Abstract: A multi-level cross-district surface well pattern deployment method is provided. Firstly, a horizontal well is drilled from a location on a land surface corresponding to a junction H1 of a district rise coal pillar of the first district C1 in a first level and an upper mine field boundary coal pillar. A multilateral well is drilled from a location on the land surface corresponding to a junction H3 of a level coal pillar between the first and second levels, and the district rise coal pillar of the first district C1 in the first level. Liquid nitrogen is injected for permeability improvement after a gas drainage quantity decreases to 20% of an initial quantity. Gas drainage is repeated multiple times until the drainage quantity of coal bed methane through a gas drainage pipe of the horizontal pipe is reached 3 m3/min.

Abstract: A method of optimizing system parameters in a crude unit to reduce corrosion and corrosion byproduct deposition in the crude unit is disclosed and claimed. The method includes measuring or predicting properties associated with the system parameters and using an automated controller to analyze the properties to cause adjustments in the chemical program to optimize the system parameters. Adjusting the system parameters effectively controls corrosion in the crude unit by reducing the corrosiveness of a fluid in the process stream and/or by protecting the system from a potentially corrosive substance. System parameter sensing probes are arranged at one or more locations in the process stream to allow accurate monitoring of the system parameters in the crude unit.

Abstract: A liquid nitrogen cyclic freeze-thaw permeability-improvement gas drainage method based on horizontal directional boreholes comprises: first constructing a main borehole at an intake roadway or a return roadway, a low-level roadway and a high-level roadway, after a drill bit reaches a pre-set target position of a coal bed, uniformly and directionally constructing a plurality of branch boreholes along a horizontal direction of the coal bed, injecting water to the coal bed, opening a valve, filling the main boreholes with liquid nitrogen, rapidly freezing the water injected into the branch boreholes and the periphery of the coal bed, and stopping injecting the nitrogen when an average temperature of a pre-permeability-improvement area monitored by a temperature measuring hole is lowered to ?2° C. or lower.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the recovery of hydrocarbon deposit includes the step of sensing a material property of an underground volume. A three-dimensional map identifying the spatial variation in the sensed material property of the underground volume is generated. Propagating electromagnetic radiation is transmitted in the volume based on the map. The propagating electromagnetic radiation transmission is varied in at least one of frequency, polarization, wavelength, frequency, amplitude, mode, and phase in response to the variation in the material property of a region within the volume to which the propagating electromagnetic radiation is directed. Accordingly, the volume is heated in a spatially varying manner to heat material in the volume and thereby induce the flow of hydrocarbon deposits from the volume.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solid-fuel heating apparatus that includes a combustion chamber (1) and a first flue-gas discharge duct (6), characterized in that the heating apparatus includes: a dual wall (2A) defining a second flue-gas discharge duct (2) located outside the combustion chamber and on the flue gas path between the combustion chamber (1) and said first duct (6), and provided in a vertical section thereof with a plurality of controlled communication valves (11, 12, 13, 14, etc.) arranged at respectively different heights (h1, h2, h3, h4, etc.), the second flue-gas discharge duct (2) being adapted via an opening (2B) in the lower portion of the dual wall (2A) so as to extend the flow path of the flue gas by an amount depending on the selection of the open inlet valve in the second duct (2) while the others are closed; adjusting means adapted for selecting, for each of the valves (11, 12, 13, 14, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method of retrieving gas from a gas-containing subterranean formation, the method including digging a mine shaft to reach the subterranean formation; constructing a ventilated underground control center wherein the center includes a computerized control panel, wherein the computerized control panel controls the movements of a hot head device such as a plasma torch, an electro-chemical apparatus, a hydrogenating solvent or heated ceramic particles; a hollow drill pipe; a movable hydraulic shield; a movable resin roof bolting machine; and a movable waste extrusion device; providing mining personnel to the ventilated underground control center; and allowing the mining personnel to operate the computerized control panel wherein they perform the tasks of moving the hot head device into the subterranean formation, recovering the gas, and extruding waste material into a mined-out space of the subterranean formation.

