U.S. patent application number 11/903346 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-26 for harvesting hydrocarbons from coal, shale, peat and landfill seams.
This patent application is currently assigned to Airwars Defense IP. Invention is credited to Denyse Claire DuBrucq.
Application Number | 20090079255 11/903346 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40470867 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090079255 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DuBrucq; Denyse Claire |
March 26, 2009 |
Harvesting hydrocarbons from coal, shale, peat and landfill
seams
Abstract
A method of extraction of fuels and elements from coal, shale,
peat and landfill seams is described which cuts the earth with only
a main shaft which could measure half a meter diameter and with
auxiliary narrow drillings of, say 10 centimeter diameter, widely
spaced from the shaft. The coal, shale or peat seam is heated to
the highest temperature of the hydrocarbon fraction desired to be
extracted and the evaporated hydrocarbons are carried out of the
shaft by Nitrogen gas. To enhance the extraction rate of the
evaporated hydrocarbons, tonal input from two or more organ pipes
vibrates the seam structure freeing the evaporated hydrocarbons
allowing their escape into the shaft. As the extraction continues
requiring inclusion of a greater area of the seam structure, narrow
drillings are made and Liquid Nitrogen is inserted in the drillings
reaching seam levels as Nitrogen gas which seeps into the seam. A
gas-impenetrable sleeve prevents the Nitrogen gas from seeping into
the soil or substrate between the ground level and the seams.
Further expansion of the field moves the Nitrogen sourcing to the
outer circle and inserts auxiliary heaters in the narrow drillings
between the outer ring and main shaft bringing more of the seam to
the desired extraction temperature. Extracted evaporated
hydrocarbons are cold cracked allowing the fractionation of
hydrocarbons into fuel types as heating oil, kerosene, gasoline,
ethers, and fuel gas, methane, argon and rare gas segments. The
thermal gradient of the extraction pipe is implemented by sourcing
the Nitrogen from Liquid Nitrogen and running the pipes bundled
with the extraction pipe condensing its contents by hydrocarbon
fractions in vessels and gas drums depending on boiling points of
fractions. Water is separated from the gasoline segment and
purified by separation and freezing.
Inventors: |
DuBrucq; Denyse Claire;
(Cedarville, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Denyse Claire Dubrucq
100 W. Elm Street
Cedarville
OH
45314-8575
US
|
Assignee: |
Airwars Defense IP
|
Family ID: |
40470867 |
Appl. No.: |
11/903346 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
299/4 ; 299/10;
299/12; 299/14; 299/6; 299/7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 43/295
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
299/4 ; 299/10;
299/12; 299/14; 299/6; 299/7 |
International
Class: |
E21B 43/295 20060101
E21B043/295 |
Claims
1. A method of extracting evaporated hydrocarbons from a coal,
shale, peat, or landfill seam using a primary shaft drilling
comprising the steps of: a. cooling the coal, shale, peat or
landfill seam to brittle with Liquid Nitrogen to enable vibration
shock to open the seam formation for hydrocarbon extraction, b.
heating the coal, shale or peat seam with a contained heat source
at the seam level in the lower parts of the main shaft; c.
vibrating the coal, shale or peat seam with single frequency sound,
and with harmonic beating of a matching size, but adjustably tuned
sound using two or more organ pipes; d. applying Nitrogen gas to
the shaft environment initially using it to activate the organ
pipes, then to be an inert carrier of the evaporated hydrocarbons
emerging from the seam into the shaft, and, at the same time, serve
as a fire suppressant so the mining operation does not ignite a
coal mine, shale or peat seam fire; and e. keeping the Nitrogen gas
pressure such that the shaft functions are kept at required levels
of vibrations and carrying the evaporated hydrocarbons out of the
shaft and into processing.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit raises
the coal, shale, peat or landfill seam temperature to the highest
temperature of the longest carbon content hydrocarbons desired to
be extracted determining the range of hydrocarbon fractions being
extracted from the seam.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cue or harmonic
vibration rate causing the highest extraction rate for the
evaporated hydrocarbons from the coal, shale, peat or landfill
seams into the shaft for extraction.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the adjustable organ
pipe can be manually adjusted or driven to scan harmonics and enter
matched tuning with the fixed tone organ pipe.
5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the carriage
of the evaporated hydrocarbons with Nitrogen gas heated to the
highest temperature of the heaviest hydrocarbon desired to be
extracted.
6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the
collection of the hot Nitrogen/Hydrocarbon into an isolated
extraction tube taking these gases hot from the shaft.
7. The method according to claim 1 of regulating Nitrogen flow such
that the thermal segments of the Cold Cracker are kept at constant
conditions so the separated hydrocarbons are accurately refining
the output into reliable fractions of hydrocarbons.
8. A method of extracting evaporated hydrocarbons from a coal,
shale, peat or landfill seam using a primary shaft drilling, and as
the extraction continues, secondary narrow drillings to enable
continued evaporated hydrocarbon extraction comprising the steps
of: a. drilling narrow secondary holes and applying a pulsed
application of Liquid Nitrogen through a spaced hole sieve making
Nitrogen droplets that evaporate rapidly as they drop down the hole
releasing Nitrogen gas into the coal, shale, peat or landfill seam.
Initially this can freeze to brittle the coal seam in this area
allowing vibration cracking of the seam structure. As it heats up,
the hydrocarbons evaporated are carried to the main drilling in the
gaseous Nitrogen flow and as the ring of these units freezes it
keeps the ground water from entering the active extraction zone. b.
forcing the Nitrogen gas to seep into the seam only by covering the
soil and rock above the seam with a gas impervious sleeve. c.
increasing the sequence of rings of holes, keeping the furthest
hole for the application of the Liquid Nitrogen the hydrocarbons
evaporated are carried to the main drilling in the gaseous Nitrogen
flow and as the ring of these units freezes it keeps the ground
water from entering the active extraction zone, and applying a
heating unit to the holes where earlier the Liquid Nitrogen was
applied. d. regulating the temperature of the narrow drilling
heaters to the desired temperature, as that of the highest
temperature of the highest carbon count molecules of the fraction
of hydrocarbons desired to be extracted.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the Nitrogen sourcing
insures the Nitrogen gas evaporating from the Liquid Nitrogen seeps
into the coal, shale, peat or landfill seam by keeping the top of
the drilling sealed and lining the drilling to the seam levels with
Nitrogen gas-impenetrable material.
10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the heating
of the inner narrow drillings by insulating the narrow drilling
down to the coal, shale or peat seam so all the heat produced
affects the temperature of the seam only.
11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the heating unit in
the narrow drillings is controlled by an enclosed liquid boiler at
the temperature desired by selection of the liquid in the boiler
where the heating element is immersed to boil at the temperature
desired to heat the seam.
12. The method according to claim 8, which prevents ignition of the
seam by containing the heating element in a boiler and flooding the
porous seam with Nitrogen which is the carrier for the evaporated
hydrocarbons.
13. A method of separating the hydrocarbon fractions by Cold
Cracking comprised by the steps of: a. initiating the infusion of
Nitrogen gas by evaporating Liquid Nitrogen in a condenser which
feeds directly into two or more pipes delivering Nitrogen gas, one
organ pipe per Nitrogen pipe; b. running the Nitrogen pipes over
the evaporated hydrocarbon/Nitrogen extraction pipe in an insulated
packet including the Nitrogen pipes and the extraction pipe with
radiator plates to transfer the thermal temperature between the
cold pipes of Nitrogen gas and hot gas of the extraction pipe; c.
segmenting the extraction pipe by placing draining pipes with traps
in sections of the extraction pipe to drain out condensed liquids
and allow their flow into a collecting vessel; d. accommodating
both hydrocarbon fractions which are liquids at normal temperatures
and hydrocarbon fractions which are gaseous at normal temperatures;
e. enabling collection of the rare gases, Hydrogen, Helium and
Neon, by allowing their rising into a tube and capturing them in an
inverted container which allows by their containment in mylar
balloons their storage and movement to market and final separation,
one from another; f. separating the light gasoline from water in
the collection cylinder with a float with holes to keep the
separation from turmoil in the solution when adding condensed
liquid mix; and g. further removing contaminants from the water by
slow freezing so the crystal structure of the freezing water
eliminates other materials.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the cold Nitrogen
tubes emerging from the condenser for evaporating Liquid Nitrogen
intersect with the extraction tube at its coolest point and flows
warming to its hottest point as it is insulated coming from the
shaft causing the extraction pipe to have a thermal gradient.
15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the thermal ranges of
the extraction pipe are isolated with a drain collecting the
condensed hydrocarbons in the segment collecting the highest
temperature evaporating (condensing) hydrocarbons in barrels or
vessels storing them as liquid at normal temperatures and
collecting the lower temperature evaporating (condensing)
hydrocarbons that are gaseous at normal temperatures in gas
collection drums.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the condensed liquids
are divided at the thermal point between the neighboring segments
at the defined thermal point as defines the types of hydrocarbons,
molecules, and atoms using an adjustable barrier so the cooler
condensation goes to the first drain and the hotter segment
condenses and flows to the second drain of the two materials.
17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the gases that
condense at higher temperatures than Nitrogen and are of smaller
molecular weights are allowed to escape from the extraction tube by
rising in a vertical tube topped with an inverted container that
allows transfer to transport-capable containment.
18. The method, according to claim 13 of extracting water from the
material condensed by using a secondary separation in the thermal
range of water condensation where water being denser than
hydrocarbons, will sink to the bottom and the hydrocarbons
condensed in that section float on the water and increasing the
separation stability with a float riding on water but sinking in
hydrocarbons that is slightly smaller than the cylinder and has
many holes allowing small regional separation and less splash and
mixing as condensed material is added to the cylinder.
19. The method according to claim 18 whereby the water is further
purified by slow freezing so crystal structure of water formed
forces out contaminates making water that is welcome to a clean
environment from the extraction process.
20. A method of clearing the extraction tube of its remaining gas
after cooling to minus 162.degree. C., which condenses methane gas
and possibly Argon at--185.7.degree. C., allowing release of the
rare gases and then releasing the remaining Nitrogen to the
atmosphere, and cutting the Nitrogen clouding with a fan causing
air mixing at wind speeds exceeding five miles an hour to insure
any resulting Nitrogen cloud is dispersed, insuring that people or
animals do not breathe the pure Nitrogen gas and succumbing to
Nitrogen Asphyxiation or Coma.
