to the extent necessary to maintain the selected pressure within the oil shale formation 9.
- the fluid circulated through rubblized zone 24 and fractured zone 25 (FIG. 1) to recover oil shale from oil shale formation 9 may comprise any heated gas, liquid or steam. Oil shale reactive properties may also be imparted to the circulating fluid as discussed hereinabove.
- the present process is applied as described above.
- the caverns comprise a network of relatively small cavities that are interconnected by fractures.
- Minimum volumes of water required to establish a channel 1 foot wide, three feet high and 70 feet long (between two wells about 50 feet apart, for example) which contains 13.4 tons of nahcolite may be determined from the solubility of sodium carbonate and bicarbonate in water.
- the solubility of pure Nal-ICO in water at formation temperature F is about 30 lbs/bbl.
- a minimum of 700 bbls of water is required to establish communication between wells.
- a cylindrical cavity of the same height but 50 feet in radius contains 1,620 tons of nahcolite, and requires at least 10" bbls of water at formation temperature.
- Water requirements may be reduced by a factor of five if the water is heated to 400 F (AT 310 F). Heating the water also has the added advantage that it results in a higher dissolution rate. Thus heating the water results in a shorter operating life, and requires the handling of relative small volumes of water. On the other hand, it requires the use of heaters with their attendant requirements of water quality and fuel supply. Also, the water disposal lines may become plugged with precipitate as the temperature of the line drops at the surface.
- acids such as 15 percent HCl
- HCl acid
- nahcolite high rate of reaction between the acid (HCl) and nahcolite.
- injection of an acid solution into the wellbore will speed up the rate at which the cavity is made.
- Communication may be established between the two wells by means of mechanical nozzles having controllable orientation through which the solvent is introduced. As illustrated schematically in FIG. 4, where the uncertainty in orientation of the nozzles is 1: 10, the nozzles may be directed from both wells A and B, with the orientation of the nozzles ranging from to 15 from their centerlines. This procedure insures eventual communication between the wells and reduces the time to obtain communication.
- the degree of saturation of the effluent liquid is closely related to the mean residence time of the fluid in the subsurface, the circulation pattern of the fluid, and the rate at which the nahcolite goes in solution.
- the solution efficiency may be increased by increasing the residence time, that is, by increasing the operating time. Where sufficient water capacity is available and the operating time is to be kept low, it would appear that low solution efficiencies may be tolerated, especially if it is not intended to heat the water.
- the mining effect may be greatly enhanced if fragments resulting from jetting are removed as so]- ids.
- FIG. 5 shows the mechanism of single well salt leaching.
- Fresh water enters at the top of the formation and flows along the top of the cavity. Once it reaches the salt layer it dissolves the salt, becoming denser. The denser fluid then flows to the bottom of the cavity along the edge of the salt.
- the slowing of the frontal advance is caused by diffusion in the vertical direction from the salt solution to the incoming fresh water. As the concentration of salt in the water reaching the leading edge of the cavity increases, the rate of frontal advance slows proportionally.
- FIG. 6 shows the rate of leaching as a function of the temperature of the fluid at the leading edge.
- FIG. 7 shows the minimum time required to leach a IOO-foot radius as a function of temperature. It appears that a flow rate of 2,000 bpd should be practical for a 6-foot layer.
- FIG. 7 shows this minimum leaching time as a function of leaching time and flow rate. In making the calculations for FIG. 7, the constraint that the rate of advance could not exceed the maximum values given in FIG. 6 was used.
- FIG. 8 shows the effect of temperature on water injection rates leaching a cavity with a radius of feet.
- the temperature at the leading edge of the advancing front will not be the same as the injected temperature due to heat losses to the shale.
- the temperature drop will be roughly proportional to the temperature difference between the injected fluid and the initial shale temperature and will increase as the front advances.
- a B, and C Three tests (A B, and C,) were run under essentially the same conditions.
- the shale container was opened and the block examined, and it was only evidented that the steam induced considerable cracking and rubbling. No oil was recovered during or after the experiment.
- the second test, 8, was essentially a repeat of A using a richer shale (27 gal/ton) and a different heating medium, hot water instead of steam.
- the water temperature was held constant for a lor 2-day period and then raised in 50 F increments.
- the water temperature was raised and held constant at 300 F for 16 hours. Several large cracks inch to A inch wide) were developed even at these mild temperatures.
- the test was restarted and a major fall occurred (water temperature 350 F). Smaller falls of 5 to 10 pounds occurred at 25 hours.
- the test was terminated after 312 hours; the maximum temperature, 520 F, maintained for the last 51 hours. No oil was detected in the effluent water stream, but the outlet lines were 9 found to be coated with a tarry residue readily soluble in benzene.
- Test C was run under conditions similar to B, and the specific conditions are shown in Table 1.
- Heating the shale four days at 520 F resulted in greatly increased fracturing over that resulting from heating'to 450 F. After heating at 450 F, many cracks had formed, but none completely cleaved the slab. After heating to 520 F, a number of these cracks had been considerably widened and had propogated through the entire extent of the slab. The strain, measured for the slab, had increased to 0.057 and average slab thickness increased from 4 to 4- inches. No oil was produced with the effluent water.
- the basic data used for thecalculations were: a. steam injection at 625 F, 95 percent quality, b. 10 tons of steam condensed coming down injection .pipe,
- FIGS. 13-16 are for a rubbling rate of 0.1 ft/day
- FIGS. 17-20 are for a rubbling rate of 0.5 ft/day.
- a method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil shale formation containing zones of water-soluble minerals comprising the steps of:
- a method of producing oil from a subterranean oil shale formation containing a zone of water-soluble minerals comprising the steps of:
- a method for producing oil from a subterranean oil shale formation having at least one zone which contains water soluble minerals comprising the steps of:
- a method for producing oil from a subterranean oil shale formation having at least one zone which contains water soluble minerals comprising the steps of:
- the method of claim including the step of establishing fluid communication between said borehole locations through said zone water-soluble mineral by hydraulically fracturing at least a portion of said oil shale formation containing said zone.
- a method of claim 5 including the step of establishing fluid communication between said borehole locations through said zone water-soluble mineral by explosively fracturing at least a portion of said oil shale formation containing said zone.
- step of circulating aqueous fluid includes the step of imparting acidic properties to said aqueous fluid and circulating said fluid liquid at pressures above the overburden pressure.
- step of circulating aqueous liquid includes the step of imparting acidic properties to said aqueous fluid and ciculating said aqueous fluid at pressures below the overburden pressure.
- step of generating fluid pressures sufficient to create fractures is carried out by the step of circulating fluid through said cavern at a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the kerogen within the oil shale adjacent to the walls fonning said cavern and to spall-off portions of said walls into said cavern.
- the method of claim 13 including the step of establishing fluid communication between at least a pair of well boreholes within said mineral containing zone, said communication being accomplished by jetting aqueous liquid from each of said well boreholes to a point intermediate said boreholes.
- a method of producing oil from a subterranean oil shale formation containing rich water-soluble mineral zones comprising the steps of:
- soluble mineral is nahcolite.
Abstract
A method of producing hydrocarbons and optionally water-soluble minerals from a subterranean oil shale formation containing zone(s) of water-soluble minerals, by penetrating said formation with at least one borehole and leaching or dissolving the watersoluble minerals from the formation with a solvent fluid so as to form a cavern(s) and/or interconnected cavities, followed by fracturization and/or rubblization of the oil shale surrounding the caverns or cavities, and thereafter injecting into fracturized and/or rubblized zones, a pyrolyzing fluid to effect in-situ hydrocarbon recovery therefrom.
Description
United States Patent Beard 4 1 Sept. 18,1973
[75] lnventor: Thomas N. Beard, Denver, C010.
[73] Assignee: Shell Oil Company, New York, N.Y.
[22] Filed: Sept. 24, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 75,009
Related U.S. Application Data [63] Contindatft m-in-part of Ser. Fl (1677096 1, Oct. 28,
1968, abandoned.
[52] U.S. Cl. 299/4, 166/271 [51] Int. Cl E211) 43/28 [58] Field of Search 166/271, 272, 259, 166/261; 299/4, 5
[56] References Cited 3 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,481,398 12/1969 Prats 166/251 3,502,372 3/1970 Prats. 3,393,013 7/1968 Hammer 3,018,095
1 1962 Redlinger 299/5 X 2,561,639 7/1951 Squires 299/4 3,050,290 8/1962 Caldwell 299/5 X 2,969,226 l/196l Huntington 166/272 X 3,352,355 11/1967 Putman 166/272 X 3,455,383 7/1969 Prats 166/254 3,322,194 5/1967 Strubhar 166/271 X Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe Attorney-George G. Pritzker and Harold L. Denkler [57] ABSTRACT A method of producing hydrocarbons and optionally water-soluble minerals from a subterranean oil shale formation containing zone(s) of water-soluble minerals, by penetrating said formation with at least one borehole and leaching or dissolving the water-soluble minerals from the formation with a solvent fluid so as to form a cavern(s) and/or interconnected cavities, followed by fracturization and/or rubblization of the oil shale surrounding the caverns or cavities, and thereafter injecting into fracturized and/or rubblized zones, a pyrolyzing fluid to effect in-situ hydrocarbon recovery therefrom.
22 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PAIENIEUSEPIBW 3.759.574
sum 01 or 11 FIG. 2 INVENTOR:
T. N. BEARD Pmmn-iusww 3759.574
saw 02 0F 11 I20 SOLUBILITY LBS/ BBL H20 00 TEMPERATURE, F
FIG. 3
FIG. 4
mvsmoa:
T. N. BEARD PATENTEDSEPI 8M8 3.759.574 m as nr 11 300 TEMPERATURE AT LEACHING FRONT INVENTOR: 6 T. N. BEARD BYzl/I K W Q/ 7 HIS AG NT SHALE RESH WATER NAHCOLITE% SALT WATER SHALE FIG.5
FIG.
PATENTED 3.759.574
SHEET 05 0i 11 IOT- 50 ra ll 8 '5 c s a g HYDROCARBON GAS g s e j 30 6 g g E 3 I Q o w 0 I 4 o 20 o m w 8 2 v on.
O O l v l o 400 800 lzog/flsoo I TIME(DAYS) 30- FOOT RADIUS v OIL AND HYDROCARBON GAS PRODUCTION RATES FOR nuaeuus RATE OF 0.02 FT/DAY.
