Methods of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous material using a constructed infrastructure and associated systems
AssigneeRed Leaf Resources, Inc.
InventorsTodd Dana, James W. Patten
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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.
Claims55
A method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials, comprising:
- a) forming a constructed permeability control structure which defines a substantially encapsulated volume, said infrastructure being substantially free of undisturbed geological formations;
- b) introducing a comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material;
- c) heating the permeable body sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom such that the hydrocarbonaceous material is substantially stationary during heating;
- and
- d) collecting the removed hydrocarbons from the constructed permeability control structure.
A constructed permeability control infrastructure, comprising:
- a) a permeability control impoundment defining a substantially encapsulated volume wherein the permeability control impoundment is substantially free of undisturbed geological formations;
- b) a comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material within the encapsulated volume forming a substantially stationary permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material;
- and
- c) a compacted fill ceiling substantially covering the permeable body, said compacted fill ceiling being substantially supported by the permeable body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.