Harry Edward Mccarthy

US Patent:

44375190, Mar 20, 1984

Filed:

Jun 3, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/269987

Inventors:

Chang Y. Cha - Golden CO
Harry E. McCarthy - Golden CO

Assignee:

Occidental Oil Shale, Inc. - Grand Junction CO

International Classification:

E21B 43247
E21B 4334
C10G 102

US Classification:

166259

Abstract:

A portion of crude shale oil produced from an in situ oil shale retort is blended with shale oil produced from a Tosco II retorting process to produce a blended shale oil composition having a pour point lower than the pour point of the shale oil produced from the Tosco II retorting process.

US Patent:

43457940, Aug 24, 1982

Filed:

Nov 10, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/205872

Inventors:

Harry E. McCarthy - Golden CO
Gordon B. French - Golden CO
Melvin A. Cook - Salt Lake City UT

Assignee:

Occidental Oil Shale, Inc. - Grand Junction CO

International Classification:

E21C 4110

US Classification:

299 2

Abstract:

A subterranean formation containing oil shale is prepared for in situ retorting by initially excavating a plurality of vertically spaced apart voids within a retort site, leaving an intervening zone of unfragmented formation between an adjacent pair of such voids. The intervening zone has substantially parallel upper and lower horizontal free faces adjoining the voids. At least one pancake-shaped load of explosive is placed in the intervening zone. The pancake-shaped explosive load has faces which are substantially parallel to the upper and lower free faces, and the length of the axis of the explosive load is less than the radius of the load. The explosive load is detonated for explosively expanding formation toward the upper and lower free faces for forming an in situ retort containing a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles. In one embodiment, a plurality of such pancake-shaped explosive charges are placed at horizontally spaced apart locations at substantially the same level and approximately in the middle of the intervening zone, and the explosive charges are detonated in a single round of explosions for forming the fragmented mass.

US Patent:

41532988, May 8, 1979

Filed:

Oct 11, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/840906

Inventors:

Harry E. McCarthy - Golden CO
Gordon B. French - Bakersfield CA

Assignee:

Occidental Oil Shale, Inc. - Grand Junction CO

International Classification:

E21C 4110

US Classification:

299 2

Abstract:

A subterranean formation containing oil shale is prepared for in situ retorting by initially excavating at least one void adjacent a zone of unfragmented formation to be expanded. The zone of unfragmented formation has a substantially horizontal free face adjoining the void. At least one support pillar of unfragmented formation is left in the void for supporting overlying formation. Explosive is placed in the zone of unfragmented formation, and in such a support pillar. Explosive in such a pillar and in the zone of unfragmented formation is detonated in a single round of explosions with a time delay between detonation of explosive in such a pillar and detonation of explosive in the zone of unfragmented formation for first expanding such a pillar toward the void and then expanding unfragmented formation toward the void. The time delay is sufficient for creation of free face at the juncture of such a pillar and the zone of unfragmented formation. The time delay is preferably short enough that explosive in the zone of unfragmented formation is detonated before particles formed by explosive expansion of the pillars have come to rest on the floor of the void.

US Patent:

42303672, Oct 28, 1980

Filed:

Apr 7, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/894330

Inventors:

Harry E. McCarthy - Golden CO

Assignee:

Science Applications, Inc. - La Jolla CA

International Classification:

E21C 4110

US Classification:

299 2

Abstract:

The present method involves the initial mining of horizontally extending layers of oil-rich or "kerogen phase continuous" shale. The oil-rich shale is brought to the surface where it is retorted in above-ground retorts of one of the known types. The leaner oil shale which is still "in situ" is then explosively fragmented into the voids created when the oil-rich shale was mined, and oil is obtained as the fragmented shale is ignited, in accordance with known horizontal type modified in situ oil shale retorting techniques.