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Abstract

A method for in situ recovery of oil from oil shale containing oil bearing compound. The method begins with thermally decomposing the kerogen underground to produce oil vapors, combustible gases, and carbon residue, followed by conducting the oil vapors and combustible gases to aboveground and recovering it there. Next comes the steps of burning the carbon residue underground at a controlled rate such that the temperature of the formation remains below the softening temperature of the spent shale and at controlled oxidation so that carbon monoxide is produced and of conducting the carbon monoxide to aboveground and recovering it. After the burning step has been completed comes the steps of injecting water in the form of liquid, vapor, mist or steam into the hot formation to produce steam at high temperature, and conducting the high temperature steam aboveground and recovering it there. Optionally, there is the step of returning exhaust gases containing carbon dioxide and sulfur oxides into the formation and reacting them there with the alkaline earth oxides and hydroxides in the formation to produce carbonates and sulfates, thereby stabilizing the formation and strengthening it. In this step the waste gases are also purified by the removal of their sulfur oxide content and part of their carbon dioxide content.

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