FIG. 9
3: PRODUCED WATER 3- 5 I: I0 5 INJECTED STEAM 95% QUALITY v x I I I o 400 800 I200 7 I600 TIME (DAYS) FOOT RADIUS INJECTED STEAM AND PRODUCED WATER FOR RUBBLING RATE OF 0.02 FT/DAY FIG. IO
mag l HI AG N1" Pmamznserw m 3759.574
sum as or 11 PRODUCED NcIHCO X lO LB/DAY) r O 400 800 I200 I600 T|ME(DAYS) 30'FOOT RADIUS PRODUCED NOHCO3 FOR RUBBLING RATE OF 0.02 FT/DAY FIG. ll
INVENTOR:
T. N. BEARD PATENTEU SEP] 8 I973 WATER (TON DAY) OIL-STEAM RATIO (BBL IZXIO BTU ENTERING FORMATION) sum as or 11 PRODUCED WATER NJECTED STEAM 95% QUALITY I 1 l 0 50 I00 I50 200 250 )3OO TIME (DAYS) 30-FO0T RADIUS INJECTED STEAM AND PRODUCED WATER FOR RUBBLING RATE OF 0.! FT/DAY FIG. l4
I l I50 200 TIME (DAYS) OIL-STEAM RATIO FOR RUBBLING RATE OF O.l FT/ DAY INVENTOR:
N. BEARD W 64 ms A ENT 1 FIG. l6
PAIENTEI] SEP] 8 I875 sum as or 11 m v w m I Qmi oi ooz z 082.0%
30 FOOT RADIUS TIME DAYS) PRODUCED N0HCO FOR RUBBLING RATE OF O.| FT/DAY FIG. l5
' PATENTEDSEPWQB SHEET 0F 11 2oo- 3 s: E 3 I50- 5 3 HYDROCARBON g 55 GAS FIG. I7 52 50' a E ,1 Q g 5 3 on.
w g 50 I a: Q Q 3 8 O O I l l l I I 8 a 0 IO 20 4o 50 160 E 5 TIME(DAYS) 30-FOOT RADIUS OIL AND HYDROCARBON GAS PRODUCTION RATES FOR RLBBLING RATE OF 0.5 FT/DAY 200 PRODUCED WATER I50 3: S E INJECTED STEAM FIG. is 8 00 95% QUALITY 05 U I 'E 0 I I I A 0 IO 20 3o 40 so RQ 5 TIME (DAYS) ao-FooT RADIUS g INJECTED STEAM AND PRODUCED WATER FOR RUBBLING RATE CF05 FT/DAY 0.6- 5 2 5 Q4 '2 LI.) 2 a g E 02 A Q INVENTOR: P 0 I I I I I I T. N. BEARD; g m 0 IO 20 30 40 /60 BY TIME (DAYS) so-FooT RADIUS OILSTEAM RATIO FOR RUBBLING RATE OF 0.5 FT/ DAY FIG. 20
IWI A L HIS AGENT PAIENIEU 3m 8 I873 SHEET 110F11 30" FOOT RADIUS TIME (DAYS) PRODUCED NQHCO FOR RUBBLING RATE OF 0.5 FT/ DAY FIG.
N BEARD METHOD OF PRODUCING HYDROCARBONS FROM AN OIL SHALE FORMATION CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 770,964, filed Oct. 28, 1968 and now abandoned. Copending application Ser. No. 75,061 and Ser. No. 75,067 filed Sept. 24, 1970 also are continuations -in-part of the application and claim subject matter similar to that claimed herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the recovery of hydrocarbons and optionally water-soluble minerals from underground oil shale formations containing water-soluble mineral deposits. More particularly, it relates to hydrocarbon recovery by in-situ thermal fluid extraction of oil shale within a fracturized and/or rubblized portion of a subterranean oil shale formation in and around a cavern and/or interconnected cavities formed by leaching or dissolving, e.g., solution mining of the watersoluble minerals therefrom.
2. Description of the Prior Art Large deposits of oil in the form of oil shale are found in various sections of the United States, particularly in Colorado and surrounding states and Canada. Various method of recovery of oil from these shale deposits have been proposed and the principal difliculty with these methods is their high cost which renders the recovered oil too expensive to compete with petroleum crudes recovered by more conventional methods. Mining the oil shale and removing the oil therefrom by above-ground retorting in furnaces presents a disposal and pollution problem and also such processes are also generally commercially uneconomical. In-situ retorting to convert the oil shale to recover the oil contained therein is made difficult because of the non-permeable nature of the oil shale. The art discloses various means of improving oil recovery of oil from oil shale such as described in US. Pat. Nos. 3,400,762 or 3,437,378, or 3,478,825 and particularly various means of increasing permeability of oil shale formations as described in US. Pat. Nos. 3,273,649 or 3,481,398 or 3,502,372, or copending application Ser. No. 839,350, filed July 7, 1969. Although these references are directed to an advancement of the art, the basic technique for recovering oil from oil shale still requires rubblization techniques such as by means of explosive devices, e.g., nuclear energy which is expensive, difficult to control and presents a radioactive contamination problem, all of which are very undesirable.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide an improved method for recovering hydrocarbons from a water-soluble mineral containing oil shale formation by leaching or dissolving the watersoluble minerals such as by solution mining so as to form a cavern and/or interconnected cavities within the oil shale formation.
It is a further object of the invention to effect rubblization and/or fracturization of the water-soluble mineral leached oil shale formation surrounding the cavern and/or cavities so as to form a permeable zone thereby enhancing in-situ thermal fluid extraction (pyrolysis) of hydrocarbons therefrom.
Still another object of this invention is to effect insitu pyrolysis to produce hydrocarbons from oil shale subjected to leaching, rubblization and/or fracturization as indicated in the previous two paragraphs, and subsequently recovering the hydrocarbons by suitable means.
Still another object of the present invention is to recover water-soluble minerals from a rich water-soluble mineral containing oil shale formation(s) that may be removed during the leaching and/or solution mining, rubblization and/or fracturization, and/or pyrolysis processes.
Still another object of the present invention is to sequentially and/or simultaneously recover water-soluble minerals and hydrocarbons from rich Water-soluble mineral containing oil shale formations that may be removed during the leaching and/or solution mining, rubblization and/or fracturization and/or pyrolysis pro cesses.
Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to recovery of hydrocarbons and optionally water-soluble minerals from water-soluble mineral containing oil shale formations by the following steps: (1) subjecting a rich watersoluble mineral zone(s) of an oil shale formation to a leaching, dissolving or solution mining process so as to dissolve and preferably remove the water-soluble minerals, thereby creating porosity to allow for thermal expansion of the oil shale and establish communication through the treated zone(s), (2) effecting in said leached zone(s) rubblization and/or fracturization so as to form zone(s) of rubblized and/or fractured oil shale with large surface area for more efiicient heat treatment by in-situ thermal fluid extraction (pyrolysis), and (3) injecting into the rubblized and/or fracturized oil shale zone(s) a pyrolyzing fluid to effect hydrocarbon recovery.
The water-soluble mineral(s) and hydrocarbons may be recovered sequentially or simultaneously and if the latter, the two products can be separated by suitable means such as settling or solvent extraction above ground. The oil shale formation may contain more than one zone of rich water-soluble minerals which zones may be separated by impermeable oil shale layers of several feet to several hundred feet and each of these water-soluble mineral layers or zones can be leached or dissolved or solution mined in accordance with the process of the present invention. Also, the water-soluble mineral zones may contain the same or different minerals such as carbonates, bicarbonates, halites or mixtures thereof.
By water-soluble minerals present in the oil shale is meant to include water-soluble silicates, halides, carbonates, and/or bicarbonates salts, such as alkali metal chloride, carbonate, bicarbonate and silicate, e.g., halite, trona, nahcolite and the like.
The first or initial step should be so designed to create a cavern or interconnecting cavities in the watersoluble mineral bed(s) or zone(s) by dissolving, leaching or solution mining techniques through at least one borehole penetrating said formation. Leaching can be efiected by cold or hot aqueous solutions either at atmospheric or elevated pressures. When hot solutions are used such as hot water or acidified hot water and/or steam, more rapid dissolution is efl'ected of certain water-soluble minerals such as nahcolite, trona, halite to produce void spaces in the oil shale formation thereby providing and enhancing well communication, space for thermal expansion of the shale, and greater surface for contact with subsequent pyrolyzing fluid. Water can be cold or hot or steam or any other aqueous fluids can be used such as steam and/or water containing acids, e.g., HCl, or I-ICl I-IF, surfactants, sequestering agents, etc. If the initial cavities are not in communication, fracturing may be necessary.
If necessary, fracturing the formation either before or after leaching by conventional means such as hydrofracturing, explosive means, nuclear means, etc., may be desirable. The leaching solutions can contain chemical agents to enhance dissolution of the minerals. Under certain leaching conditions decomposition of certain water-soluble minerals, e.g., bicarbonates, into solublizing materials may take place of such minerals as dawsonite and silicates which might be present in the formation, thereby increasing the porosity of the formation. For example, when nahcolite is dissolved with water, the pH of the dissolution fluid is increased and thereby aids in the dissolution of silicates, etc.
Leaching or solution mining of the water-soluble minerals such as halite or nahcolite can be accomplished by a suitable solution mining technique such as described in US. Pat. Nos. 2,618,475; 3,387,888; 3,393,013; 3,402,966; 3,236,564; 3,510,167 or Canadian Pat. Nos. 832,828 or 832,276 or as described in copending application Ser. No. 2,765 filed Jan. 17, 1970. Spalling and rubbling can be accomplished by the method described in US. Pat. No. 3,478,825 or by other means such as by hydraulic, explosive, nuclear and/or electrical means. Preferably rubblization is accomplished by hot fluid circulation through the cavern causing the walls to spall and fracture. In-situ thermal recovery of oil can be effected by a pyrolyzing fluid such as steam and/or hot water or solvent extraction means.
The circulation of a pyrolyzing fluid not only effects oil recovery but also effects thermal rubbling and/or fracturization. Also, if the pyrolyzing fluid such as steam is used to extract and recover oil, more minerals may be dissolved perpetuating the process.
By the term pyrolyzing fluid is meant a liquid or gas which by means of thermal, chemical and/or solvent action, interacts with the kerogen components of an oil shale to produce and entrain hydrocarbon such as steam, Such a fluid can be hot fluids such as hot water of steam, or mixtures of hot water and strea, hot hydrocarbons and/or mixtures of such fluids with chemicals such as acids, e.g., HCl and/or organic solvents, benzene, toluene, cumene, phenol, etc. The kerogen pyrolyzing fluid can be heated by surface or borehole-located heating devices. The kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid can advantageously comprise or contain a solvent for the soluble mineral, such as steam condensate or a hot aqueous solution of organic and/or inorganic acid, having a temperature such as at least one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, such as from about 450 F to above about l,500 F and preferably from about 550 F to l,000 F. Where the kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid contains or forms aqueous components, its circulation through the treated oil shale formation can enlarge the cavern, by solution mining the soluble minerals, while shale oil is being produced. Also, simultaneously or sequentially pyrolyzing and oil extracting fluids can be used such as steam followed by a solvent such as phenol or benzene.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly diagrammatic, of an embodiment of the invention showing a formation penetration by more than one well.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the invention, the formation being penetrated by a single well.
FIG. 3 is a graphical illustration showing the solubility of sodium chloride (NaCl) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO in water as a function of temperature.
FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a method for providing communication between a pair of well boreholes in accordance with the techniques of this invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration partially in vertical section illustrating the mechanism of single-well salt leaching.
FIG. 6 is a graphical representation of maximum rate of nahcolite leaching as a function of leaching fluid temperature.
FIG. 7 is a graphical representation of minimum time required to leach a nahcolite cavity of lOO-foot radius as a function of leaching fluid temperature.
FIG. 8 is a graphical representation showing estimated maximum time to leach a nahcolite cavity of l00-foot radius as a function of leaching fluid injection rate and temperature.
FIGS. 9-12 show graphical representations of various process parameters as a function of time in an example application of the process of this invention where the rubbling rate is 0.02 feet per day.
FIGS. 13-16 show graphical representations of various process parameters as a function of time in an example application of the process of this invention where the rubbling rate is 0.1 feet per day.
FIGS. 17-20 show graphical representations of various process parameters as a function of time for an example application of the process of this invention where the rubbling rate is 0.5 feet per day.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a plurality of well boreholes are shown penetrating into a subterranean oil shale formation 9 which contain rich zones of watersoluble minerals 10, 10a and 10b. An injection well borehole 1 1 is shown extending into oil shale formation 9 and rich soluble mineral zone(s) 10 or multizones such as 10a and 10b that are located within the oil shale formation 9 and are also encountered by well borehole 12. Well boreholes 11 and 12 are illustrated as having casings l3 and 14, respectively, cemented in place in their respective boreholes by suitable sealants 15 through 16, respectively. Although only a single injection well borehole 11 and a single production well borehole 12 have been illustrated, obviously various combinations of one or more injection and production wells may be provided by one skilled in the art.
In carrying out the method of this invention, the location of zones rich in substantially water-soluble minerals is determined in a conventional manner.
