Method of developing subsurface freeze zone
First Claim
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1. A method of lowering the temperature of a subsurface formation, comprising:
- (a) injecting a cooling fluid under pressure into a wellbore, the wellbore being completed at or below a depth of the subsurface formation, and the wellbore having a bore formed through the subsurface formation defining a diameter, wherein the cooling fluid comprises a slurry having particles of frozen material;
(b) circulating the cooling fluid across the formation in order to lower the temperature of at least a portion of the formation to a point that is at or below the freezing point of water; and
(c) injecting low salinity water into at least a portion of the subsurface formation to reduce the natural salinity of the in situ water and to raise the freezing temperature of the in situ water.
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Abstract
A method of lowering the temperature of a subsurface formation, e.g., comprising oil shale, includes injecting a cooling fluid under pressure into a wellbore. The wellbore is completed at or below a depth of the subsurface formation, and the wellbore includes a bore formed through the subsurface formation defining a diameter. The cooling fluid comprises a slurry having particles of frozen material. The cooling fluid is circulated across the formation in order to lower the temperature of at least a portion of the formation to a point that is at or below the freezing point of water.
149 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of lowering the temperature of a subsurface formation, comprising:
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(a) injecting a cooling fluid under pressure into a wellbore, the wellbore being completed at or below a depth of the subsurface formation, and the wellbore having a bore formed through the subsurface formation defining a diameter, wherein the cooling fluid comprises a slurry having particles of frozen material; (b) circulating the cooling fluid across the formation in order to lower the temperature of at least a portion of the formation to a point that is at or below the freezing point of water; and (c) injecting low salinity water into at least a portion of the subsurface formation to reduce the natural salinity of the in situ water and to raise the freezing temperature of the in situ water. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of lowering the temperature of a subsurface formation, comprising:
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(a) injecting a cooling fluid under pressure into a wellbore, the wellbore being completed at or below a depth of the subsurface formation, and the wellbore having a bore formed through the subsurface formation defining a diameter, wherein the cooling fluid comprises a slurry having particles of frozen material; and (b) circulating the cooling fluid across the formation in order to lower the temperature of at least a portion of the formation to a point that is at or below the freezing point of water;
wherein the wellbore comprises;an elongated tubular member, the elongated tubular member comprising a U-tube comprising a downward portion through which the cooling fluid flows to the subsurface formation, and an upward portion through which the cooling fluid flows back to the surface; and the downward portion is insulated above the subsurface formation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification