Thomas R Mclendon

US Patent:

47051086, Nov 10, 1987

Filed:

May 27, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/867125

Inventors:

William E. Little - Morgantown WV
Thomas R. McLendon - Laramie WY

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

E21B 4324
E21B 43267

US Classification:

166248

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.