Fluid communication between well boreholes l1 and 12 (FIG. 1) and the zones rich in water-soluble minerals therebetween may be established by solution mining a cavern or cavities 23, through the soluble mineral zones. Communication can be enhanced by means of conventional hydraulic, electric, and/or explosive fracturing techniques, all well known in the art. Where, for example, subterranean stresses in and around soluble mineral zones 10, a and 10b are conducive to the formation of horizontal fractures, the fluid communication between well boreholes 11 and 12 and the soluble mineral can be established by a conventional hydraulic fracturing technique. Referring to FIG. 1, after fluid communication has been established between a pair of wells, aqueous leaching or solution mining liquid is injected through tubing 17 down well borehole 11, out through perforations 18 opposite any or all of the soluble beds through the bed 10, 10a and/or 10b up borehole 12 through tubing via perforation l9 creating a leached cavern 23. The aqueous liquid may comprise water and/or steam or aqueous solutions of acid or acid-forming materials and is circulated at pressures either above or below the over-burden pressure. The circulating aqueous liquid dissolves the water-soluble minerals and mineral byproducts thereof are recovered from the fluid flowing out of well borehole 12, for example, by conventional evaporation and/or precipitation procedures.
Fluid communication can also be established in one borehole between at least two spaced portions of the well borehole and the water-soluble minerals (as for example, in FIG. 2 communication is through the tubing string the ends of which are open to the water-soluble minerals and some distance apart.) Thus a single well may be utilized by a dual zone completion arrangement as shown in FIG. 2 such that fluids can be injected at one point of the well and produced from another point of the same well. In FIG. 2, the wellbore is 26, the easing is 27, the sealant is 28, within the casing are the injection tubing string 29 and production tubing string 30, the borehole 26 penetrates oil shale formation 9 with mineral zone(s) 10 or or multizones 10a and 10b.
Fracturing pressures are generated within the oil shale formation 9 while lower pressures are maintained within the cavern 23 which is formed within oil shale formation-9 by the removal of the water-soluble minerals. These pressures are preferably generated by merely circulating hot fluid through cavern 23. As the walls of the cavern(s) 23 (23a FIG. 2) are heated kerogen is pyrolyzed within the cavern walls and the pressures of the pyrolysis products increase until portions of the walls are spalled into the cavern 23 creating a rubblized zone 24 (24a FIG. 2) and surrounding fracture area 25 (25a FIG. 2).
Alternatively, fracturization and/or rubblization can be accomplished by conventional means such as hydraulic, explosive means and the like. To provide additional void space, if necessary, further leaching can be conducted.
Finally, a kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid such as steam is circulated from well borehole 11 (FIG. 1) through the rubblized zone 24 and fractured zone 25 of oil shale formation 9 and out of well borehole 12. Hydrocarbon materials are then recovered from the heated fluid circulatingout of well borehole 12 by means well known in the art. Removal of hydrocarbons fromthe oil shale provides additional void space enlarging the original rubblized zone, perpetrating the process. Similar techniques can be applied to single wells as shown in FIG. 2.
Conventional equipment and techniques, such as heating means, pumping means, separators and heat exchangers may be used for pressurizing, heating, injecting, producing and separating components of the heated fluid circulating through the oil shale formation 9. The production of the fluid may be aided by downhole pumping means, not shown, or restricted to the extent necessary to maintain the selected pressure within the oil shale formation 9.
The fluid circulated through rubblized zone 24 and fractured zone 25 (FIG. 1) to recover oil shale from oil shale formation 9 may comprise any heated gas, liquid or steam. Oil shale reactive properties may also be imparted to the circulating fluid as discussed hereinabove.
Where the oil formation contains a zone rich in substantially water-soluble minerals in which zone the soluble minerals occur in the form of adjacent but discrete nodules or lenses 31, or the like, the present process is applied as described above. In this situation, the caverns comprise a network of relatively small cavities that are interconnected by fractures.
EXAMPLES Leaching Phase A. In a continuous oil shale formation containing a nahcolite bed, a pair of wells are completed into a nahocolite layer at 2,100 feet with a downhole well separation of feet. Solution mining of the nahcolite (NaHCQ by injection of hot water therein provides both communication between the wells and the void space necessary to effect fragmentation and subsequent in-situ thermal treatment of the formation to recover oil.
In such a situation a bulk density (p) was found to be a 2.2 gin/cc and the permeability (K) was found to be 0.065 millidarcy for the nahcolite layerat about 2,055 feet. Experimentally, samples of this nahcolite were found to be completely dissolved in hot water, leaving 6 percent by weight insolubles.
Minimum volumes of water required to establish a channel 1 foot wide, three feet high and 70 feet long (between two wells about 50 feet apart, for example) which contains 13.4 tons of nahcolite may be determined from the solubility of sodium carbonate and bicarbonate in water.
As can be seen in FIG. 3 the solubility of pure Nal-ICO in water at formation temperature F) is about 30 lbs/bbl. Thus, a minimum of 700 bbls of water is required to establish communication between wells. On the other hand, a cylindrical cavity of the same height but 50 feet in radius contains 1,620 tons of nahcolite, and requires at least 10" bbls of water at formation temperature.
Water requirements may be reduced by a factor of five if the water is heated to 400 F (AT 310 F). Heating the water also has the added advantage that it results in a higher dissolution rate. Thus heating the water results in a shorter operating life, and requires the handling of relative small volumes of water. On the other hand, it requires the use of heaters with their attendant requirements of water quality and fuel supply. Also, the water disposal lines may become plugged with precipitate as the temperature of the line drops at the surface.
If the water is injected at formation temperature, a slight reduction in temperature takes place. The heat of solution of sodium bicarbonate is 4 kcal/mole, which results in as much as a 10 F drop in the solution temperature. Because the solution is not saturated, the observed temperature drops are in fact much smaller and thus may be discounted.
The addition of acids, such as 15 percent HCl to mining solutions is beneficial since it generally may be expected to result in a reduction in operating time, because of the high rate of reaction between the acid (HCl) and nahcolite. For example, injection of an acid solution into the wellbore will speed up the rate at which the cavity is made.
Communication may be established between the two wells by means of mechanical nozzles having controllable orientation through which the solvent is introduced. As illustrated schematically in FIG. 4, where the uncertainty in orientation of the nozzles is 1: 10, the nozzles may be directed from both wells A and B, with the orientation of the nozzles ranging from to 15 from their centerlines. This procedure insures eventual communication between the wells and reduces the time to obtain communication.
The degree of saturation of the effluent liquid is closely related to the mean residence time of the fluid in the subsurface, the circulation pattern of the fluid, and the rate at which the nahcolite goes in solution. The solution efficiency may be increased by increasing the residence time, that is, by increasing the operating time. Where sufficient water capacity is available and the operating time is to be kept low, it would appear that low solution efficiencies may be tolerated, especially if it is not intended to heat the water. On the other hand, the mining effect may be greatly enhanced if fragments resulting from jetting are removed as so]- ids.
After solution mining to form the cavern, the formation is fractured in the vicinity of the cavern and oil is recovered therefrom by means of in-situ oil recovery means as is well known in the art.
B. Results for a single well leaching to a l00-foot radius was determined experimentally for a nahcolite layer oil shale. The leaching rate results show that leaching rates are a function of temperature.
FIG. 5 shows the mechanism of single well salt leaching. Fresh water enters at the top of the formation and flows along the top of the cavity. Once it reaches the salt layer it dissolves the salt, becoming denser. The denser fluid then flows to the bottom of the cavity along the edge of the salt. There are two important parameters which control the rate of frontal advance of the cavity, natural convection and diffusion in the vertical direction. The slowing of the frontal advance is caused by diffusion in the vertical direction from the salt solution to the incoming fresh water. As the concentration of salt in the water reaching the leading edge of the cavity increases, the rate of frontal advance slows proportionally.
An experiment was scaled for 2,000 bpd at room temperature in a 6-foot layer of NaCl. This corresponds to scaling nahcolite leaching in the same size layer at 8,300 bpd and 300 F. It was found that the rate of frontal advance was constant out to the scaled test radius of 100 feet. The concentration of salt in the produced solution increased from 12 percent of saturation to 85 percent of saturation during the course of the experiment.
Using the results of the experiment, estimates were made of the maximum leaching rate of the subject nahcolite layer as a function of the temperature of the fluid at the leading edge of the cavity. Since a perfectly circular pattern was not obtained in the experiment, the minimum leaching rate was used in the estimates. It was also assumed that there were 20 percent insolubles in the nahcolite and that their only effect was in reducing the available surface area for leaching. FIG. 6 shows the rate of leaching as a function of the temperature of the fluid at the leading edge. FIG. 7 shows the minimum time required to leach a IOO-foot radius as a function of temperature. It appears that a flow rate of 2,000 bpd should be practical for a 6-foot layer.
The test showed that the production well was producing saturated solution when the frontal advance rate decreased and the maximum time required to leach a l00-foot radius can be calculated from a material balance and the solubility of nahcolite in water. FIG. 7 shows this minimum leaching time as a function of leaching time and flow rate. In making the calculations for FIG. 7, the constraint that the rate of advance could not exceed the maximum values given in FIG. 6 was used.
FIG. 8 shows the effect of temperature on water injection rates leaching a cavity with a radius of feet.
It should be noted that the temperature at the leading edge of the advancing front will not be the same as the injected temperature due to heat losses to the shale. The temperature drop will be roughly proportional to the temperature difference between the injected fluid and the initial shale temperature and will increase as the front advances.
Rubblization Phase Following the leaching phase rubbling using hot water and steam on the oil shale was performed. This consisted of cementing a large rectangular block of oil shale into a stainless steel container such that the lower 3 k inches of the block was unconfined and was contacted with hot water or steam. A spring-loaded plate positioned below the block allowed for the detection of any falls occurring during the experiment. Thermocouples placed in the steam chamber and into the shale block monitored the temperature at these points. Pressures surrounding the shale were maintained at 900 to 1,000 psi with nitrogen gas.
Three tests (A B, and C,) were run under essentially the same conditions. The first, A utilized a lean shale block (8 gal/ton); the lower face of the block was contacted with 500 F steam for a 6-day period. At the conclusion of the test, the shale container was opened and the block examined, and it was only evidented that the steam induced considerable cracking and rubbling. No oil was recovered during or after the experiment.
The second test, 8,, was essentially a repeat of A using a richer shale (27 gal/ton) and a different heating medium, hot water instead of steam. The water temperature was held constant for a lor 2-day period and then raised in 50 F increments. The water temperature was raised and held constant at 300 F for 16 hours. Several large cracks inch to A inch wide) were developed even at these mild temperatures. After a days delay, the test was restarted and a major fall occurred (water temperature 350 F). Smaller falls of 5 to 10 pounds occurred at 25 hours. The test was terminated after 312 hours; the maximum temperature, 520 F, maintained for the last 51 hours. No oil was detected in the effluent water stream, but the outlet lines were 9 found to be coated with a tarry residue readily soluble in benzene.
The results of I3 indicated that rubbling took place even at mild temperatures (350 F).
Test C, was run under conditions similar to B, and the specific conditions are shown in Table 1.
Table 1 C TEST CONDITIONS Water Temp. Time at Temp. Shale Temp. Pressure (F) (hours) (F) (psi) temperature was then reduced in 50 increments. Total test time 312 hours (13 days) crystalline material.
Heating the shale four days at 520 F resulted in greatly increased fracturing over that resulting from heating'to 450 F. After heating at 450 F, many cracks had formed, but none completely cleaved the slab. After heating to 520 F, a number of these cracks had been considerably widened and had propogated through the entire extent of the slab. The strain, measured for the slab, had increased to 0.057 and average slab thickness increased from 4 to 4- inches. No oil was produced with the effluent water.
Peculiar to test C, was the correlation between the positions of bedding plane distortions and the occurrence of vertical cracks upon heating. The previous sample B, was very evenly bedded and did not show this behavior.
