US Patent No: 4,448,252

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Minimizing subsidence effects during production of coal in situ

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)
 

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Abstract

Coal is reduced to ash in place by gasification using in situ production techniques, resulting in significant void space underground, which in turn causes roof fall and subsidence. Overburden collapse is stabilized by backfilling with foaming mud cement that hardens into an expanded solid, which quenches and fills the production module and seals residual ash. Rubble volumes and subsidence cracks are sealed against water incursions and contaminated water excursions. Surface facilities above barrier pillars are protected from destructive forces of subsidence draw.

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First Claim

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
IN SITU TECHNOLOGY, INC.LITTLETON, CO8
JENKINS, PAGE T.LITTLETON, CO8
THOMPSON, GREG H.LITTLETON, CO8

International Classification(s)

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  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Stoddard, Xerxes T Denver, CO 7 325
Terry, Ruel C 3090 S. High St., Denver, CO 80210 11 817
Vaseen, Vesper A 9840 W. 35th Ave., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 20 439

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
Mobil Oil Corporation (1)
4,393,934 Conditioning a coal seam prior to in-situ gasification 3 1981

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
SHELL OIL COMPANY (133)
7,096,941 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with heat sources located at an edge of a coal layer 116 2001
7,096,953 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using a movable heating element 130 2001
7,086,468 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using heat sources positioned within open wellbores 119 2001
7,036,583 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to increase a porosity of the formation 132 2001
7,017,661 Production of synthesis gas from a coal formation 2 2001
6,997,255 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation in a reducing environment 122 2001
6,994,160 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce hydrocarbons having a selected carbon number range 131 2001
6,994,161 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected moisture content 3 2001
6,994,168 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected hydrogen to carbon ratio 121 2001
6,991,031 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to convert a selected total organic carbon content into hydrocarbon products 3 2001
6,973,967 Situ thermal processing of a coal formation using pressure and/or temperature control 123 2001
6,966,372 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce oxygen containing formation fluids 129 2001
6,959,761 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected ratio of heat sources to production wells 124 2001
6,953,087 Thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to increase a permeability of the formation 135 2001
6,948,563 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected hydrogen content 127 2001
6,913,078 In Situ thermal processing of hydrocarbons within a relatively impermeable formation 135 2001
6,910,536 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a natural distributed combustor 128 2001
6,902,003 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation having a selected total organic carbon content 126 2001
6,902,004 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a movable heating element 130 2001
6,896,053 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using repeating triangular patterns of heat sources 140 2001
6,889,769 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected moisture content 126 2001
6,880,635 In situ production of synthesis gas from a coal formation, the synthesis gas having a selected H2 to CO ratio 140 2001
6,877,554 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using pressure and/or temperature control 138 2001
6,871,707 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with carbon dioxide sequestration 140 2001
6,866,097 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to increase a permeability/porosity of the formation 146 2001
6,820,688 In situ thermal processing of coal formation with a selected hydrogen content and/or selected H/C ratio 162 2001
6,805,195 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce hydrocarbon fluids and synthesis gas 173 2001
6,789,625 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using exposed metal heat sources 185 2001
6,769,483 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using conductor in conduit heat sources 184 2001
6,769,485 In situ production of synthesis gas from a coal formation through a heat source wellbore 182 2001
6,763,886 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with carbon dioxide sequestration 181 2001
6,761,216 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to produce hydrocarbon fluids and synthesis gas 181 2001
6,758,268 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a relatively slow heating rate 185 2001
6,752,210 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using heat sources positioned within open wellbores 189 2001
6,749,021 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using a controlled heating rate 183 2001
6,745,831 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation by controlling a pressure of the formation 196 2001
6,745,832 Situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to control product composition 157 2001
6,745,837 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a controlled heating rate 185 2001
6,742,587 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to form a substantially uniform, relatively high permeable formation 180 2001
6,742,588 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce formation fluids having a relatively low olefin content 203 2001
6,742,589 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using repeating triangular patterns of heat sources 179 2001
6,742,593 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using heat transfer from a heat transfer fluid to heat the formation 186 2001
6,739,393 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation and tuning production 180 2001
6,739,394 Production of synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon containing formation 187 2001
6,736,215 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation, in situ production of synthesis gas, and carbon dioxide sequestration 190 2001
6,732,794 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce a mixture with a selected hydrogen content 185 2001
6,732,795 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to pyrolyze a selected percentage of hydrocarbon material 145 2001
6,732,796 In situ production of synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon containing formation, the synthesis gas having a selected H2 to CO ratio 204 2001
6,729,395 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected ratio of heat sources to production wells 185 2001
6,729,396 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to produce hydrocarbons having a selected carbon number range 179 2001
6,729,397 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected vitrinite reflectance 185 2001
6,729,401 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation and ammonia production 185 2001
6,725,920 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to convert a selected amount of total organic carbon into hydrocarbon products 185 2001
6,725,921 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation by controlling a pressure of the formation 151 2001
6,725,928 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using a distributed combustor 181 2001
6,722,429 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation leaving one or more selected unprocessed areas 194 2001
6,722,430 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected oxygen content and/or selected O/C ratio 181 2001
6,722,431 In situ thermal processing of hydrocarbons within a relatively permeable formation 198 2001