Abstract: An articulating conduit linkage system for maintaining a fluid connection between a fluid source and displaceable conduit that has been buried in a subsiding permeable body. A fluid source can supply a working fluid through a source outlet. A displaceable conduit can receive the working fluid through a conduit inlet, and be buried at a depth within a subsiding permeable body that is contained within a permeability control infrastructure. A plurality of articulating conduit segments can include, an outer conduit segment coupled to the source outlet, an inner conduit segment coupled to the conduit inlet, and at least one middle conduit segment coupled to the outer and inner segments. In the event of a subsidence, the plurality of articulating conduit segments are configured so the outer and inner conduit segments extend the conduit linkage system while maintaining a working fluid connection between the source outlet and the conduit inlet.

Abstract: A method for removing sulfide from an aqueous alkali solution in which hydrogen peroxide is introduced into a sulfide-containing aqueous alkali solution associated with an alkali mineral recovery operation. The method is particularly useful for the processing of sulfide-containing aqueous alkali solutions containing NaHCO3 and Na2CO3, where bicarbonate in the sulfide-depleted alkali solution is decomposed to form Na2CO3, with concurrent evolution of gaseous carbon dioxide byproduct but without formation of gaseous H2S as a pollutant, and where Na2CO3 values are subsequently recovered from the sulfide-depleted carbonate-rich alkali solution via a crystallization operation.

Abstract: A system for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes one or more shafts. A first substantially horizontal or inclined tunnel extends from one or more of the shafts. A second substantially horizontal or inclined tunnel extends from one or more of the shafts. Two or more heat source wellbores extend from the first tunnel to the second tunnel. The heat source wellbores are configured to allow heated fluid to flow through the wellbores from the first tunnel to the second tunnel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method of retrieving gas from a gas-containing subterranean formation, the method including digging a mine shaft to reach the subterranean formation; constructing a ventilated underground control center wherein the center includes a computerized control panel, wherein the computerized control panel controls the movements of a hot head device such as a plasma torch, an electro-chemical apparatus, a hydrogenating solvent or heated ceramic particles; a hollow drill pipe; a movable hydraulic shield; a movable resin roof bolting machine; and a movable waste extrusion device; providing mining personnel to the ventilated underground control center; and allowing the mining personnel to operate the computerized control panel wherein they perform the tasks of moving the hot head device into the subterranean formation, recovering the gas, and extruding waste material into a mined-out space of the subterranean formation.

Abstract: A system for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes one or more substantially horizontal or inclined tunnels extending from at least one shaft. One or more heater sources are located in one or more heater wellbores coupled to at least one of the substantially horizontal or inclined tunnels.

Abstract: A system for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes one or more substantially horizontal or inclined tunnels extending from one or more shafts. A production system is located in at least one of the tunnels. The production system is configured to produce fluids from the formation that collect in the tunnel.

Abstract: A method of recovering minerals from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be contacted with an agent sufficient to remove minerals therefrom. The agent is typically a solution containing a solvent, leachant, chelating agent and the like via which minerals can be removed having value, toxic minerals, radioactive minerals and the like.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A mined hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom. Hydrocarbon products can be collected from intermediate locations within the permeable body. Advantageously, an intermediate fluid collection system can be used to draw a hydrocarbon product from the permeable body at preselected locations. Such intermediate collection can provide hydrocarbon product fractions which can reduce or eliminate the need for full-scale distillation of a hydrocarbon product having a full range of products such as that typically found in crude oil.

Abstract: A method of preventing egress of a vapor from an encapsulated volume can include forming a substantially impermeable vapor barrier along an inner surface of the encapsulated volume. The encapsulated volume includes a permeable body of comminuted hydro carbonaceous material. Further, the vapor barrier can include an insulating layer capable of maintaining a temperature gradient of at least 400° F. across the insulating layer. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to liberate hydrocarbons therefrom and the hydrocarbons can be collected from the permeable body. The vapor barrier layer can be a single or multiple layer construction, depending on the specific materials chosen.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom. During heating and removal of hydrocarbons and subsequent thereto a positive pressure can be maintained within the encapsulated volume by means of a non-oxidizing gas to expedite flushing of hydrocarbonaceous material, inhibit unwanted entry of oxygen into the encapsulated volume and remove recoverable hydrocarbons following the heating process.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of hydraulically mining of oil sands from a well pair drilled into an oil sands deposit is disclosed. The wells are preferably installed from a protected underground workspace in or near the producing zone. The method of hydraulic mining disclosed herein includes: means of drilling production and tailings injection wells; means of augmenting hydraulic excavation for example by inducing block caving and/or wormholing; means of isolating the underground personnel areas from formation gases and fluids; and means of backfilling the excavated volumes with tailings. In one configuration, production wells are formed and lined with a frangible material, for example, a weak concrete or an inflatable epoxy-impregnated felt tube. Hydraulic mining of the full deposit thickness using a directional water jet bit begins at the far end of the drill hole and continues back in stages toward the well-head.