In summary, the amount of fragmenting and fracturing of oil shale increased with increasing richness of the oil shale sample. There was a significant increase in fracturing at T 520 F over that produced below 450 F in unconfined shale samples. Good correlation exists between the positions of vertical (perpendicular to the bedding) cracks and the positions of distortions in the bedding plane.
Recovery Phase Calculations were made to estimate the performance of ashale oil recovery project in accordance with the method of this invention wherein steam is used as the pyrolyzing fluid to effect hydrocarbon recovery as well as recovery of other products as shown in FIGS. 9-20.
The basic data used for thecalculations were: a. steam injection at 625 F, 95 percent quality, b. 10 tons of steam condensed coming down injection .pipe,
- are for a rubbling rate of 0.02 ft/day, FIGS. 13-16 are for a rubbling rate of 0.1 ft/day, and FIGS. 17-20 are for a rubbling rate of 0.5 ft/day.
It is understood that various changes in the detailed described to explain the invention can be made by persons skilled in the art within the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. I claim as my invention:
1. A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil shale formation containing zones of water-soluble minerals comprising the steps of:
a. extending at least one well borehole into the watersoluble mineral containing zone of the oil shale formation;
b. removing water-soluble minerals by leaching, dissolving or solution mining with a non-acidic fluid, thereby creating porosity in said zone of the formation;
c. effecting rubblization' and fracturization of oil shale adjacent leached zone (b);
d. injecting'into said rubblized, fracturized oil shale a pyrolyzing fluid; and
e. recovering hydrocarbons from said rubblized fracturized oil shale.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the leaching solution (b) is hot water, and the pyrolyzing fluid is steam.
3. A method of producing oil from a subterranean oil shale formation containing a zone of water-soluble minerals comprising the steps of:
creating a cavity in the oil shale formation by circulating aqueous a non-acidic solution-mining fluid into the water-soluble mineral zone through a first well, and out of the water-soluble mineral zone through a second well;
recovering the water-soluble mineral from aqueous fluid circulating out of the second well;
fracturing and rubbling the oil shale formation surrounding the cavity;
flowing a kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid into the fractured and rubblized formation; and
recovering oil from the pyrolyzed treated fracturized and rubblized formation. 4. A method for producing oil from a subterranean oil shale formation having at least one zone which contains water soluble minerals comprising the steps of:
extending at least one well borehole into said formation and into said zone;
establishing fluid communication between said well borehole and said zone at at least two spaced locations within said well;
circulating aqueous liquid from one of said spaced locations to another in contact with said zone to dissolve water-soluble minerals and leave a fluid filled cavern within the oil shale formation while maintaining fluid pressures within said cavern below overburden pressure within other regions in said oil shale formation;
generating fluid pressures within said oil shale formation sufiicient to create fractures and displace solid oil shale material toward and into said cavern;
flowing a kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid from one of said locations to another through the fractures and cavern within the oil shale formation;
outflowing kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid from said well;
and
recovering shale oil from outflowing portions of said kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid.
5. A method for producing oil from a subterranean oil shale formation having at least one zone which contains water soluble minerals, comprising the steps of:
extending at least one well borehole into said formation and into said zone;
establishing fluid communication between at least one well borehole and said zone at at least two spaced locations within said well; circulating aqueous liquid from one of said spaced locations to another in contact with said zone to dissolve water-soluble minerals and leave a fluidfilled cavern within the oil shale formation while generating fluid pressure within said oil shale formation sufficient to create fractures and displace solid oil shale material toward and into said cavern;
flowing a kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid from one of said locations, to another through the fractures and cavern within the oil shale formation;
outflowing kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid from said well;
and
recovering shale oil from outflowing portions of said kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid.
6. The method of claim including the step of establishing fluid communication between said borehole locations through said zone water-soluble mineral by hydraulically fracturing at least a portion of said oil shale formation containing said zone.
7. A method of claim 5 including the step of establishing fluid communication between said borehole locations through said zone water-soluble mineral by explosively fracturing at least a portion of said oil shale formation containing said zone.
8. The method of claim 5 including the step of establishing fluid communication between said borehole locations through said zone water-soluble mineral by electrically fracturing at least the portion of said oil shale formation communicating with said well boreholes.
9. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of circulating aqueous fluid includes the step of imparting acidic properties to said aqueous fluid and circulating said fluid liquid at pressures above the overburden pressure.
10. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of circulating aqueous liquid includes the step of imparting acidic properties to said aqueous fluid and ciculating said aqueous fluid at pressures below the overburden pressure.
11. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of generating fluid pressures sufficient to create fractures is carried out by the step of circulating fluid through said cavern at a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the kerogen within the oil shale adjacent to the walls fonning said cavern and to spall-off portions of said walls into said cavern.
12. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of generating fluid pressures sufficient to create fractures is carried out by the step of pumping fluid explosives into said cavern; and
detonating said explosives so as to produce an initial pulse of high pressure within the cavern followed by a pressure that becomes lower than that within the adjacent oil shale formation thereby displacing said solid material towards said cavern.
13. The method of claim 1 including the step of establishing fluid communication between at least a pair of well boreholes within said mineral containing zone, said communication being accomplished by jetting aqueous liquid from each of said well boreholes to a point intermediate said boreholes.
14. A method of producing oil from a subterranean oil shale formation containing rich water-soluble mineral zones comprising the steps of:
a. subjecting the formation to leaching of the watersoluble minerals by injecting into the formation a non-acidic leaching solution to leach out the minerals and thereby effecting a zone of communicating cavities in the formation;
b. injecting a kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid into cavities zone (a) of the formation so as to effect spalling and rubblization of the oil shale;
c. continuing injection of the kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid to effect oil extraction; and
d. recovering the oil.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the solvent is an aqueous liquid and the kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid is steam.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein the watersoluble mineral is water-soluble carbonate, the watersoluble leaching solution is hot water and the kerogenpyrolyzing fluid is steam.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the watersoluble mineral is nahcolite.
18. The method of claim 5 wherein the water-soluble minerals are recovered from the formation prior to injection of the kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid.
19. The method of claim 3 wherein the dissolved water-soluble mineral by-products are recovered prior to flowing kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid into the formation.
20. The method of claim 5 wherein the aqueous liquid is hot water and the kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid is steam.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the watersoluble mineral is water-soluble carbonate.
soluble mineral is nahcolite.
Claims (21)
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the leaching solution (b) is hot water, and the pyrolyzing fluid is steam.
- 3. A method of producing oil from a subterranean oil shale formation containing a zone of water-soluble minerals comprising the steps of: creating a cavity in the oil shale formation by circulating aqueous a non-acidic solution-mining fluid into the water-soluble mineral zone through a first well, and out of the water-soluble mineral zone through a second well; recovering the water-soluble mineral from aqueous fluid circulating out of the second well; fracturing and rubbling the oil shale formation surrounding the cavity; flowing a kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid into the fractured and rubblized formation; and recovering oil from the pyrolyzed treated fracturized and rubblized formation.
- 4. A method for producing oil from a subterranean oil shale formation having at least one zone which contains water soluble minerals comprising the steps of: extending at least one well borehole into said formation and into said zone; establishing fluid communication between said well borehole and said zone at at least two spaced locations within said well; circulating aqueous liquid from one of said spaced locations to another in contact with said zone to dissolve water-soluble minerals and leave a fluid-filled cavern within the oil shale formation while maintaining fluid pressures within said cavern below overburden pressure within other regions in said oil shale formation; generating fluid pressures within said oil shale formation sufficient to create fractures and displace solid oil shale material toward and into said cavern; flowing a kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid from one of said locations to another through the fractures and cavern within the oil shale formation; outflowing kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid from said well; and recovering shale oil from outflowing portions of said kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid.
- 5. A method for producing oil from a subterranean oil shale formation having at least one zone which contains water soluble minerals, comprising the steps of: extending at least one well borehole into said formation and into said zone; establishing fluid communication between at least one well borehole and said zone at at least two spaced locations within said well; circulating aqueous liquid from one of said spaced locations to another in contact with said zone to dissolve water-soluble minerals and leave a fluid-filled cavern within the oil shale formation while generating fluid pressure within said oil shale formation sufficient to create fractures and displace solid oil shale material toward and into said cavern; flowing a kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid from one of said locations, to another through the fractures and cavern within the oil shale formation; outflowing kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid from said well; and recovering shale oil from outflowing portions of said kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid.
- 6. The method of claim 5 including the step of establishing fluid communication between said borehole locations through said zone water-soluble mineral by hydraulically fracturing at least a portion of said oil shale formation containing said zone.
- 7. A method of claim 5 including the step of establishing fluid communication between said borehole locations through said zone water-soluble mineral by explosively fracturing at least a portion of said oil shale formation containing said zone.
- 8. The method of claim 5 including the step of establishing fluid communication between said borehole locations through said zone water-soluble mineral by electrically fracturing at least the portion of said oil shale formation communicating with said well boreholes.
- 9. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of circulating aqueous fluid includes the step of imparting acidic properties to said aqueous fluid and circulating said fluid liquid at pressures above the overburden pressure.
- 10. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of circulating aqueous liquid includes the step of imparting acidic properties to said aqueous fluid and ciculating said aqueous fluid at pressures below the overburden pressure.
- 11. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of generating fluid pressures sufficient to create fractures is carried out by the step of circulating fluid through said cavern at a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the kerogen within the oil shale adjacent to the walls forming said cavern and to spall-off portions of said walls into said cavern.
- 12. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of generating fluid pressures sufficient to create fractures is carried out by the step of pumping fluid explosives into said cavern; and detonating said explosives so as to produce an initial pulse of high pressure within the cavern followed by a pressure that becomes lower than that within the adjacent oil shale formation thereby displacing said solid material towards said cavern.
- 13. The method of claim 1 including the step of establishing fluid communication between at least a pair of well boreholes within said mineral containing zone, said communication being accomplished by jetting aqueous liquid from each of said well boreholes to a point intermediate said boreholes.
- 14. A method of producing oil from a subterranean oil shale formation containing rich water-soluble mineral zones comprising the steps of: a. subjecting the formation to leaching of the water-soluble minerals by injecting into the formation a non-acidic leaching solution to leach out the minerals and thereby effecting a zone of communicating cavities in the formation; b. injecting a kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid into cavities zone (a) of the formation so as to effect spalling and rubblization of the oil shale; c. continuing injection of the kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid to effect oil extraction; and d. recovering the oil.
- 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the solvent is an aqueous liquid and the kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid is steam.
- 16. The method of claim 14 wherein the water-soluble mineral is water-soluble carbonate, the water-soluble leaching solution is hot water and the kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid is steAm.
- 17. The method of claim 15 wherein the water-soluble mineral is nahcolite.
- 18. The method of claim 5 wherein the water-soluble minerals are recovered from the formation prior to injection of the kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid.
- 19. The method of claim 3 wherein the dissolved water-soluble mineral by-products are recovered prior to flowing kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid into the formation.
- 20. The method of claim 5 wherein the aqueous liquid is hot water and the kerogen-pyrolyzing fluid is steam.
- 21. The method of claim 20 wherein the water-soluble mineral is water-soluble carbonate.
