Patents by Inventor Paul N. Dougan

Paul N. Dougan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4408665
    Abstract: Shale oil gas is recovered in situ from water-flooded, naturally porous, subterranean oil shale formations by injecting superheated steam under pressure into such formations through injection boreholes extending into the formations. Heat is transferred from the superheated steam to the oil shale, thereby in effect retorting the oil shale and converting the organic (kerogen) content thereof into oil in liquid or vapor form, usually accompanied by some gas. The released shale oil and gas are collected in the water naturally occurring in such a formation and in water resulting from the condensation of the injected steam and are recovered through extraction boreholes by moving both the water and the collected shale oil products to the surface through such boreholes. This is normally effected by pressure of the injected steam, but may be aided, if necessary, by pumping from the extraction boreholes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: Equity Oil Company
    Inventor: Paul N. Dougan