6,719,047 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation in a hydrogen-rich environment 184 2001
6,715,546 In situ production of synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon containing formation through a heat source wellbore 196 2001
6,715,547 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to form a substantially uniform, high permeability formation 185 2001
6,715,548 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce nitrogen containing formation fluids 185 2001
6,715,549 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected atomic oxygen to carbon ratio 157 2001
6,712,135 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation in reducing environment 181 2001
6,712,136 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a selected production well spacing 206 2001
6,712,137 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to pyrolyze a selected percentage of hydrocarbon material 180 2001
6,708,758 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation leaving one or more selected unprocessed areas 189 2001
6,702,016 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with heat sources located at an edge of a formation layer 189 2001
6,698,515 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using a relatively slow heating rate 182 2001
6,688,387 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce a hydrocarbon condensate 183 2001
6,609,570 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation and ammonia production 182 2001
6,607,033 In Situ thermal processing of a coal formation to produce a condensate 182 2001
6,591,906 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected oxygen content 203 2001
6,591,907 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected vitrinite reflectance 186 2001
6,588,503 In Situ thermal processing of a coal formation to control product composition 186 2001
6,588,504 In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to produce nitrogen and/or sulfur containing formation fluids 194 2001
6,581,684 In Situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce sulfur containing formation fluids 215 2001
7,096,942 In situ thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation while controlling pressure 141 2002
7,055,600 In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with controlled production rate 137 2002
7,051,807 In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with quality control 79 2002
7,051,811 In situ thermal processing through an open wellbore in an oil shale formation 24 2002
7,040,398 In situ thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation in a reducing environment 125 2002
7,040,399 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a controlled heating rate 138 2002
7,040,400 In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation using an open wellbore 146 2002
7,032,660 In situ thermal processing and inhibiting migration of fluids into or out of an in situ oil shale formation 151 2002
7,013,972 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a natural distributed combustor 10 2002
7,004,247 Conductor-in-conduit heat sources for in situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation 153 2002
7,004,251 In situ thermal processing and remediation of an oil shale formation 150 2002
6,997,518 In situ thermal processing and solution mining of an oil shale formation 140 2002
6,994,169 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation with a selected property 128 2002
6,991,033 In situ thermal processing while controlling pressure in an oil shale formation 63 2002
6,991,036 Thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation 47 2002
6,981,548 In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation 130 2002
6,966,374 In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation using gas to increase mobility 133 2002
6,964,300 In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with backproduction through a heater wellbore 149 2002
6,951,247 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using horizontal heat sources 154 2002
6,948,562 Production of a blending agent using an in situ thermal process in a relatively permeable formation 152 2002
6,929,067 Heat sources with conductive material for in situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation 139 2002
6,923,257 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce a condensate 144 2002
6,918,442 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation in a reducing environment 128 2002
6,918,443 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce hydrocarbons having a selected carbon number range 142 2002
6,915,850 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation having permeable and impermeable sections 130 2002
6,880,633 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce a desired product 166 2002
6,877,555 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation while inhibiting coking 151 2002
7,165,615 In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation using conductor-in-conduit heat sources with an electrically conductive material in the overburden 144 2002
7,156,176 Installation and use of removable heaters in a hydrocarbon containing formation 131 2002
7,128,153 Treatment of a hydrocarbon containing formation after heating 135 2002
7,114,566 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a natural distributed combustor 153 2002
7,104,319 In situ thermal processing of a heavy oil diatomite formation 143 2002
7,100,994 Producing hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbon containing materials when treating a hydrocarbon containing formation 138 2002
7,090,013 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce heated fluids 147 2002
7,086,465 In situ production of a blending agent from a hydrocarbon containing formation 128 2002
7,077,198 In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation using barriers 160 2002
7,077,199 In situ thermal processing of an oil reservoir formation 149 2002
7,066,254 In situ thermal processing of a tar sands formation 175 2002
7,066,257 In situ recovery from lean and rich zones in a hydrocarbon containing formation 131 2002
7,063,145 Methods and systems for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ with an opening contacting the earth's surface at two locations 144 2002
7,051,808 Seismic monitoring of in situ conversion in a hydrocarbon containing formation 67 2002
7,011,154 In situ recovery from a kerogen and liquid hydrocarbon containing formation 150 2002
6,991,045 Forming openings in a hydrocarbon containing formation using magnetic tracking 130 2002
6,969,123 Upgrading and mining of coal 155 2002
6,932,155 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation via backproducing through a heater well 142 2002
6,923,258 In situ thermal processsing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce a mixture with a selected hydrogen content 135 2003
8,238,730 High voltage temperature limited heaters 2 2003
8,224,164 Insulated conductor temperature limited heaters 2 2003
8,224,163 Variable frequency temperature limited heaters 0 2003
7,219,734 Inhibiting wellbore deformation during in situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation 135 2003
7,121,341 Conductor-in-conduit temperature limited heaters 127 2003
7,073,578 Staged and/or patterned heating during in situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation 157 2003
7,121,342 Thermal processes for subsurface formations 173 2004
7,360,588 Thermal processes for subsurface formations 83 2006
7,640,980 Thermal processes for subsurface formations 57 2008
7,942,203 Thermal processes for subsurface formations 37 2010
 
AMOCO CORPORATION (4)
4,537,252 Method of underground conversion of coal 249 1984
4,662,439 Method of underground conversion of coal 249 1985
4,883,122 Method of coalbed methane production 83 1988
5,014,785 Methane production from carbonaceous subterranean formations 25 1989
 
CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY (1)
7,051,809 Burn assisted fracturing of underground coal bed 1 2003
 
VSESOJUZNOE NAUCHNO-PROIZVODSTVENNOE OBIEDINENIE SOJUZPROMGAZ, USSR, MOSCOW (1)
4,610,303 Method of underground gasification of a series of gently dipping and inclined coal seams 0 1984