- 22. The method of claim 20 wherein the water-soluble mineral is nahcolite.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US7500970A | 1970-09-24 | 1970-09-24 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3759574A true US3759574A (en) | 1973-09-18 |
Family
ID=22122967
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00075009A Expired - Lifetime US3759574A (en) | 1970-09-24 | 1970-09-24 | Method of producing hydrocarbons from an oil shale formation |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3759574A (en) |
Cited By (76)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3880238A (en) * | 1974-07-18 | 1975-04-29 | Shell Oil Co | Solvent/non-solvent pyrolysis of subterranean oil shale |
US3888307A (en) * | 1974-08-29 | 1975-06-10 | Shell Oil Co | Heating through fractures to expand a shale oil pyrolyzing cavern |
US3957306A (en) * | 1975-06-12 | 1976-05-18 | Shell Oil Company | Explosive-aided oil shale cavity formation |
US3967853A (en) * | 1975-06-05 | 1976-07-06 | Shell Oil Company | Producing shale oil from a cavity-surrounded central well |
US4059308A (en) * | 1976-11-15 | 1977-11-22 | Trw Inc. | Pressure swing recovery system for oil shale deposits |
US4065183A (en) * | 1976-11-15 | 1977-12-27 | Trw Inc. | Recovery system for oil shale deposits |
US4083604A (en) * | 1976-11-15 | 1978-04-11 | Trw Inc. | Thermomechanical fracture for recovery system in oil shale deposits |
US4234230A (en) * | 1979-07-11 | 1980-11-18 | The Superior Oil Company | In situ processing of mined oil shale |
US4375302A (en) * | 1980-03-03 | 1983-03-01 | Nicholas Kalmar | Process for the in situ recovery of both petroleum and inorganic mineral content of an oil shale deposit |
US4545891A (en) * | 1981-03-31 | 1985-10-08 | Trw Inc. | Extraction and upgrading of fossil fuels using fused caustic and acid solutions |
US4557910A (en) * | 1982-03-29 | 1985-12-10 | Intermountain Research & Development Corporation | Production of soda ash from nahcolite |
US4815790A (en) * | 1988-05-13 | 1989-03-28 | Natec, Ltd. | Nahcolite solution mining process |
US5059307A (en) * | 1981-03-31 | 1991-10-22 | Trw Inc. | Process for upgrading coal |
US5085764A (en) * | 1981-03-31 | 1992-02-04 | Trw Inc. | Process for upgrading coal |
US5588713A (en) * | 1995-12-20 | 1996-12-31 | Stevenson; Tom D. | Process for making sodium bicarbonate from Nahcolite-rich solutions |
US20020029885A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-03-14 | De Rouffignac Eric Pierre | In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using a movable heating element |
US20020034380A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-03-21 | Maher Kevin Albert | In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected moisture content |
US20030131994A1 (en) * | 2001-04-24 | 2003-07-17 | Vinegar Harold J. | In situ thermal processing and solution mining of an oil shale formation |
US20040140096A1 (en) * | 2002-10-24 | 2004-07-22 | Sandberg Chester Ledlie | Insulated conductor temperature limited heaters |
US6820696B2 (en) * | 2002-04-25 | 2004-11-23 | Conocophillips Company | Petroleum production utilizing a salt cavern |
US20040231109A1 (en) * | 1999-01-08 | 2004-11-25 | Nielsen Kurt R. | Sodium bicarbonate production from nahcolite |
US20060039842A1 (en) * | 2004-08-17 | 2006-02-23 | Sesqui Mining, Llc | Methods for constructing underground borehole configurations and related solution mining methods |
US20070023186A1 (en) * | 2003-11-03 | 2007-02-01 | Kaminsky Robert D | Hydrocarbon recovery from impermeable oil shales |
WO2007050479A1 (en) * | 2005-10-24 | 2007-05-03 | Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. | Solution mining systems and methods for treating hydrocarbon containing formations |
US20070137857A1 (en) * | 2005-04-22 | 2007-06-21 | Vinegar Harold J | Low temperature monitoring system for subsurface barriers |
US20090200854A1 (en) * | 2007-10-19 | 2009-08-13 | Vinegar Harold J | Solution mining and in situ treatment of nahcolite beds |
US7644765B2 (en) | 2006-10-20 | 2010-01-12 | Shell Oil Company | Heating tar sands formations while controlling pressure |
US7644993B2 (en) | 2006-04-21 | 2010-01-12 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | In situ co-development of oil shale with mineral recovery |
US7673786B2 (en) | 2006-04-21 | 2010-03-09 | Shell Oil Company | Welding shield for coupling heaters |
US20100101794A1 (en) * | 2008-10-13 | 2010-04-29 | Robert Charles Ryan | Heating subsurface formations with fluids |
WO2010096855A1 (en) * | 2009-02-25 | 2010-09-02 | Peter James Cassidy | Oil shale processing |
US7798220B2 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2010-09-21 | Shell Oil Company | In situ heat treatment of a tar sands formation after drive process treatment |
US7942203B2 (en) | 2003-04-24 | 2011-05-17 | Shell Oil Company | Thermal processes for subsurface formations |
US20110127825A1 (en) * | 2008-08-01 | 2011-06-02 | Solvay Chemicals, Inc. | Traveling undercut solution mining systems and methods |
US8082995B2 (en) | 2007-12-10 | 2011-12-27 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Optimization of untreated oil shale geometry to control subsidence |
US8087460B2 (en) | 2007-03-22 | 2012-01-03 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Granular electrical connections for in situ formation heating |
US8104537B2 (en) | 2006-10-13 | 2012-01-31 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Method of developing subsurface freeze zone |
US8122955B2 (en) | 2007-05-15 | 2012-02-28 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Downhole burners for in situ conversion of organic-rich rock formations |
US8146664B2 (en) | 2007-05-25 | 2012-04-03 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Utilization of low BTU gas generated during in situ heating of organic-rich rock |
US8151884B2 (en) | 2006-10-13 | 2012-04-10 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Combined development of oil shale by in situ heating with a deeper hydrocarbon resource |
US8151907B2 (en) | 2008-04-18 | 2012-04-10 | Shell Oil Company | Dual motor systems and non-rotating sensors for use in developing wellbores in subsurface formations |
US8151877B2 (en) | 2007-05-15 | 2012-04-10 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Downhole burner wells for in situ conversion of organic-rich rock formations |
US8230929B2 (en) | 2008-05-23 | 2012-07-31 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Methods of producing hydrocarbons for substantially constant composition gas generation |
US20120305255A1 (en) * | 2011-05-31 | 2012-12-06 | Victor Borisovich Zavolzhskiy | Method of Treating the Near-Wellbore Zone of the Reservoir |
US8327932B2 (en) | 2009-04-10 | 2012-12-11 | Shell Oil Company | Recovering energy from a subsurface formation |
US8355623B2 (en) | 2004-04-23 | 2013-01-15 | Shell Oil Company | Temperature limited heaters with high power factors |
CN103114831A (en) * | 2013-02-25 | 2013-05-22 | 太原理工大学 | In-situ exploitation method for oil and gas resources of oil shale |
US8540020B2 (en) | 2009-05-05 | 2013-09-24 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Converting organic matter from a subterranean formation into producible hydrocarbons by controlling production operations based on availability of one or more production resources |
US8596355B2 (en) | 2003-06-24 | 2013-12-03 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Optimized well spacing for in situ shale oil development |
US8616280B2 (en) | 2010-08-30 | 2013-12-31 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Wellbore mechanical integrity for in situ pyrolysis |
US8616279B2 (en) | 2009-02-23 | 2013-12-31 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Water treatment following shale oil production by in situ heating |
US8622127B2 (en) | 2010-08-30 | 2014-01-07 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Olefin reduction for in situ pyrolysis oil generation |
US8622133B2 (en) | 2007-03-22 | 2014-01-07 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Resistive heater for in situ formation heating |
US8627887B2 (en) | 2001-10-24 | 2014-01-14 | Shell Oil Company | In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation |
US8631866B2 (en) | 2010-04-09 | 2014-01-21 | Shell Oil Company | Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations |
US8701768B2 (en) | 2010-04-09 | 2014-04-22 | Shell Oil Company | Methods for treating hydrocarbon formations |
US8770284B2 (en) | 2012-05-04 | 2014-07-08 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Systems and methods of detecting an intersection between a wellbore and a subterranean structure that includes a marker material |
US8820406B2 (en) | 2010-04-09 | 2014-09-02 | Shell Oil Company | Electrodes for electrical current flow heating of subsurface formations with conductive material in wellbore |
US8863839B2 (en) | 2009-12-17 | 2014-10-21 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Enhanced convection for in situ pyrolysis of organic-rich rock formations |
US8875789B2 (en) | 2007-05-25 | 2014-11-04 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Process for producing hydrocarbon fluids combining in situ heating, a power plant and a gas plant |
US9016370B2 (en) | 2011-04-08 | 2015-04-28 | Shell Oil Company | Partial solution mining of hydrocarbon containing layers prior to in situ heat treatment |
US9033042B2 (en) | 2010-04-09 | 2015-05-19 | Shell Oil Company | Forming bitumen barriers in subsurface hydrocarbon formations |
US9080441B2 (en) | 2011-11-04 | 2015-07-14 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Multiple electrical connections to optimize heating for in situ pyrolysis |
US9309755B2 (en) | 2011-10-07 | 2016-04-12 | Shell Oil Company | Thermal expansion accommodation for circulated fluid systems used to heat subsurface formations |
US9394772B2 (en) | 2013-11-07 | 2016-07-19 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Systems and methods for in situ resistive heating of organic matter in a subterranean formation |
US20160251947A1 (en) * | 2015-02-27 | 2016-09-01 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Methods of Modifying Formation Properties |
US9512699B2 (en) | 2013-10-22 | 2016-12-06 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Systems and methods for regulating an in situ pyrolysis process |
US9644466B2 (en) | 2014-11-21 | 2017-05-09 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Method of recovering hydrocarbons within a subsurface formation using electric current |
US10012064B2 (en) | 2015-04-09 | 2018-07-03 | Highlands Natural Resources, Plc | Gas diverter for well and reservoir stimulation |
US10047594B2 (en) | 2012-01-23 | 2018-08-14 | Genie Ip B.V. | Heater pattern for in situ thermal processing of a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation |
CN108825193A (en) * | 2017-05-05 | 2018-11-16 | 中国石油化工股份有限公司 | Oil shale in-situ recovery method |
US10344204B2 (en) | 2015-04-09 | 2019-07-09 | Diversion Technologies, LLC | Gas diverter for well and reservoir stimulation |
US10400563B2 (en) * | 2014-11-25 | 2019-09-03 | Salamander Solutions, LLC | Pyrolysis to pressurise oil formations |
US10422210B1 (en) | 2018-05-04 | 2019-09-24 | Sesqui Mining, Llc. | Trona solution mining methods and compositions |
US10889751B2 (en) | 2015-08-28 | 2021-01-12 | Liberty Oilfield Services, LLC | Reservoir stimulation by energetic chemistry |
US10982520B2 (en) | 2016-04-27 | 2021-04-20 | Highland Natural Resources, PLC | Gas diverter for well and reservoir stimulation |
Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2561639A (en) * | 1949-06-29 | 1951-07-24 | Squires Frederick | Process for preparing coal veins for gasification by removal of underlying clay |
US2969226A (en) * | 1959-01-19 | 1961-01-24 | Pyrochem Corp | Pendant parting petro pyrolysis process |
US3018095A (en) * | 1958-07-23 | 1962-01-23 | Fmc Corp | Method of hydraulic fracturing in underground formations |
US3050290A (en) * | 1959-10-30 | 1962-08-21 | Fmc Corp | Method of recovering sodium values by solution mining of trona |
US3322194A (en) * | 1965-03-25 | 1967-05-30 | Mobil Oil Corp | In-place retorting of oil shale |
US3352355A (en) * | 1965-06-23 | 1967-11-14 | Dow Chemical Co | Method of recovery of hydrocarbons from solid hydrocarbonaceous formations |