Abstract: In one configuration, the present invention is directed to a method and system for extracting hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-containing deposit. One or more underground excavations designed to at least partially cave in are used to increase the permeability of the deposit.

Abstract: A constructed permeability control infrastructure can include a permeability control impoundment, which defines a substantially encapsulated volume. The infrastructure can also include a comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material within the encapsulated volume. The comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The infrastructure can further include at least one convection driving conduit oriented in a lower portion of the permeable body to generate bulk convective flow patterns throughout the permeable body. An associated method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure, which defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material.

Abstract: An in situ heat treatment system for producing hydrocarbons from a subsurface formation includes a plurality of wellbores in the formation. At least one heater is positioned in at least two of the wellbores. A self-regulating nuclear reactor provides energy to at least one of the heaters to heat the temperature of the formation to temperatures that allow for hydrocarbon production from the formation. A temperature of the self-regulating nuclear reactor is controlled by controlling a pressure of hydrogen supplied to the self-regulating nuclear reactor, and wherein the pressure is regulated based upon formation conditions.

Abstract: A system for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes one or more shafts. At least two substantially horizontal or inclined tunnels extend from one or more of the shafts. A plurality of heat sources are located in at least one heat source wellbore extending between at least two of the substantially horizontal tunnels. Electrical connections for the heat sources are located in at least one of the substantially horizontal tunnels.

Abstract: A system for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes one or more shafts. A first substantially horizontal or inclined tunnel extends from one or more of the shafts. A second substantially horizontal or inclined tunnel extends from one or more of the shafts. Two or more heat source wellbores extend from the first tunnel to the second tunnel. The heat source wellbores are configured to allow electrical current to flow between the heat source wellbores.

Abstract: A system for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes one or more tunnels having an average diameter of at least 1 m. At least one tunnel is connected to the surface. Two or more wellbores extend from at least one of the tunnels into at least a portion of the subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation. At least two of the wellbores contain elongated heat sources configured to heat at least a portion of the subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation such that at least some hydrocarbons are mobilized.

Abstract: A constructed permeability control infrastructure can include a permeability control impoundment defining a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted water-containing hydrocarbonaceous material can form a permeable body within the encapsulated volume. The impoundment includes a water vapor outlet for removing water vapor from the encapsulated volume. A heating device is also embedded within the permeable body to provide convective heating thereof. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to initially remove water therefrom as a water vapor. The water vapor can be removed from the infrastructure via the outlet which can be controlled or shut off when the permeable body is sufficiently dewatered. The dewatered permeable body can then be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom. During heating the hydrocarbonaceous material is substantially stationary as the constructed infrastructure is a fixed structure.

