MEMS
SHALE
SHALE
IN SITU PRODUCTION OF ELECTRICITY (PATENT PENDING)
In-Situ production of electricity or hydrogen from SHALE OIL represents a new paradigm
for useful recovery of energy from shale formations. (tertiary recovery) without emission of
CO2 into the atmosphere.
Shale formations typically have a low density of kerogen per unit volume, making it
necessary to remove large quantities of material or to wait years to heat the formation
before production can begin. Using the MEMS SHALE technique useful electricity and
hydrogen can be produced from the formation economically.
The process is referred to as "MEMSSHALE" because one of the components of the
system are microfluidic devices (MEMS) that are bundled in a coaxial production tubing.
The figure above shows the major elements of the concept.
1. A horizontal drilling rig inserts steel coaxial production tubing (see Figure 2) into the
underground SHALE formation.
2. The coaxial production tubing (see Figure 2) has at least two sections, an inner tube for
transport of solvents, surfactants or electrical power for heating and an outer tube filled
with specialized MEMS devices that can digest fluids or gases from the KEROGEN in the
formation to produce electricity or hydrogen. The coaxial tubing has insulating spacers that
hold the inner tube apart from the outer tube. This allows the inner tube to be part of a
circuit that can carry the electricity to the surface. Such an electrical circuit is described in
Eastlund, "Method and System for Introducing Electric Current Into a Well"
Bernard J. Eastlund, Kenneth J. Schmitt, Ronald M. Bass, John M. Harrison
US Patent Number: 4,716,960 Issue Date: 1/5/88
3. The electricity produced is available on the surface.
In-Situ production of electricity or hydrogen from SHALE OIL represents a new paradigm
for useful recovery of energy from shale formations. (tertiary recovery) without emission of
CO2 into the atmosphere.
Shale formations typically have a low density of kerogen per unit volume, making it
necessary to remove large quantities of material or to wait years to heat the formation
before production can begin. Using the MEMS SHALE technique useful electricity and
hydrogen can be produced from the formation economically.
The process is referred to as "MEMSSHALE" because one of the components of the
system are microfluidic devices (MEMS) that are bundled in a coaxial production tubing.
The figure above shows the major elements of the concept.
1. A horizontal drilling rig inserts steel coaxial production tubing (see Figure 2) into the
underground SHALE formation.
2. The coaxial production tubing (see Figure 2) has at least two sections, an inner tube for
transport of solvents, surfactants or electrical power for heating and an outer tube filled
with specialized MEMS devices that can digest fluids or gases from the KEROGEN in the
formation to produce electricity or hydrogen. The coaxial tubing has insulating spacers that
hold the inner tube apart from the outer tube. This allows the inner tube to be part of a
circuit that can carry the electricity to the surface. Such an electrical circuit is described in
Eastlund, "Method and System for Introducing Electric Current Into a Well"
Bernard J. Eastlund, Kenneth J. Schmitt, Ronald M. Bass, John M. Harrison
US Patent Number: 4,716,960 Issue Date: 1/5/88
3. The electricity produced is available on the surface.
METHOD OF OPERATION
The coaxial production tubing is the heart of the
concept. The inner tube is steel and is separated
from the outer tube by plastic spacers that are
electrically insulating as shown in Figure 2. It is
also segmented as shown in Figure 3.
The inner or outer tubes can transport gases and
fluids in and out of the outer tubing. Typically
solvents or surfactants are pumped into the
formation and convert the KEROGEN into gas or
provide heat to the kerogen to facilitate it's motion
into the tubing. The sections receiving the
kerogen are lined with MEMS fluidic refining and
electricity producing cells that convert them to
molecular species that can operate fuel cells built
into the MEMS fluidic devices.
The electricity generated from the fuel cells is
transported to the surface in the circuit formed by
the inner and outer tubing. (Such a circuit has
been built and operated in production oil wells.
See "Method and System for Introducing Electric
Current Into a Well" Bernard J. Eastlund, Kenneth
J. Schmitt, Ronald M. Bass, John M. Harrison US
Patent Number: 4,716,960 Issue Date: 1/5/88.)
MEMS type fuel cells have been developed. Also,
Microreactors that include microchannel network
configurations distribute fluid flow for catalyst
utilization and are integrated with on-chip heaters
and fuel cells.
The coaxial production tubing is the heart of the
concept. The inner tube is steel and is separated
from the outer tube by plastic spacers that are
electrically insulating as shown in Figure 2. It is
also segmented as shown in Figure 3.
The inner or outer tubes can transport gases and
fluids in and out of the outer tubing. Typically
solvents or surfactants are pumped into the
formation and convert the KEROGEN into gas or
provide heat to the kerogen to facilitate it's motion
into the tubing. The sections receiving the
kerogen are lined with MEMS fluidic refining and
electricity producing cells that convert them to
molecular species that can operate fuel cells built
into the MEMS fluidic devices.
The electricity generated from the fuel cells is
transported to the surface in the circuit formed by
the inner and outer tubing. (Such a circuit has
been built and operated in production oil wells.
See "Method and System for Introducing Electric
Current Into a Well" Bernard J. Eastlund, Kenneth
J. Schmitt, Ronald M. Bass, John M. Harrison US
Patent Number: 4,716,960 Issue Date: 1/5/88.)
MEMS type fuel cells have been developed. Also,
Microreactors that include microchannel network
configurations distribute fluid flow for catalyst
utilization and are integrated with on-chip heaters
and fuel cells.