In situ method and system for extraction of oil from shale

A system for extracting hydrocarbons from a subterranean body of oil shale within an oil shale deposit located beneath an overburden, the system comprising:

• an energy delivery subsystem to heat the body of oil shale;
• and
• a hydrocarbon gathering subsystem for gathering hydrocarbons retorted from the body of oil shale, comprising:
• at least one cased well extending into the earth through the overburden, and through the body of oil shale to be retorted, said cased well having an upper end located at the surface of the earth, said cased well extending through the overburden at least to the bottom of the overburden;
• a production tube having a collection end at said upper end of said cased well and having a gathering end located at the bottom of the body of oil shale to be retorted, said production tube adapted for transmitting liquid hydrocarbons therethrough;
• a sump located below and communicating with said gathering end, said sump adapted for collecting condensed liquid hydrocarbons retorted from the oil shale deposit, said sump further adapted to permit liquid hydrocarbons to be pumped from said sump into said gathering end of said production tube;
• and
• at least one spider well communicating with the body of oil shale to be retorted, and adapted to transmit retort vapors upward therethrough and to transmit retort liquids downward therethrough;
• wherein said energy delivery subsystem comprises at least one energy delivery well drilled from the surface of the earth through the overburden to a depth proximate a bottom of the body of oil shale, said energy delivery well extending generally downward from a surface location above a proximal end of the body of oil shale to be retorted and continuing proximate the bottom of the body of oil shale;
• said energy delivery well comprising a heat delivery device extending in part beneath and across the body of oil shale to be retorted, from the proximal end thereof to the distal end thereof, said heat delivery device adapted to deliver to the body of oil shale to be retorted heat energy at a temperature of at least a retorting temperature.