21. The method according to claim 8 which uses a large heater,
electric using a heating element in the lower section of the
boiling can or fuel gas heating of the liquid using extracted fuel
gas with cooler liquid drained to the flame heater at ground level
with one-way valves keeping the fluid rising and the heated liquid
proceeding upward with one one-way valve keeping the heated fluid
going down to enter the boiling can through a funnel in the middle
of the can releasing the hot liquid upward with all fluids passing
through insulated hoses, with higher boiling point liquid
transferring the coil heat to the outside and radiating the heat to
the gases in the shaft and drillings and though the coal, shale,
peat, or landfill seams evaporating the hydrocarbons designated for
extraction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The world's coal and shale reserves often pose difficulty in
harvesting the fuel components. Extraction by mining is becoming
increasingly dangerous because the easy to get coals have been
mined and the shales have continued to be difficult to pull
organics from with any degree of economic and procedural ease. Peat
and landfill seam extraction of hydrocarbons should be handled in
the same manner, though their deposits are more recent than coal
and shale seams. The method here proposed should make the hard to
access coals and in-ground shale safe and relatively easy and
economical to extract the organics contained therein. The peat and
landfill, because of their softness, may pose sinking problems
which can be handled post extraction making them dry landfill.
[0003] Thermally, petroleum fractions have melting points from fuel
gas at between minus 162.degree. C. and plus 30.degree. C. to
lubricating oils melting over 300.degree. C. Paraffin and asphalt
melt at higher temperatures and may not be extracted in this
method. To prevent heating flash in the extraction, pure Nitrogen
gas is inserted in the extraction drilling and will be the carrier
for the evaporated organics.
[0004] Economically, extraction is done with all personnel at
ground level and the heat and tone causing the breakdown and
evaporation of the light and medium weight organics. The method
requires drilling, powering the heating element, and available
Liquid Nitrogen to provide cold cracking cooling and pure Nitrogen
gas for extraction.
[0005] Physiologically, the coal/shale field workers will have
little exposure to the coal or shale gases since they are captured
at the lower segment of the drilling and pulled out via pipes
leading directly to the on-site cold cracking system that separates
the organics into common condensation point materials. Full
containers are replaced with empties, sealed and trucked away for
the heavy molecule substances and the gaseous components can be
compressed into gas tanks drawing the contents from the drums.
Tonal vibrations are used to unsettle the buried sediments and
release the trapped organics enhancing the harvest of petroleum
chemicals from both coal and shale structures.
[0006] Convection at the coal or shale levels is created by
inserting narrow drillings in ring patterns around the extraction
drilling where the outer ring uses the coal mine fire equipment to
insert pure Nitrogen gas into the layers being extracted. The first
ring provides the external Nitrogen to push the evaporated
petroleum into the extraction drilling. To expand the range of the
extraction, a second ring of narrow drillings is made and the pure
Nitrogen is inserted there while the inner ring holes are refitted
with heating units comprise of, for instance, tube boilers with
heating units inside them. To concentrate the pure Nitrogen gas
input the upper portion of the drilling is fitted with an air
sealing sleeve to reduce soil and rock layer absorption of the
Nitrogen gas. To concentrate the heat in the inner narrow
drillings, the narrow drilling is insulated to retain the heat
emitted in the coal or shale layers of the earth at seam
depths.
[0007] The present invention relates to cryo-technology providing
pure Nitrogen gas cooling for the cold cracking process and
providing the wind power to activate the vibro-tonals to shake the
volatile organics from their point of formation and storage to the
drill location for drawing up to the surface, separating by cold
cracking and collection. This will make inaccessible fuel resources
available for present extraction increasing the overall active oil
reserves to include previously "useless" territories. The
peripheral insertion of the Nitrogen provides the inert carrier gas
to transport the evaporated organics and provides fire protection
preventing flash fire in the coal or shale layers.
[0008] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0009] Patent application Ser. No. of Denyse DuBrucq, Liquid
Nitrogen Enabler, 11/706,723 section for coal mine fire control and
condenser methods and Liquid Nitrogen Enabler Apparatus, Ser. No.
11/750,149 for the related apparatus. Similar methods are employed
here for fire prevention, for the separator or cold cracking
system, and for providing the Nitrogen carrier gas for the
evaporated organics in coal, shale, peat and landfill layers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the method
of drilling into the coal and shale fields for extraction of fuel
gas and liquid petroleum fractions. Extraction from one drilling
should pull organics from an acre or hectare or more.
[0011] In another aspect of the present invention, the method
includes shaking the substrate to loosen the organics from their
long term entrapment allowing them to seep toward the heat source
of the drilling.
[0012] In another aspect of the present invention, the method
applies a contained heat source to the coal or shale layers heating
them to evaporate the organic gases trapped in the underground. To
safely carry these organic gases to the surface, the pure Nitrogen
gas used in blowing the organ pipes mixes with and carries the
organics from the depth of the drilling to the ground surface
[0013] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
the method of using pure Nitrogen gas as the carrier prevents fires
because it lowers Oxygen levels in the gas mixture as it is heated
to evaporation temperatures and brought to the surface.
[0014] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
the method carries the hot gas mixture to a cold cracking system
that slowly cools the gas as it moves through a tube with traps to
remove the organic material that condensed in that section of the
tube. Monitored temperatures and a means to move the divisions
between condensation temperatures results in quite pure distillates
to be carried from the mine site to market. As the remaining gases
have boiling points at room temperature and below, the cold of the
condenser for Liquid Nitrogen pulls them down as liquids and, once
through the trap, they evaporate and are collected in gas drums.
The remaining Nitrogen and Rare Gas mixture allows vertical passage
of Hydrogen, Helium and Neon and capture in Mylar balloons for
separation later. The Nitrogen release location has a mixing fan to
insure the Nitrogen does not remain pure in clouds, rather mixes it
to near 78% of atmospheric gases which is the portion of air it
occupies.
[0015] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
the fractions of the extracted petroleum materials are separately
collected and marketed as partially refined organics increasing the
price levels of the unrefined extractions.
[0016] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
this method expands the field of extraction by drilling narrow
peripheral holes to apply Liquid Nitrogen as used in putting out
coal mine fires. This provides pressure to fill the porous coal and
shale layers with Nitrogen gas which carries the evaporants to the
extraction drilling. The Nitrogen flooding also reduces the
opportunity for fires or flashes during extraction.
[0017] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
once the extraction is exhausted in the space served by the first
ring of narrow drillings, another ring of narrow drillings away
from the extraction hole are made and these holes provide the
Liquid Nitrogen application as did the first narrow holes drilled.
The first narrow holes are then converted to supplemental heating
locations having narrow boilers inserted in the holes at the coal
and shale depths and the top of the holes sealed with thermal
insulation.
[0018] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
the field of extraction is expanded by drilling another ring of
narrow drillings where Liquid Nitrogen is inserted and converting
the inner ring holes to auxiliary heating locations to keep the
evaporants gaseous and able to be carried to the extraction
drilling by the outer ring insertion of Nitrogen. This convection
carriage of the desired organic material in gaseous form through
the porous coal and shale is what allows this method of extraction
to pull material from a large field of coal, shale, peat and
landfill substrates under the ground.
[0019] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
this method will be ecologically an improvement over current mining
methods because it does not disturb the underground structure and
is carried out with a small surface footprint over the coal and
shale reserves and subsequent narrow drillings to expand the field
of extraction.
[0020] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
this method will allow selection of the carbon content of the
extraction by the primary heat and the auxiliary heat temperature
level. To extract petroleum to include fuel gas through gasoline
substrates, the thermal temperature should be at 200.degree. C. To
include Kerosene as used in diesel and jet fuels, the thermal
temperature must be 275.degree. C. and heating oil, 375.degree.
C.
[0021] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
this method will allow capture of the rare gases, helium, neon and
hydrogen for later separation; provides means to separate water
from the gasoline segment of the Cold Cracker processing ridding
the hydrocarbons of the contamination and pulling forth clear water
and purifying it by freezing the water slowly allowing it to rid
itself of contaminants. Regulating the evaporation of Liquid
Nitrogen between the primary output into the Cold Cracker and a
secondary output into the Nitrogen pipes after the Cold Cracker
keeps both the Cold Cracker segment outputs in the same range of
temperatures on a continuous basis and allows the Nitrogen flow
through the shaft via the organ pipes to maintain the working
vibrational levels and sufficient Nitrogen carrier gas available
for extracting the evaporated hydrocarbons.
[0022] These and other advantages and features of the invention
will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed
description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood,
however, that the detailed description and accompanying drawings,
while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention,
are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many
changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the
present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and
the invention includes all such modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference
numerals represent like parts throughout, and in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing the overall drill hole from the
surface of the ground to the coal, shale, peat or landfill seams
below with components of the heater, tonal input, Nitrogen and the
extraction tube shown complete vertically, and partially above the
ground surface.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the lower part of the drilling
gauging better the distance at the bottom of the drilling where the
heating of the reserve occurs making volatile organics evaporate
and escape to the drilling location. The funnel catches the
pressured Nitrogen and evaporants, which are drawn into a
well-insulated vertical pipe, which once at the surface bends
horizontally to enter the Cold Cracking system.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a drawing showing the surface equipment with a
power source for the heating unit, a lever to tune one of the organ
pipes. Nitrogen sourcing from a condenser which is fed with Liquid
Nitrogen from a large dewar.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a drawing better defining the extraction tube Cold
Cracking of the extracted organics where the segments of the
evaporant condenses as the temperature lowers and the Nitrogen
warms up while condensing the evaporants. The major fractions of
Petroleum are drawn out of the Cracking tube with drain type
trapped piping.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the containment of the fractions
of the extracted petroleum for collection and taking to market.
Also shown is the Liquid Nitrogen storage and feeding into the
condenser which cools the cracking pipe and eventually supplies the
organ pipes with pure Nitrogen gas.
[0029] FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the cross-sections of the
condensing tube with the cold Nitrogen gas cooling the extraction
tube so as to condense the organic evaporants on a thermal gradient
into increasingly larger carbon chain molecules.
[0030] FIG. 7 is a drawing showing means of driving evaporants with
Nitrogen gas placed in narrow drillings and instilling safety in
the process by displacing Oxygen.
[0031] FIG. 8 is a drawing showing the second use of the narrow
drillings, heating the extraction layer while being thermally
insulated from the soil and rock over the extraction layer and the
air above the drilling.
[0032] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the first ring of narrow
drillings surrounding the extraction drilling, which feed the
Nitrogen gas into the system to carry the evaporated organics to
the central drilling for extraction.
[0033] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the expanded extraction field
with several rings surrounding the extraction drilling where the
outer ring of narrow drillings insert the Nitrogen gas into the
systems and the inner rings of narrow drillings provide auxiliary
heat to the coal, shale, peat or landfill layers being extracted of
their selected organics based on the residual temperatures
maintained during the extraction.
[0034] FIG. 11 is a drawing showing the final Cold Cracking step,
capturing the rare gases by allowing these light molecular weight
gases to rise into an inverted cylinder, which becomes lighter
weigh as the rare gases fill the cylinder lifting it up. It is then
lowered as these gases fill a mylar balloon, or other such
reservoir, preserving this segment of the evaporated hydrocarbon
mix from the coal, shale and peat seams.
[0035] FIG. 12 is a drawing showing the separation of water from
the gasoline segment of the evaporated hydrocarbons in the Cold
Cracker where the density of water is greater than that of
hydrocarbons and thus settles to the bottom of an undisturbed
vessel. The light gasoline is drained into a container and the
water segment is siphoned out and then processed through freezing
the water to gain purity from dissolved material.
[0036] FIG. 13 is a drawing showing the details of Nitrogen
insertion in the system having a regulator that balances the output
of Liquid Nitrogen between the condenser feeding the Nitrogen pipes
going through the Cold Cracker and the auxiliary condenser feeding
the Nitrogen pipes after the Cold Cracker and before entering the
Shaft. This keeps both the Cold Cracker thermal segments stable and
the needed flow of Nitrogen in the shaft to both produce the
vibrations by passing through the organ pipes and appropriate
levels to handle the carrier function for emerging evaporated
hydrocarbons.
[0037] FIG. 14 details the tuning of the thermal segments of the
Cold Cracker whereby one method is to have thermodetectors planted
in the insulation monitoring the temperature of the extraction
pipe. A partial block is placed at the desired break between the
condensation temperatures that is adjustable, as a bag of iron
spheres movable with external magnets to the desired location. The
extraction pipe is expanded downward to drain the liquid contents
of that segment of the pipe into the drain trap and container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0038] Turning now to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-3,
showing the center, lower section and top of the drill hole for
extracting fuel hydrocarbons from coal, shale or peat. In FIG. 1,
the coal, shale, peat or landfill seam 1 is vibrated with sound at
both the frequency of the standard organ pipe 30 and the frequency
difference beats created by the adjustable frequency organ pipe 31
that can vary widely with the tuning of the adjustable pipe. The
purpose of this ground stimulation is to get motion throughout the
seam 1 such that the heat evaporated hydrocarbons can escape the
structure of the seam. The pipes 30, 31 are blown with pure
Nitrogen gas 3 which is carried into the extraction drilling 10 by
Nitrogen pipes 32, one for each organ pipe. The Nitrogen gas is
sealed in the shaft 10 by seal 37 so it can act as the carrier gas
for the evaporated hydrocarbons. The funnel 11 below the organ
pipes catches the hydrocarbon enriched Nitrogen and draws it out of
the shaft 10 enclosed in a thermally insulated pipe 12 carrying the
hydrocarbon enriched Nitrogen 15.
[0039] FIG. 2 shows the lower portion of the shaft 10 with the heat
energy source 20 passing down through the funnel 11 and the heating
element 2 heats the coal, shale, peat, or landfill seams 1. The
middle section of the shaft is the cool zone 44 and the lower is
the hot zone 45. Convection in the shaft 10 forces the pressure
imposed Nitrogen 3 activating the organ pipes and allows it to flow
to the hot zone 45 around the gaps between the funnel 11 and the
walls of the shaft. Evaporants 15 from the seams 1 enter the hot
zone and are taken out of the shaft via the gaseous escape pipe 12
which pulls the hot gases rising with the heat out of the shaft.
The evaporants 15 in the seams 1 escape the seam as the tonal
output of the organ pipes cause the seam structure to vibrate.
[0040] FIG. 3 presents the top of the shaft 10 showing the around
level 4 and a spacing 42 indicating the workings of the shaft
contents can be well below the surface of the around. The power
source for the heater 22 is on the ground powering the heat energy
source 20 which passes down to the bottom of the shaft. The tonal
adjustment 36 for the adjustable tone organ pipe 31 sticks up so it
can be controlled from the top of the shaft. The Nitrogen pipes 32,
one for each organ pipe 30, 31 get their Nitrogen 3 from the
condenser 33 where Liquid Nitrogen 35 is evaporated into Nitrogen
gas and passes through the Cold Cracker 13 which heats the Nitrogen
before entering the shaft. The gaseous escape pipe 12 comes up the
shaft and passes under the Nitrogen pipes 32.
