Method for in situ heating of hydrocarbonaceous formations
First Claim
1. A method for extracting valuable constituents from underground hydrocarbonaceous deposits such as oil shale comprising the steps of:
- drilling a hole into but not beyond a stratum which contains a rich deposit of valuable constituents;
hydraulically fracturing the stratum which contains the deposit to form a single horizontally extending fracture plane located at the bottom of the hole;
injecting a liquid and conducting proppant into the fracture plane to form a horizontal liquid plate;
introducing electrical excitations to the stratum adjacent the liquid plate;
continuing the electrical excitation to retort the stratum along the liquid plate; and
recovering valuable constituents from the stratum adjacent the liquid plate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for extracting valuable constituents from underground hydrocarbonaceous deposits such as heavy crude tar sands and oil shale is disclosed. Initially, a stratum containing a rich deposit is hydraulically fractured to form a horizontally extending fracture plane. A conducting liquid and proppant is then injected into the fracture plane to form a conducting plane. Electrical excitations are then introduced into the stratum adjacent the conducting plate to retort the rich stratum along the conducting plane. The valuable constituents from the stratum adjacent the conducting plate are then recovered. Subsequently, the remainder of the deposit is also combustion retorted to further recover valuable constituents from the deposit. Various R.F. heating systems are also disclosed for use in the present invention.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for extracting valuable constituents from underground hydrocarbonaceous deposits such as oil shale comprising the steps of:
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drilling a hole into but not beyond a stratum which contains a rich deposit of valuable constituents; hydraulically fracturing the stratum which contains the deposit to form a single horizontally extending fracture plane located at the bottom of the hole; injecting a liquid and conducting proppant into the fracture plane to form a horizontal liquid plate; introducing electrical excitations to the stratum adjacent the liquid plate; continuing the electrical excitation to retort the stratum along the liquid plate; and recovering valuable constituents from the stratum adjacent the liquid plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for extracting valuable constituents from an underground staratum containing hydrocarbonaceous deposits including the steps of:
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forming a single substantially horizontally extending fracture plane in the stratum by hydraulically fracturing the stratum at a lower end of a hole extending at least to but not beyond the stratum; injecting a conducting liquid into the fracture plane to form a substantially horizontal conductor plate; introducing electrical excitations to the stratum adjacent the conductor plate; continuing the electrical excitations to the stratum adjacent the conductor plate; continuing the electrical excitation to retort the stratum along the conductor plate; and recovering valuable constituents from the stratum adjacent the conductor plate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification