In-situ kerogen conversion and product upgrading

摘要

Disclosed herein are methods for extracting a kerogen-based product from subsurface (oil) shale formations. These methods rely on chemically modifying the shale-bound kerogen using a chemical oxidant so as to render it mobile. The oxidant is provided to a formation fluid in contact with the kerogen in the subsurface shale. A mobile kerogen-based product which includes the organic acids is withdrawn from the subsurface shale formation and processed to isolate the organic acids contained therein. The isolated organic acids are upgraded by a reaction process that make the products suitable as refinery feedstocks, fuel or lubricant blendstocks, reaction intermediates, chemical feedstocks, or chemical intermediate blendstocks.

主权项

1. A process for increasing the value of a kerogen-based product from a subsurface shale formation comprising subsurface shale, the process comprising the steps of:
a. providing an oxidant to kerogen in subsurface shale at a temperature in the range from 0° C. to 200° C. and recovering a mobile kerogen-based product comprising organic acids therefrom; b. isolating at least a portion of the organic acids from the mobile kerogen-based product; and c. upgrading the isolated organic acids.