US3393013A (en) * | 1966-01-17 | 1968-07-16 | Dresser Ind | Process of mining ore from beneath an overburden of earth formation |
US3455383A (en) * | 1968-04-24 | 1969-07-15 | Shell Oil Co | Method of producing fluidized material from a subterranean formation |
US3481398A (en) * | 1967-02-28 | 1969-12-02 | Shell Oil Co | Permeabilizing by acidizing oil shale tuffaceous streaks in and oil recovery therefrom |
US3502372A (en) * | 1968-10-23 | 1970-03-24 | Shell Oil Co | Process of recovering oil and dawsonite from oil shale |
-
1970
- 1970-09-24 US US00075009A patent/US3759574A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2561639A (en) * | 1949-06-29 | 1951-07-24 | Squires Frederick | Process for preparing coal veins for gasification by removal of underlying clay |
US3018095A (en) * | 1958-07-23 | 1962-01-23 | Fmc Corp | Method of hydraulic fracturing in underground formations |
US2969226A (en) * | 1959-01-19 | 1961-01-24 | Pyrochem Corp | Pendant parting petro pyrolysis process |
US3050290A (en) * | 1959-10-30 | 1962-08-21 | Fmc Corp | Method of recovering sodium values by solution mining of trona |
US3322194A (en) * | 1965-03-25 | 1967-05-30 | Mobil Oil Corp | In-place retorting of oil shale |
US3352355A (en) * | 1965-06-23 | 1967-11-14 | Dow Chemical Co | Method of recovery of hydrocarbons from solid hydrocarbonaceous formations |
US3393013A (en) * | 1966-01-17 | 1968-07-16 | Dresser Ind | Process of mining ore from beneath an overburden of earth formation |
US3481398A (en) * | 1967-02-28 | 1969-12-02 | Shell Oil Co | Permeabilizing by acidizing oil shale tuffaceous streaks in and oil recovery therefrom |
US3455383A (en) * | 1968-04-24 | 1969-07-15 | Shell Oil Co | Method of producing fluidized material from a subterranean formation |
US3502372A (en) * | 1968-10-23 | 1970-03-24 | Shell Oil Co | Process of recovering oil and dawsonite from oil shale |
Cited By (229)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3880238A (en) * | 1974-07-18 | 1975-04-29 | Shell Oil Co | Solvent/non-solvent pyrolysis of subterranean oil shale |
US3888307A (en) * | 1974-08-29 | 1975-06-10 | Shell Oil Co | Heating through fractures to expand a shale oil pyrolyzing cavern |
US3967853A (en) * | 1975-06-05 | 1976-07-06 | Shell Oil Company | Producing shale oil from a cavity-surrounded central well |
US3957306A (en) * | 1975-06-12 | 1976-05-18 | Shell Oil Company | Explosive-aided oil shale cavity formation |
US4059308A (en) * | 1976-11-15 | 1977-11-22 | Trw Inc. | Pressure swing recovery system for oil shale deposits |
US4065183A (en) * | 1976-11-15 | 1977-12-27 | Trw Inc. | Recovery system for oil shale deposits |
US4083604A (en) * | 1976-11-15 | 1978-04-11 | Trw Inc. | Thermomechanical fracture for recovery system in oil shale deposits |
US4163580A (en) * | 1976-11-15 | 1979-08-07 | Trw Inc. | Pressure swing recovery system for mineral deposits |
US4234230A (en) * | 1979-07-11 | 1980-11-18 | The Superior Oil Company | In situ processing of mined oil shale |
US4375302A (en) * | 1980-03-03 | 1983-03-01 | Nicholas Kalmar | Process for the in situ recovery of both petroleum and inorganic mineral content of an oil shale deposit |
US4545891A (en) * | 1981-03-31 | 1985-10-08 | Trw Inc. | Extraction and upgrading of fossil fuels using fused caustic and acid solutions |
US5059307A (en) * | 1981-03-31 | 1991-10-22 | Trw Inc. | Process for upgrading coal |
US5085764A (en) * | 1981-03-31 | 1992-02-04 | Trw Inc. | Process for upgrading coal |
US4557910A (en) * | 1982-03-29 | 1985-12-10 | Intermountain Research & Development Corporation | Production of soda ash from nahcolite |
US4815790A (en) * | 1988-05-13 | 1989-03-28 | Natec, Ltd. | Nahcolite solution mining process |
US5588713A (en) * | 1995-12-20 | 1996-12-31 | Stevenson; Tom D. | Process for making sodium bicarbonate from Nahcolite-rich solutions |
US20040231109A1 (en) * | 1999-01-08 | 2004-11-25 | Nielsen Kurt R. | Sodium bicarbonate production from nahcolite |
US20030164234A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2003-09-04 | De Rouffignac Eric Pierre | In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a movable heating element |
US20020034380A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-03-21 | Maher Kevin Albert | In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected moisture content |
US20020033257A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-03-21 | Shahin Gordon Thomas | In situ thermal processing of hydrocarbons within a relatively impermeable formation |
US20020038710A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-04-04 | Maher Kevin Albert | In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation having a selected total organic carbon content |
US20020038711A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-04-04 | Rouffignac Eric Pierre De | In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using heat sources positioned within open wellbores |
US20020038709A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-04-04 | Wellington Scott Lee | In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a natural distributed combustor |
US20020043365A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-04-18 | Berchenko Ilya Emil | In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected ratio of heat sources to production wells |
US20020043367A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-04-18 | Rouffignac Eric Pierre De | In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to increase a permeability of the formation |
US20020046838A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-04-25 | Karanikas John Michael | In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with carbon dioxide sequestration |
US20020053432A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-05-09 | Berchenko Ilya Emil | In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using repeating triangular patterns of heat sources |
US20020053429A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-05-09 | Stegemeier George Leo | In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using pressure and/or temperature control |
US20020057905A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-05-16 | Wellington Scott Lee | In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce oxygen containing formation fluids |
US20020056551A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-05-16 | Wellington Scott Lee | In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation in a reducing environment |
US20020062051A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-05-23 | Wellington Scott L. | In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected moisture content |
US20020077515A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-06-20 | Wellington Scott Lee | In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce hydrocarbons having a selected carbon number range |
US20020084074A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-07-04 | De Rouffignac Eric Pierre | In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to increase a porosity of the formation |
US20020104654A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-08-08 | Shell Oil Company | In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to convert a selected total organic carbon content into hydrocarbon products |
US7798221B2 (en) | 2000-04-24 | 2010-09-21 | Shell Oil Company | In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation |
US8789586B2 (en) | 2000-04-24 | 2014-07-29 | Shell Oil Company | In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation |
US20030213594A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2003-11-20 | Shell Oil Company | In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce a mixture with a selected hydrogen content |
US20040108111A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2004-06-10 | Vinegar Harold J. | In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to increase a permeability/porosity of the formation |
US20020029885A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-03-14 | De Rouffignac Eric Pierre | In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using a movable heating element |
US8485252B2 (en) | 2000-04-24 | 2013-07-16 | Shell Oil Company | In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation |
US20020033256A1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-03-21 | Wellington Scott Lee | In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected hydrogen to carbon ratio |
US6997518B2 (en) * | 2001-04-24 | 2006-02-14 | Shell Oil Company | In situ thermal processing and solution mining of an oil shale formation |
US20030131994A1 (en) * | 2001-04-24 | 2003-07-17 | Vinegar Harold J. | In situ thermal processing and solution mining of an oil shale formation |
US7040397B2 (en) | 2001-04-24 | 2006-05-09 | Shell Oil Company | Thermal processing of an oil shale formation to increase permeability of the formation |
US7735935B2 (en) | 2001-04-24 | 2010-06-15 | Shell Oil Company | In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation containing carbonate minerals |
US8608249B2 (en) | 2001-04-24 | 2013-12-17 | Shell Oil Company | In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation |
US8627887B2 (en) | 2001-10-24 | 2014-01-14 | Shell Oil Company | In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation |
US6820696B2 (en) * | 2002-04-25 | 2004-11-23 | Conocophillips Company | Petroleum production utilizing a salt cavern |
US20040177966A1 (en) * | 2002-10-24 | 2004-09-16 | Vinegar Harold J. | Conductor-in-conduit temperature limited heaters |
US8238730B2 (en) | 2002-10-24 | 2012-08-07 | Shell Oil Company | High voltage temperature limited heaters |
US20040140096A1 (en) * | 2002-10-24 | 2004-07-22 | Sandberg Chester Ledlie | Insulated conductor temperature limited heaters |
US8200072B2 (en) | 2002-10-24 | 2012-06-12 | Shell Oil Company | Temperature limited heaters for heating subsurface formations or wellbores |
US8224163B2 (en) | 2002-10-24 | 2012-07-17 | Shell Oil Company | Variable frequency temperature limited heaters |
US8224164B2 (en) | 2002-10-24 | 2012-07-17 | Shell Oil Company | Insulated conductor temperature limited heaters |
US7942203B2 (en) | 2003-04-24 | 2011-05-17 | Shell Oil Company | Thermal processes for subsurface formations |
US8579031B2 (en) | 2003-04-24 | 2013-11-12 | Shell Oil Company | Thermal processes for subsurface formations |
US8596355B2 (en) | 2003-06-24 | 2013-12-03 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Optimized well spacing for in situ shale oil development |
US7857056B2 (en) | 2003-11-03 | 2010-12-28 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Hydrocarbon recovery from impermeable oil shales using sets of fluid-heated fractures |
US20090038795A1 (en) * | 2003-11-03 | 2009-02-12 | Kaminsky Robert D | Hydrocarbon Recovery From Impermeable Oil Shales Using Sets of Fluid-Heated Fractures |
US7441603B2 (en) | 2003-11-03 | 2008-10-28 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Hydrocarbon recovery from impermeable oil shales |
US20070023186A1 (en) * | 2003-11-03 | 2007-02-01 | Kaminsky Robert D | Hydrocarbon recovery from impermeable oil shales |
US8355623B2 (en) | 2004-04-23 | 2013-01-15 | Shell Oil Company | Temperature limited heaters with high power factors |
US7611208B2 (en) * | 2004-08-17 | 2009-11-03 | Sesqui Mining, Llc | Methods for constructing underground borehole configurations and related solution mining methods |
US8057765B2 (en) | 2004-08-17 | 2011-11-15 | Sesqui Mining, Llc | Methods for constructing underground borehole configurations and related solution mining methods |
US20100066153A1 (en) * | 2004-08-17 | 2010-03-18 | Sesqui Mining, Llc | Methods for constructing underground borehole configurations and related solution mining methods |
US20060039842A1 (en) * | 2004-08-17 | 2006-02-23 | Sesqui Mining, Llc | Methods for constructing underground borehole configurations and related solution mining methods |
US8899691B2 (en) | 2004-08-17 | 2014-12-02 | Sesqui Mining, Llc | Methods for constructing underground borehole configurations and related solution mining methods |
US9260918B2 (en) | 2004-08-17 | 2016-02-16 | Sesqui Mining LLC. | Methods for constructing underground borehole configurations and related solution mining methods |
US7860377B2 (en) | 2005-04-22 | 2010-12-28 | Shell Oil Company | Subsurface connection methods for subsurface heaters |
US8230927B2 (en) | 2005-04-22 | 2012-07-31 | Shell Oil Company | Methods and systems for producing fluid from an in situ conversion process |
US7942197B2 (en) | 2005-04-22 | 2011-05-17 | Shell Oil Company | Methods and systems for producing fluid from an in situ conversion process |
US7986869B2 (en) | 2005-04-22 | 2011-07-26 | Shell Oil Company | Varying properties along lengths of temperature limited heaters |
US8224165B2 (en) | 2005-04-22 | 2012-07-17 | Shell Oil Company | Temperature limited heater utilizing non-ferromagnetic conductor |
US8027571B2 (en) | 2005-04-22 | 2011-09-27 | Shell Oil Company | In situ conversion process systems utilizing wellbores in at least two regions of a formation |
US8070840B2 (en) | 2005-04-22 | 2011-12-06 | Shell Oil Company | Treatment of gas from an in situ conversion process |
US7831134B2 (en) | 2005-04-22 | 2010-11-09 | Shell Oil Company | Grouped exposed metal heaters |
US20070137857A1 (en) * | 2005-04-22 | 2007-06-21 | Vinegar Harold J | Low temperature monitoring system for subsurface barriers |
US8233782B2 (en) | 2005-04-22 | 2012-07-31 | Shell Oil Company | Grouped exposed metal heaters |
KR101434232B1 (en) * | 2005-10-24 | 2014-08-27 | 쉘 인터내셔날 리써취 마트샤피지 비.브이. | Solution mining systems and methods for treating hydrocarbon containing formations |
US8606091B2 (en) | 2005-10-24 | 2013-12-10 | Shell Oil Company | Subsurface heaters with low sulfidation rates |
US20070221377A1 (en) * | 2005-10-24 | 2007-09-27 | Vinegar Harold J | Solution mining systems and methods for treating hydrocarbon containing formations |
AU2006306414B2 (en) * | 2005-10-24 | 2010-08-05 | Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. | Solution mining methods for treating hydrocarbon-containing formations |
US20070131415A1 (en) * | 2005-10-24 | 2007-06-14 | Vinegar Harold J | Solution mining and heating by oxidation for treating hydrocarbon containing formations |
JP2009512802A (en) * | 2005-10-24 | 2009-03-26 | シエル・インターナシヨネイル・リサーチ・マーチヤツピイ・ベー・ウイ | Solution mining system and method for treating hydrocarbon-containing formations |
US7549470B2 (en) * | 2005-10-24 | 2009-06-23 | Shell Oil Company | Solution mining and heating by oxidation for treating hydrocarbon containing formations |
EA013253B1 (en) * | 2005-10-24 | 2010-04-30 | Шелл Интернэшнл Рисерч Маатсхаппий Б.В. | Methods for treating hydrocarbon containing formations |
US7559368B2 (en) * | 2005-10-24 | 2009-07-14 | Shell Oil Company | Solution mining systems and methods for treating hydrocarbon containing formations |
US8151880B2 (en) | 2005-10-24 | 2012-04-10 | Shell Oil Company | Methods of making transportation fuel |
WO2007050479A1 (en) * | 2005-10-24 | 2007-05-03 | Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. | Solution mining systems and methods for treating hydrocarbon containing formations |
US7683296B2 (en) | 2006-04-21 | 2010-03-23 | Shell Oil Company | Adjusting alloy compositions for selected properties in temperature limited heaters |
US8641150B2 (en) | 2006-04-21 | 2014-02-04 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | In situ co-development of oil shale with mineral recovery |
US8192682B2 (en) | 2006-04-21 | 2012-06-05 | Shell Oil Company | High strength alloys |
US7673786B2 (en) | 2006-04-21 | 2010-03-09 | Shell Oil Company | Welding shield for coupling heaters |
US7912358B2 (en) | 2006-04-21 | 2011-03-22 | Shell Oil Company | Alternate energy source usage for in situ heat treatment processes |
US7644993B2 (en) | 2006-04-21 | 2010-01-12 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | In situ co-development of oil shale with mineral recovery |
US7785427B2 (en) | 2006-04-21 | 2010-08-31 | Shell Oil Company | High strength alloys |
US7866385B2 (en) | 2006-04-21 | 2011-01-11 | Shell Oil Company | Power systems utilizing the heat of produced formation fluid |
US8857506B2 (en) | 2006-04-21 | 2014-10-14 | Shell Oil Company | Alternate energy source usage methods for in situ heat treatment processes |
US7793722B2 (en) | 2006-04-21 | 2010-09-14 | Shell Oil Company | Non-ferromagnetic overburden casing |
US8083813B2 (en) | 2006-04-21 | 2011-12-27 | Shell Oil Company | Methods of producing transportation fuel |
US8151884B2 (en) | 2006-10-13 | 2012-04-10 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Combined development of oil shale by in situ heating with a deeper hydrocarbon resource |
US8104537B2 (en) | 2006-10-13 | 2012-01-31 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Method of developing subsurface freeze zone |
US7644765B2 (en) | 2006-10-20 | 2010-01-12 | Shell Oil Company | Heating tar sands formations while controlling pressure |
US7673681B2 (en) | 2006-10-20 | 2010-03-09 | Shell Oil Company | Treating tar sands formations with karsted zones |
US7677314B2 (en) | 2006-10-20 | 2010-03-16 | Shell Oil Company | Method of condensing vaporized water in situ to treat tar sands formations |
US7681647B2 (en) | 2006-10-20 | 2010-03-23 | Shell Oil Company | Method of producing drive fluid in situ in tar sands formations |
US7845411B2 (en) | 2006-10-20 | 2010-12-07 | Shell Oil Company | In situ heat treatment process utilizing a closed loop heating system |
US7717171B2 (en) | 2006-10-20 | 2010-05-18 | Shell Oil Company | Moving hydrocarbons through portions of tar sands formations with a fluid |
US7730946B2 (en) | 2006-10-20 | 2010-06-08 | Shell Oil Company | Treating tar sands formations with dolomite |
US8555971B2 (en) | 2006-10-20 | 2013-10-15 | Shell Oil Company | Treating tar sands formations with dolomite |
US7677310B2 (en) | 2006-10-20 | 2010-03-16 | Shell Oil Company | Creating and maintaining a gas cap in tar sands formations |
US7730945B2 (en) | 2006-10-20 | 2010-06-08 | Shell Oil Company | Using geothermal energy to heat a portion of a formation for an in situ heat treatment process |
US8191630B2 (en) | 2006-10-20 | 2012-06-05 | Shell Oil Company | Creating fluid injectivity in tar sands formations |
US7703513B2 (en) | 2006-10-20 | 2010-04-27 | Shell Oil Company | Wax barrier for use with in situ processes for treating formations |
US7730947B2 (en) | 2006-10-20 | 2010-06-08 | Shell Oil Company | Creating fluid injectivity in tar sands formations |
US7841401B2 (en) | 2006-10-20 | 2010-11-30 | Shell Oil Company | Gas injection to inhibit migration during an in situ heat treatment process |
US9347302B2 (en) | 2007-03-22 | 2016-05-24 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Resistive heater for in situ formation heating |
US8087460B2 (en) | 2007-03-22 | 2012-01-03 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Granular electrical connections for in situ formation heating |
US8622133B2 (en) | 2007-03-22 | 2014-01-07 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Resistive heater for in situ formation heating |
US8662175B2 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2014-03-04 | Shell Oil Company | Varying properties of in situ heat treatment of a tar sands formation based on assessed viscosities |
US7950453B2 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2011-05-31 | Shell Oil Company | Downhole burner systems and methods for heating subsurface formations |
US7832484B2 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2010-11-16 | Shell Oil Company | Molten salt as a heat transfer fluid for heating a subsurface formation |
US7798220B2 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2010-09-21 | Shell Oil Company | In situ heat treatment of a tar sands formation after drive process treatment |
US8042610B2 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2011-10-25 | Shell Oil Company | Parallel heater system for subsurface formations |
US8381815B2 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2013-02-26 | Shell Oil Company | Production from multiple zones of a tar sands formation |
US7841425B2 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2010-11-30 | Shell Oil Company | Drilling subsurface wellbores with cutting structures |
US7841408B2 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2010-11-30 | Shell Oil Company | In situ heat treatment from multiple layers of a tar sands formation |
US7849922B2 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2010-12-14 | Shell Oil Company | In situ recovery from residually heated sections in a hydrocarbon containing formation |
US8791396B2 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2014-07-29 | Shell Oil Company | Floating insulated conductors for heating subsurface formations |
US7931086B2 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2011-04-26 | Shell Oil Company | Heating systems for heating subsurface formations |
US8459359B2 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2013-06-11 | Shell Oil Company | Treating nahcolite containing formations and saline zones |
US9181780B2 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2015-11-10 | Shell Oil Company | Controlling and assessing pressure conditions during treatment of tar sands formations |
US8327681B2 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2012-12-11 | Shell Oil Company | Wellbore manufacturing processes for in situ heat treatment processes |
US8122955B2 (en) | 2007-05-15 | 2012-02-28 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Downhole burners for in situ conversion of organic-rich rock formations |
US8151877B2 (en) | 2007-05-15 | 2012-04-10 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Downhole burner wells for in situ conversion of organic-rich rock formations |
US8146664B2 (en) | 2007-05-25 | 2012-04-03 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Utilization of low BTU gas generated during in situ heating of organic-rich rock |
US8875789B2 (en) | 2007-05-25 | 2014-11-04 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Process for producing hydrocarbon fluids combining in situ heating, a power plant and a gas plant |
US7866388B2 (en) | 2007-10-19 | 2011-01-11 | Shell Oil Company | High temperature methods for forming oxidizer fuel |
US8011451B2 (en) | 2007-10-19 | 2011-09-06 | Shell Oil Company | Ranging methods for developing wellbores in subsurface formations |
US8146661B2 (en) | 2007-10-19 | 2012-04-03 | Shell Oil Company | Cryogenic treatment of gas |
US8272455B2 (en) | 2007-10-19 | 2012-09-25 | Shell Oil Company | Methods for forming wellbores in heated formations |
US8276661B2 (en) | 2007-10-19 | 2012-10-02 | Shell Oil Company | Heating subsurface formations by oxidizing fuel on a fuel carrier |
US7866386B2 (en) | 2007-10-19 | 2011-01-11 | Shell Oil Company | In situ oxidation of subsurface formations |
US8162059B2 (en) | 2007-10-19 | 2012-04-24 | Shell Oil Company | Induction heaters used to heat subsurface formations |
US8536497B2 (en) | 2007-10-19 | 2013-09-17 | Shell Oil Company | Methods for forming long subsurface heaters |
US8113272B2 (en) | 2007-10-19 | 2012-02-14 | Shell Oil Company | Three-phase heaters with common overburden sections for heating subsurface formations |
US8196658B2 (en) | 2007-10-19 | 2012-06-12 | Shell Oil Company | Irregular spacing of heat sources for treating hydrocarbon containing formations |
US8146669B2 (en) | 2007-10-19 | 2012-04-03 | Shell Oil Company | Multi-step heater deployment in a subsurface formation |
US8240774B2 (en) * | 2007-10-19 | 2012-08-14 | Shell Oil Company | Solution mining and in situ treatment of nahcolite beds |
US20090200854A1 (en) * | 2007-10-19 | 2009-08-13 | Vinegar Harold J | Solution mining and in situ treatment of nahcolite beds |
US8082995B2 (en) | 2007-12-10 | 2011-12-27 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Optimization of untreated oil shale geometry to control subsidence |
US8636323B2 (en) | 2008-04-18 | 2014-01-28 | Shell Oil Company | Mines and tunnels for use in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations |
US8151907B2 (en) | 2008-04-18 | 2012-04-10 | Shell Oil Company | Dual motor systems and non-rotating sensors for use in developing wellbores in subsurface formations |
US9528322B2 (en) | 2008-04-18 | 2016-12-27 | Shell Oil Company | Dual motor systems and non-rotating sensors for use in developing wellbores in subsurface formations |
US8162405B2 (en) | 2008-04-18 | 2012-04-24 | Shell Oil Company | Using tunnels for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations |
US8177305B2 (en) | 2008-04-18 | 2012-05-15 | Shell Oil Company | Heater connections in mines and tunnels for use in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations |
US8562078B2 (en) | 2008-04-18 | 2013-10-22 | Shell Oil Company | Hydrocarbon production from mines and tunnels used in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations |
US8752904B2 (en) | 2008-04-18 | 2014-06-17 | Shell Oil Company | Heated fluid flow in mines and tunnels used in heating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations |
US8172335B2 (en) | 2008-04-18 | 2012-05-08 | Shell Oil Company | Electrical current flow between tunnels for use in heating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations |
US8230929B2 (en) | 2008-05-23 | 2012-07-31 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Methods of producing hydrocarbons for substantially constant composition gas generation |
US20110127825A1 (en) * | 2008-08-01 | 2011-06-02 | Solvay Chemicals, Inc. | Traveling undercut solution mining systems and methods |
US9234416B2 (en) | 2008-08-01 | 2016-01-12 | Solvay Chemicals, Inc. | Traveling undercut solution mining systems and methods |
CN102112699B (en) * | 2008-08-01 | 2014-07-09 | 索尔维化学有限公司 | Traveling undercut solution mining systems and methods |
US9581006B2 (en) | 2008-08-01 | 2017-02-28 | Solvay Chemicals, Inc. | Traveling undercut solution mining systems and methods |
US8678513B2 (en) * | 2008-08-01 | 2014-03-25 | Solvay Chemicals, Inc. | Traveling undercut solution mining systems and methods |
US20100101794A1 (en) * | 2008-10-13 | 2010-04-29 | Robert Charles Ryan | Heating subsurface formations with fluids |
US9051829B2 (en) | 2008-10-13 | 2015-06-09 | Shell Oil Company | Perforated electrical conductors for treating subsurface formations |
US9022118B2 (en) | 2008-10-13 | 2015-05-05 | Shell Oil Company | Double insulated heaters for treating subsurface formations |
US20100147521A1 (en) * | 2008-10-13 | 2010-06-17 | Xueying Xie | Perforated electrical conductors for treating subsurface formations |
US9129728B2 (en) | 2008-10-13 | 2015-09-08 | Shell Oil Company | Systems and methods of forming subsurface wellbores |
US8256512B2 (en) | 2008-10-13 | 2012-09-04 | Shell Oil Company | Movable heaters for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations |
US8353347B2 (en) | 2008-10-13 | 2013-01-15 | Shell Oil Company | Deployment of insulated conductors for treating subsurface formations |
US8220539B2 (en) | 2008-10-13 | 2012-07-17 | Shell Oil Company | Controlling hydrogen pressure in self-regulating nuclear reactors used to treat a subsurface formation |
US8881806B2 (en) | 2008-10-13 | 2014-11-11 | Shell Oil Company | Systems and methods for treating a subsurface formation with electrical conductors |
US8261832B2 (en) * | 2008-10-13 | 2012-09-11 | Shell Oil Company | Heating subsurface formations with fluids |
US8267185B2 (en) | 2008-10-13 | 2012-09-18 | Shell Oil Company | Circulated heated transfer fluid systems used to treat a subsurface formation |
US8281861B2 (en) | 2008-10-13 | 2012-10-09 | Shell Oil Company | Circulated heated transfer fluid heating of subsurface hydrocarbon formations |
US8267170B2 (en) | 2008-10-13 | 2012-09-18 | Shell Oil Company | Offset barrier wells in subsurface formations |
US8616279B2 (en) | 2009-02-23 | 2013-12-31 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Water treatment following shale oil production by in situ heating |
AU2009340890B2 (en) * | 2009-02-25 | 2015-11-26 | Peter James Cassidy | Oil shale processing |
US8967261B2 (en) * | 2009-02-25 | 2015-03-03 | Peter James Cassidy | Oil shale processing |
WO2010096855A1 (en) * | 2009-02-25 | 2010-09-02 | Peter James Cassidy | Oil shale processing |
US20110186296A1 (en) * | 2009-02-25 | 2011-08-04 | Peter James Cassidy | Oil shale processing |
US8590620B2 (en) * | 2009-02-25 | 2013-11-26 | Peter James Cassidy | Oil shale processing |
US8327932B2 (en) | 2009-04-10 | 2012-12-11 | Shell Oil Company | Recovering energy from a subsurface formation |
US8434555B2 (en) | 2009-04-10 | 2013-05-07 | Shell Oil Company | Irregular pattern treatment of a subsurface formation |
US8448707B2 (en) | 2009-04-10 | 2013-05-28 | Shell Oil Company | Non-conducting heater casings |
US8851170B2 (en) | 2009-04-10 | 2014-10-07 | Shell Oil Company | Heater assisted fluid treatment of a subsurface formation |
US8540020B2 (en) | 2009-05-05 | 2013-09-24 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Converting organic matter from a subterranean formation into producible hydrocarbons by controlling production operations based on availability of one or more production resources |
US8863839B2 (en) | 2009-12-17 | 2014-10-21 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Enhanced convection for in situ pyrolysis of organic-rich rock formations |
US9022109B2 (en) | 2010-04-09 | 2015-05-05 | Shell Oil Company | Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations |
US9399905B2 (en) | 2010-04-09 | 2016-07-26 | Shell Oil Company | Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations |
US8739874B2 (en) | 2010-04-09 | 2014-06-03 | Shell Oil Company | Methods for heating with slots in hydrocarbon formations |
US8820406B2 (en) | 2010-04-09 | 2014-09-02 | Shell Oil Company | Electrodes for electrical current flow heating of subsurface formations with conductive material in wellbore |
US9033042B2 (en) | 2010-04-09 | 2015-05-19 | Shell Oil Company | Forming bitumen barriers in subsurface hydrocarbon formations |
US8833453B2 (en) | 2010-04-09 | 2014-09-16 | Shell Oil Company | Electrodes for electrical current flow heating of subsurface formations with tapered copper thickness |
US8701769B2 (en) | 2010-04-09 | 2014-04-22 | Shell Oil Company | Methods for treating hydrocarbon formations based on geology |
US8701768B2 (en) | 2010-04-09 | 2014-04-22 | Shell Oil Company | Methods for treating hydrocarbon formations |
US9127523B2 (en) | 2010-04-09 | 2015-09-08 | Shell Oil Company | Barrier methods for use in subsurface hydrocarbon formations |
US8631866B2 (en) | 2010-04-09 | 2014-01-21 | Shell Oil Company | Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations |
US9127538B2 (en) | 2010-04-09 | 2015-09-08 | Shell Oil Company | Methodologies for treatment of hydrocarbon formations using staged pyrolyzation |
US8622127B2 (en) | 2010-08-30 | 2014-01-07 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Olefin reduction for in situ pyrolysis oil generation |
US8616280B2 (en) | 2010-08-30 | 2013-12-31 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Wellbore mechanical integrity for in situ pyrolysis |
US9016370B2 (en) | 2011-04-08 | 2015-04-28 | Shell Oil Company | Partial solution mining of hydrocarbon containing layers prior to in situ heat treatment |
US9228424B2 (en) * | 2011-05-31 | 2016-01-05 | Riverbend, S.A. | Method of treating the near-wellbore zone of the reservoir |
US20120305255A1 (en) * | 2011-05-31 | 2012-12-06 | Victor Borisovich Zavolzhskiy | Method of Treating the Near-Wellbore Zone of the Reservoir |
US9309755B2 (en) | 2011-10-07 | 2016-04-12 | Shell Oil Company | Thermal expansion accommodation for circulated fluid systems used to heat subsurface formations |
US9080441B2 (en) | 2011-11-04 | 2015-07-14 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Multiple electrical connections to optimize heating for in situ pyrolysis |
US10047594B2 (en) | 2012-01-23 | 2018-08-14 | Genie Ip B.V. | Heater pattern for in situ thermal processing of a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation |
US8770284B2 (en) | 2012-05-04 | 2014-07-08 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Systems and methods of detecting an intersection between a wellbore and a subterranean structure that includes a marker material |
CN103114831B (en) * | 2013-02-25 | 2015-06-24 | 太原理工大学 | In-situ exploitation method for oil and gas resources of oil shale |
CN103114831A (en) * | 2013-02-25 | 2013-05-22 | 太原理工大学 | In-situ exploitation method for oil and gas resources of oil shale |
US9512699B2 (en) | 2013-10-22 | 2016-12-06 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Systems and methods for regulating an in situ pyrolysis process |
US9394772B2 (en) | 2013-11-07 | 2016-07-19 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Systems and methods for in situ resistive heating of organic matter in a subterranean formation |
US9739122B2 (en) | 2014-11-21 | 2017-08-22 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Mitigating the effects of subsurface shunts during bulk heating of a subsurface formation |
US9644466B2 (en) | 2014-11-21 | 2017-05-09 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Method of recovering hydrocarbons within a subsurface formation using electric current |
US10400563B2 (en) * | 2014-11-25 | 2019-09-03 | Salamander Solutions, LLC | Pyrolysis to pressurise oil formations |
US20160251947A1 (en) * | 2015-02-27 | 2016-09-01 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Methods of Modifying Formation Properties |
US10012064B2 (en) | 2015-04-09 | 2018-07-03 | Highlands Natural Resources, Plc | Gas diverter for well and reservoir stimulation |
US10344204B2 (en) | 2015-04-09 | 2019-07-09 | Diversion Technologies, LLC | Gas diverter for well and reservoir stimulation |
US10385257B2 (en) | 2015-04-09 | 2019-08-20 | Highands Natural Resources, PLC | Gas diverter for well and reservoir stimulation |
US10385258B2 (en) | 2015-04-09 | 2019-08-20 | Highlands Natural Resources, Plc | Gas diverter for well and reservoir stimulation |
US10889751B2 (en) | 2015-08-28 | 2021-01-12 | Liberty Oilfield Services, LLC | Reservoir stimulation by energetic chemistry |
US10982520B2 (en) | 2016-04-27 | 2021-04-20 | Highland Natural Resources, PLC | Gas diverter for well and reservoir stimulation |
CN108825193A (en) * | 2017-05-05 | 2018-11-16 | 中国石油化工股份有限公司 | Oil shale in-situ recovery method |
US10422210B1 (en) | 2018-05-04 | 2019-09-24 | Sesqui Mining, Llc. | Trona solution mining methods and compositions |
US10995598B2 (en) | 2018-05-04 | 2021-05-04 | Sesqui Mining, Llc | Trona solution mining methods and compositions |
US11193362B2 (en) | 2018-05-04 | 2021-12-07 | Sesqui Mining, Llc | Trona solution mining methods and compositions |
US11746639B2 (en) | 2018-05-04 | 2023-09-05 | Sesqui Mining, Llc. | Trona solution mining methods and compositions |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3759574A (en) | Method of producing hydrocarbons from an oil shale formation | |
US3739851A (en) | Method of producing oil from an oil shale formation | |
US3779601A (en) | Method of producing hydrocarbons from an oil shale formation containing nahcolite | |
US3759328A (en) | Laterally expanding oil shale permeabilization | |
US3741306A (en) | Method of producing hydrocarbons from oil shale formations | |
US3700280A (en) | Method of producing oil from an oil shale formation containing nahcolite and dawsonite | |
US3572838A (en) | Recovery of aluminum compounds and oil from oil shale formations | |
US3513913A (en) | Oil recovery from oil shales by transverse combustion | |
US3513914A (en) | Method for producing shale oil from an oil shale formation | |
US3502372A (en) | Process of recovering oil and dawsonite from oil shale | |
US2813583A (en) | Process for recovery of petroleum from sands and shale | |
US3695354A (en) | Halogenating extraction of oil from oil shale | |
US3515213A (en) | Shale oil recovery process using heated oil-miscible fluids | |
US3342258A (en) | Underground oil recovery from solid oil-bearing deposits | |
US3779602A (en) | Process for solution mining nahcolite | |
US4065183A (en) | Recovery system for oil shale deposits | |
US5305829A (en) | Oil production from diatomite formations by fracture steamdrive | |
US4491179A (en) | Method for oil recovery by in situ exfoliation drive | |
US3967853A (en) | Producing shale oil from a cavity-surrounded central well | |
US3455383A (en) | Method of producing fluidized material from a subterranean formation | |
US3753594A (en) | Method of producing hydrocarbons from an oil shale formation containing halite | |
US3279538A (en) | Oil recovery | |
US3501201A (en) | Method of producing shale oil from a subterranean oil shale formation | |
US4185693A (en) | Oil shale retorting from a high porosity cavern | |
US8057765B2 (en) | Methods for constructing underground borehole configurations and related solution mining methods |