[0041] FIG. 4 elaborates on the Cold Cracker 13 showing the gaseous
escape pipe 12 coming from the shaft. The tank of Liquid Nitrogen
39 feeds Liquid Nitrogen 35 down the Liquid Nitrogen pipe 34 and
into the condenser 33 which is insulated 23 throughout the Cold
Cracker 13 providing cooling for the evaporated
hydrocarbon/Nitrogen mix 15 coming through the gaseous escape pipe
12. The coldest Nitrogen cools the last, low carbon chain
hydrocarbons left in the gaseous escape pipe 12. As the Nitrogen
gas warms, it condenses the longer carbon chain hydrocarbons to
where the longest as collected in the Cold Cracker 13 closest to
the shaft 10. To separate the Kerosene from the gasoline and
petroleum ethers and fuel gases segment output pipes 14 draw the
condensed hydrocarbons in sections of the pipe 12. These liquids
pass through the trap 17 and go to storage shown in FIG. 5. The
final output of the gaseous escape pipe 12 is the Nitrogen gas 3
left in the pipe which is dispersed being mixed with air by a fan
38.
[0042] For safety and to prevent clouding of pure Nitrogen 3, a tan
38 is employed to mix the Nitrogen with the residual air so there
is no opportunity for people or animals to develop Nitrogen
Asphyxiation or Nitrogen Coma, a reflex of the lungs when Oxygen is
not available and Carbon dioxide cannot be exchanged in the lungs.
Breathing stops, but the heart keeps pumping and one loses
consciousness. There are about six minutes from when one is so
stricken until he or she or an animal would die. With these
Nitrogen employing methods, one should be aware of the possibility
of this condition and, if finding a person down, one should think
first to apply artificial respiration with a good mix of air
present and, if the person recovers, all is well. If he or she does
not recover, then call 911 and do the CPR-type work to recover a
person from a heart attack. And if that fails, check for stroke or
other difficulties. Shortly the medics will arrive.
[0043] FIG. 5 completes the Cold Cracking apparatus by having the
segment output 14 and trap 17 allow the condensed liquids to flow
into containers 18 if the hydrocarbon is liquid at ambient
temperatures or gas drums 19 if the hydrocarbon fraction is a gas.
The gas drums 19 are fed with an outsource pipeline 16. The final
separation 60 in the sequence is collection of the rare gas
segment--Hydrogen, Helium and Neon--light weight gases 6 collected
in an inverted container 61 and drawn off through the extraction
tube 63 into a mylar balloon 64 held to the ground with a tether
line 65. It also shows the remaining gas in the gaseous escape pipe
12. Also defined is the cold source for condensing the hydrocarbons
with the tank of Liquid Nitrogen 39 feeding through a pipe 34
Liquid Nitrogen 35 into the condenser 33 which feeds its cold
Nitrogen gas 3 into the Nitrogen pipes 32 that cool the gaseous
escape pipe 12 as it enters the Cold Cracker 13.
[0044] FIG. 6 defines the Cold Cracking System 13 structure with
the insulated cover 23 enclosing the Nitrogen pipes 32 carrying the
warming Nitrogen gas 3 to the shaft. Radiator tabs 24 transfer the
cold from the Nitrogen pipes 32 to the gaseous escape pipe 12
carrying the Hydrocarbon/Nitrogen mix 15. As the mix is cooled,
first the high number carbon molecules condense and the liquid runs
into the segment output 14 and through the trap 17 and into the
container 18. Viewing the containers 18 in FIG. 6A, the patterns
indicate lighter and lighter condensation coming into the
containers at each segment output 14. The gas contents of the pipes
defined in FIG. 6B are included but not shown in FIG. 6A. This
method of separation of output at the drilling site brings high
prices for the extraction process because the chemicals emerging
are defined in melting point ranges. The major fractions of
petroleum assumed to be included in the extractions from the
drilling include from heaviest to lightest: Heating oil with
boiling (condensing) points between 275-375.degree. C.; Kerosene
between 175-275.degree. C.; Gasoline between 40-200.degree. C.;
Petroleum ether between 30-60.degree. C.; and Fuel gas at
-162-+30.degree. C. Fortunately, Liquid Nitrogen evaporates at
-195.8.degree. C. so even the Methane Gas can be captured which
condenses at -162.degree. C.
[0045] FIG. 7 shows a method of inserting Nitrogen in the periphery
of the coal, shale or peat seam 1. One drills narrower holes, 10
centimeter diameter, maximum, around the periphery of the drill
site. These allow one to add Nitrogen 3 to the mix by putting in
the Liquid Nitrogen Enabler coal mine fire fighting equipment 5
including a four liter dewar 50 with an apparatus for slow flow
from the dewar 51 which fills a dump bucket 52 with Liquid Nitrogen
which, when full, dumps the Liquid Nitrogen 35 into the sieve with
spaced small holes 53 which separates the Liquid Nitrogen drop into
tiny droplets that evaporate rapidly as they fall from the sieve.
The cold Nitrogen gas 3 flows to the bottom of the drilling and
seeps into seam 1 so it carries the evaporated hydrocarbons 15 into
the evacuation drilling or shaft 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3. When the
dewars 50 are taken for filling, the drilling hole top is sealed
with a bowling ball. A plastic sleeve 37 is inserted down the
drilling covering the walls above the coal, shale, or peat seams.