Abstract: This method deals in recovering energy in-situ from an underground resource and upgrading such resource above ground. It consists of injecting a hot gas to pyrolyze it to produce gases and liquids with high hydrogen content and a residual hot char. The gases and liquids together with the injected hot gas form a mixture of gases and liquids that is brought above ground and treated into a clean mixture of gases and liquids rich in hydrogen and then used as a chemical feedstock and/or transportation fuel. Following the pyrolyzation of the resource, carbon dioxide and air are injected into the residual hot char to convert the CO2 into 2CO+N2, which is brought above ground and treated into a clean lean gas. This lean gas is used to generate efficient electric power, heat the injected gas for pyrolysis, and convert the 2CO+N2 as a feedstock into fertilizer.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume having substantially permeable side walls and a substantially impermeable cap. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom without contamination or substantial leaching of materials outside of the impoundment. During heating the hydrocarbonaceous material is substantially stationary as the constructed infrastructure is a fixed structure. Removed hydrocarbons can be collected for further processing, use in the process, and/or use as recovered.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a stationary permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom within a temperature range which is sufficient to substantially avoid formation of carbon dioxide or non-hydrocarbon leachates. During heating the hydrocarbonaceous material is substantially stationary as the constructed infrastructure is a fixed structure. Removed hydrocarbons can be collected for further processing, use in the process, and/or use as recovered.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom. During heating the hydrocarbonaceous material is substantially stationary as the constructed infrastructure is a fixed structure. Removed hydrocarbons can be collected for further processing, use in the process, and/or use as recovered.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from water-containing hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A mined or separately collected water-containing hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to initially remove water therefrom as a water vapor. The water vapor can be removed from the infrastructure via an outlet which can be controlled or shut off when the permeable body is sufficiently dewatered. The dewatered permeable body can be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom. During heating the hydrocarbonaceous material is substantially stationary as the constructed infrastructure is a fixed structure. Removed hydrocarbons can be collected for further processing, use in the process, and/or use as recovered.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of electromagnetic radiation, acoustic energy, and surfactant injection to recover hydrocarbon-containing materials from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method and means of collecting oil from a reservoir overlying a water aquifer or basement rock using a manned tunnel. A manned tunnel is used as a physical barrier to intercept oil and water flowing downward along a formation dip and to preferentially collect the oil or the water through a series of collector stations. This method can be used for oil spill clean-ups or for hydrocarbon recovery in appropriate reservoirs.

Abstract: A method and system for enhancing permeability of a subterranean zone at a horizontal well bore includes determining a drilling profile for the horizontal well bore. At least one characteristic of the drilling profile is selected to aid in stabilizing the horizontal well bore during drilling. A liner is inserted into the horizontal well bore. The well bore is collapsed to increase permeability of the subterranean zone at the horizontal well bore.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for classifying shale gas formations based on geochemical, petrophysical and/or petrological properties. In preferred embodiments, the methods, systems, and apparatuses classify gas shales according to the processes of hydrocarbon generation (i.e., thermogenic versus biogenic), the degree of clay maturation, the dominant composition of the gas shales, and the like. The methods, systems, and apparatuses also account for formation characteristics such as total organic carbon, degree of Kerogen maturity, and the like. Such an arrangement allows for consistent and reliable identification of productive (and likely profitable) types of shale gas reservoirs.

Abstract: A method for stimulating production of resources from a coal seam includes forming a drainage well bore in the coal bed that has a first end coupled to a ground surface and a second end in the coal seam. The method further includes inserting a liner into the well bore. The liner has a wall including a number of apertures and a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter of the drainage well bore such that a gap is formed between the wall of the liner and the well bore. The method also includes collapsing the drainage well bore around the liner to relieve stress in the coal seam proximate to the liner.

Abstract: A method and system for recovering coalbed methane are disclosed. The method involves tunneling along a seam of coal to a point below a water table and at a depth below the water table sufficient for dissolved methane to be present in the water; separating a portion of the water containing dissolved methane while below the water table; reducing pressure on the separated portion for extracting dissolved methane; removing the extracted methane; and discharging the separated portion of water after extracting dissolved methane.

Abstract: The present invention provides a two phase heat generation system (10) having a primary pressure vessel (108), an, interior vessel (122) spaced from the primary pressure vessel (108) defining a water jacket cavity (124) and a combustion chamber (125), the water cavity (124) being in fluid communication with the combustion chamber (126), the combustion chamber (126) having a combustion burner (144) for controlling combustion, a delivery conduit (136) being in communication with the combustion chamber (126) for delivering gas and compressed air into the combustion chamber (126) and an outlet passage (164) being in communication with the combustion chamber (126) for delivering of a two phase product.

Abstract: A cutting tool assembly including a protective wear sleeve that is fixed in the cavity of a bit holder by a tapered wedge portion that is compressed in a correspondingly tapered portion of the bit holder cavity and an accompanying retainer both combine affix the wear sleeve to the bit holder cavity in a secure manner. The applicant's protective wear sleeve invention can be set in the bit holder by several axial blows with a hammer or other appropriate tool. Unlike some other designs in the prior art which require the insertion of a pin or nut threaded onto a bolt or clip connected to the rear end of the cutting to secure the wear protection sleeve to the bit holder in the invention no other assembly step is necessary to secure the protective sleeve inside the bit holder cavity. The protective sleeve will remain in this position with no relative axial movement or rotation between the wear sleeve and the bit holder during operation of the cutting tool machinery.