When the dewars are in place, they seal the top of the hole as well
preventing the Nitrogen from flowing out of the narrow drill hole
and insuring that it seeps into the porous seam structure to carry
the evaporated hydrocarbons to the shaft. This operation does two
things. First, it reduces the amount of Oxygen available in the
hydrocarbons lowering, and hopefully eliminating, the chance of
starting a coal mine fire, shale fire or peat fire. Second, it
helps carry the evaporated hydrocarbons to the collection and
extraction site.
[0046] FIG. 8 shows an auxiliary heating of the coal, shale or peat
seam 1. As the draw of hydrocarbons into the shaft 10 continues,
the periphery of the extraction range grows. The holes that held
the coal mine fire apparatus 5 can next be equipped with an
auxiliary heating unit 2. The heating unit is powered by the energy
source and the wiring to the heaters 26 are shown. The hole heating
unit 2 consists of the heat energy source 20 which extends the
depth of the hole with its heating element 28 in a boiling can 27
that has a fluid in it 21 which boils at the temperature desired to
heat the seam 1, as, if one wanted to extract all hydrocarbons from
fuel gas to heating oil, one would heat it to 275.degree. C. and to
include heating oil extraction, 375.degree. C. The whole apparatus
is lowered down the narrow drilled hole 25 and insulation 23 is
placed in the hole to insure no heat loss to the surface occurs.
This will help heat a larger region of the seam 1 to increase the
area or space underground from which the evaporated hydrocarbons
emerge. To keep the Nitrogen flow going from the peripheral
regions, new holes are drilled for the coal mine fire units 5
further from the shaft 10. As that area is exhausted, the heating
units can occupy two circles of holes and a third circle of narrow
drills is made for another placement of the coal mine fire units.
This can continue with many circles of heating units rimmed by one
circle of Nitrogen inserting coal mine fire units.
[0047] FIG. 9 shows the initial circle of coal mine fire units 5
around the shaft 10 shown from the ground surface 40. The shaft
heating unit is heating the coal, shale or peat seam 1 so close to
the shaft 10 is the hot zone 45. The Liquid Nitrogen flowing from
the coal mine fire units 5 are cool so the periphery is the cool
zone 44. This schematic does not represent the true distance of
sourcing the Nitrogen 3 as shown by the distance spacer 42. The
vector arrow shows the flow direction of the Nitrogen gas from the
narrow drillings 25 to the shaft 10.
[0048] FIG. 10 illustrates the expanded periphery of the draw of
hydrocarbon extraction with distances larger than shown as
indicated by spacers 42 where the shaft 10 is surrounded by narrow
drillings 25 containing heating units 28 closest to the shaft 10
and the furthest ring containing the coal mine fire units 5
supplying Nitrogen 3 to the seams carrying the evaporated
hydrocarbons to the shaft 10 for extraction. The hot zone 45 is
expanded to include all the rings of heaters 28 and the cold zone
44 includes the final ring of coal mine fire units 5. Nitrogen 3
flow is indicated by the vector arrow from the coal mine fire units
5 to the shaft 10. This schematic also is showing the layout from
the ground surface 40.
[0049] FIG. 11 shows in FIG. 11a a means to preserve for marketing
the rare gases that emerge from the coal, shale and peat seams as
the last component of the Cold Cracker 13. The rare gas extractor
61 is comprised of an inserted elbow pipe insertion 66 placed in
the Cold Cracker piping 13 which has a vertical pipe 63 to release
the rare gases 6 into the inverted rare gas container 60. As the
rare gas 6 fills the inverted container 60, it becomes lighter
weight and rises on the vertical pipe 63 as shown in FIG. 11b.
Brushes 62 on the outer wall of the vertical pipe 63 keep the
inverted container 60 properly vertical. To save these light gases,
the rare gas extractor 61 opens and allows the rare gas 6 to flood
the mylar balloon 64, which lowers the inverted container 60 on the
rare gas release tube 63 as shown in FIG. 11c. The trigger to open
the valve on the rare gas extractor 61 is the tether line 67
attaching to the inside top of the rare gas container 60 and the
inner wall of the vertical pipe 63. When the tether line 67 is
tight because the rare gases have lifted the container 60 so high
the line is tight, the valve opens on the extractor 61 and the rare
gases enter the mylar balloon 64. As it does the container lowers,
loosening the tether line, the valve has a time delay to allow the
rare gases to enter the balloon. When the top of the container 60
strikes the vertical tube 63, the valve shuts allowing rare gases
to accumulate again in the rare gas container 60. When the balloon
is filled it is held to the ground with the tether line 65. Once
the mylar balloon 64 is filled, it will be removed from the rare
gas extractor, and its opening folded and sealed as is common
practice in use of these balloons. The balloon 64 is kept on the
tether line 65 as it is stored and carried to market. Rare gases 6
contained are hydrogen, helium and neon. Argon, another noble gas,
may be captured as the final part of the Cold Cracker final gas
drum since its condensing temperature is higher than that of the
Liquid Nitrogen and Nitrogen gas just after evaporation will
liquefy Argon so it runs through the trap and evaporates in the gas
drum as shown in FIG. 5.