Abstract: The present invention is directed, inter alia, to devices and methods for excavating valuable materials, particularly soft ores such as oil sands, oil shales, and the like, that use one or more of a number of features, including backfilling for ground support, a small trailing access tunnel, processing of the valuable material in the excavation with the tailings optionally being used as backfill and the valuable material being transported to the surface, a plurality of movable shields for ground support, and/or a movable tail shield to provide interim support to the backfill while additional liner sections are installed and/or formed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a two phase heat generation system having a primary pressure vessel and an interior vessel spaced from the primary pressure vessel defining a water cavity and a combustion chamber, the water cavity delivering fluid into the combustion chamber, the combustion chamber having a combustion burner and flame arrestor for controlling combustion; an inlet port being in communication with the combustion chamber for delivering gas and compressed air into the combustion chamber and an outlet for delivery of a two phase product.

Abstract: A method for collecting percolating fluids including selecting a first location in the formation at which the fluids are to be collected, accessing a second location in the formation laterally disposed relative to the first location, forming a passage extending from the second location into the first location and collecting fluid percolating from the formation into the passage.An apparatus for collecting percolating fluids in a formation including a conduit having an internal passage, a distal end portion and an opposite proximal end portion and at least one opening extending through the conduit into communication with the internal passage.

Abstract: Complexes of underground batch retorts, designed to duplicate surface retort prototypes proven successful in use, which may extend for miles on branch drifts intersecting central main drifts above and below the retorts, the main drifts emerging at surface. The batch retorts are very large, deep, planned mine cavities, with relatively small upper and lower openings, remaining after shale oil ore has been extracted by vertical crater retreat stoping and free-fall controlled at the bottom opening. Resort openings are sealed after they have served their purposes, which enables the symmetrical progression of the upper and lower branch drifts along which the retorts are mined. The drifts provide access to blasting sites, conveyors for removing fragmented ore to be crushed and screened, and conveyors for returning processed ore to the retorts. Loading is accomplished through a retracting device which deposits processed ore with minimal free-fall, to avoid creating fines in the loading process.

Abstract: A method for the electro-thermal and electrochemical underground conversion of coal into oil and by-products comprises the steps of inserting an underground probe into a bore hole until the probe is in close proximity to a coal seam. A mixture of air, steam, an electrolyte and a suitable catalyst is supplied to the probe, and the mixture is then sprayed directly on the coal seam through a passage in a nozzle. The probe is also energized with electricity applied to the nozzle to produce an arc between the coal and the probe, simultaneous with the spraying of the mixture on the coal seam. Heat of the combustion from the arc and the steam combine to produce a pyrolysis, oxidation, and reduction of the coal, thereby converting the coal into a gaseous combination of oil and by-products. The arc can be rotated to increase the tunnel diameter. An apparatus for performing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for collecting methane gas from subterranean formations having a plurality of spaced-apart coal seams containing methane gas includes the steps of drilling a shaft from the earth's surface to a depth sufficient to intersect a plurality of seams containing gas to be collected, excavating a cruciform shaped working area at the selected seams with each of the cruciform shaped working areas communicating with the shaft, and drilling a plurality of boreholes from each of the working areas into the seams and collecting methane gas from the boreholes.

Abstract: A subterranean formation containing oil shale is prepared for in situ retorting by forming a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in an in situ retort site. The retort is formed by excavating a lower level drift adjacent a lower portion of the retort site and excavating an upper level void adjacent an upper portion of the retort site. An undercut is excavated below a zone of unfragmented formation remaining within the retort site above the lower level drift. The undercut can be free of roof-supporting pillars. Explosive is loaded in the zone of formation from access provided by the upper void, and the zone of formation is blasted downwardly toward the undercut for forming the fragmented mass. The volume of the void space within the undercut prior to explosive expansion is similar to the void volume within the principal portion of the fragmented mass being formed.

Abstract: A method for recovering a desired fluid hydrocarbon from an underground porous formation having a bottom impermeable to the fluid hydrocarbon and containing the hydrocarbon and at least one other fluid having a specific gravity different from the hydrocarbon, comprising the steps of forming an excavation having a portion thereof below the porous formation; forming a plurality of openings extending from the portion of said excavation into said porous formation; inserting collection means into the porous formation through the openings to separately collect the hydrocarbon and the at least one other fluid; collecting a quantity of the at least one other fluid; circulating the collected at least one other fluid from the porous formation to a point below the porous formation and at least one time back through the porous formation to wash the hydrocarbon therefrom and to form, in the porous formation, a pool of the hydrocarbon and a substantially separate layer of the at least one other fluid; regulating the height

Abstract: New and improved techniques, systems and equipment for the practical underground mining of petroleum from both virgin and depleted oil fields under certain geological conditions, are described. A method of drilling relatively small diameter, drainage-type oil wells using a fluid and cutting control assembly from within an access underground drilled tunnel, is provided. The fluid and cutting control assembly facilitates the safe underground drilling and installation of the small diameter, drainage-type oil wells which can be operated either under the natural pressures occurring in the geological strata, as gravity drain wells or by suitable secondary treatment measures artificially pressurized to faciliate drainage of oil from oil bearing strata into which such wells are drilled.

Abstract: An oil shale process is provided to retort oil shale and purify oil shale retort water. In the process, raw oil shale is retorted in an in situ underground retort or in an above ground retort to liberate shale oil, light hydrocarbon gases and oil shale retort water. The retort water is separated from the shale oil and gases in a sump or in a fractionator or quench tower followed by an API oil/water separator. After the retort water is separated from the shale oil, the retort water is steam stripped, carbon adsorbed and biologically treated, preferably by granular carbon adsorbers followed by activated sludge treatment or by activated sludge containing powdered activated carbon. The retort water can be granularly filtered before being steam stripped. The purified retort water can be used in various other oil shale processes, such as dedusting, scrubbing, spent shale moisturing, backfilling, in situ feed gas injection and pulsed combustion.

Abstract: A method for in situ processing of oil shale in which rubblized shale is removed from the retort and subsequently returned to the retort. A section of shale in a subterranean formation is first rubblized so as to form a retort chamber filled with rubble. The rubblized shale is then removed from the retort chamber, followed by crushing of the rubblized shale into shale particles of various sizes within an overall size range. Subsequent to the crushing step, the shale particles are separated according to size into a plurality of shale particle groups, each of which includes shale particles within a predetermined group size range. Each group size range makes up a portion of the overall size range. Substantially all of the shale particle groups are then sequentially reloaded into the retort chamber so that the particle groups are graded according to particle size within the chamber, wherein the largest particles are at bottom end of the chamber and the smallest particles are at the top end of the chamber.

Abstract: An in situ oil shale retort is formed in a retort site in a subterranean formation containing oil shale. The in situ retort contains a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale within top, bottom and generally vertically extending side boundaries of unfragmented formation. Formation is excavated to form at least one void in the subterranean formation while leaving zones of unfragmented formation above and below such a void and at least one support pillar of unfragmented formation in the void. Such a pillar of unfragmented formation extends between the zones of unfragmented formation above and below the void and is explosively expanded by use of techniques which minimize shock damage to the zones of unfragmented formation. The techniques, which can be used individually or in various combinations, include placing explosive charges into the top, bottom and middle portions of the pillar.

Abstract: A method for forming an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale is provided. The in situ retort contains a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles within top, bottom, and generally vertically extending side boundaries of unfragmented formation. A lower portion of the fragmented permeable mass of formation particles having a nonlevel top surface is initially formed in the retort. A void space is left within the retort boundaries extending between the nonlevel top surface of the fragmented mass lower portion and a generally horizontally extending free face of an overlying layer of unfragmented formation. Thereafter, the overlying layer of unfragmented formation is explosively expanded into the void space to thereby form the remaining portion of the fragmented mass in the retort. The overlying layer is expanded in a plurality of separate horizontally spaced regions with a time delay between explosive expansion of each successive region.