[0050] FIG. 12 shows the manner the Cold Cracker separates water,
boiling and condensing at 100.degree. C., from the gasoline
fraction of the hydrocarbons, condensing at between 40 and
200.degree. C. This segment is split into two components, heavy
gasoline between 200.degree. C. and 120.degree. C. and light
gasoline between 119.degree. C. and 40.degree. C. which includes
the water condensation. The container 18 collecting the light
gasoline segment is shown with the segment output 14 attached to
the gaseous escape pipe 12 in the Cold Cracker 13 with its trap 17
and container 18 is illustrated in FIG. 12a. Details of this
particular container 18 are shown in FIG. 12b. These include a
float lighter than water 71 which has spaced holes and rides
between the liquid of the light gasoline 9 and the water 7 keeping
the interface calm and undisturbed as the added condensed materials
enter the vessel. This water/gasoline separator 70 has the float 71
defined by rounded shape with a pattern of holes 75 shown in FIG.
12c in the vessel 18 and a siphon tube 72 draining the water 7 from
the vessel into a water container 73. When the volume of the
cylinder is close to full, the light gasoline extractor 91 allows
the gasoline fraction 9 to empty into the light gasoline container
93. Not shown here are: the trigger floats noting the height of the
gasoline 9 and the float 71 which properly high and spaced opens
the light gasoline extractor 91 to drain some of the gasoline, and
the float height that triggers the water siphon tube 72 to drain
emptying some water into the water container 73; and the final
water purifying process of slowly freezing the water in cubes and
lower its temperature well below freezing such that the
contaminants are eliminated from the water crystal of the ice.
Surface contaminants can be removed by wiping or lifting the ice
cube from its container where the rejected contaminates remain or a
quick pure water rinse. This purifying process is common. In the
oceans, when ice bergs form, the salt and organics in the water are
eliminated from the ice crystals and left in the ocean water.
Tasting ice from an ice berg and sea water just beside the ice berg
will allow one to experience the difference of contamination, the
ice berg being more like fresh water and the sea water, salty. FIG.
12c defines the float 71 between the light gasoline 9 and water 7
segments which has spaced holes 75 holding the liquid relatively
calm so the gasoline/water separation 76 easily reforms after
condensation pours into the container 18.
[0051] FIG. 13 shows the physical features of the regulated Liquid
Nitrogen 3 flow with the regulator 8 on the tank of Liquid Nitrogen
39 feeding two Liquid Nitrogen pipes 34, one feeding the Cold
Cracker 13 condenser 33 and the other feeding the secondary
Nitrogen input 80 with condenser 83 feeding Nitrogen gas into the
one-way valves 82 allowing Nitrogen gas 3 to enter the Nitrogen
insertion elbows 81 inserting the Nitrogen into the Nitrogen pipes
32 which, of course, drive the organ pipes and carry the evaporated
hydrocarbons out of the shaft. This system keeps the thermal levels
of the segments of the Cold Cracker constant because the
thermostats imbedded in the Cold Cracker 13 at the segments drive
the regulator to determine if any or how much Nitrogen gas should
be fed into the Nitrogen pipes to keep shaft functions at needed
levels when the Cold Cracker segment temperatures are kept at the
determined levels to get appropriate fractions of the hydrocarbons
extracted from the coal, shale or peat seam at the location of the
shaft and zone surrounding which is enabled by the rings of
auxiliary heaters and the outer ring forcing Nitrogen gas into the
coal, shale, peat or landfill seam.
[0052] And, finally, FIG. 14 shows further definition of the
condensing tube and its cooling from the Nitrogen gas lines shown
in FIG. 6 where the condensing tube is expanded downward 84 to
implement draining into drain tube 14 with the radiator plates 24
elongated to accommodate this expansion and keep the thermal
conditions constant. FIG. 14a shows the side view of a length of
the piping and FIG. 14b defines this drain accommodation. A
vertical line shows where the cross section is taken. A second
vertical line leading to FIG. 14c shows the thermal tuning of the
condensing system where the constantly round condensing pipe
sections have thermodetectors 86 along the distance allowing one to
tune the system at desired temperatures to define the condensing
material at that interval by placing a sack of iron balls 87 at the
division temperature between two condensing drains. A magnet 85 is
used to move the sack of iron balls 87 to that location where the
temperature in the condensation tube 12 matches the junction
temperature between the two hydrocarbon groups being collected. A
cutaway 88 in FIG. 14a condensation tube 12 shows the side view of
this divider 87 between drains. This method is used between the
collection zones of all the hydrocarbon and noble gas groups
collected by condensation. The magnets can be driven manually or by
an automated process. When the manual method is used, the
instrument tracking the thermodetectors can signal the thermal
change in any of the junctions so the supervisor on duty can adjust
the location of the sack of iron balls with the magnet. Once these
dividers are placed, the thermodetectors in one section will have a
common temperature among the detectors more so than without the
divider. Automated, the electromagnet in that pipe segment can go
on so the change of location of the sack of iron balls is made and
the condensation progresses. It can be expected that there may be
changes in hydrocarbon contents over time in the extracting process
which will necessitate adjustments at various times, even varying
as to when one segment junction needs adjusting from when another
segment junction needs adjusting.
[0053] FIG. 15 is included to show where each of the extracted
components from the coal, shale, peat and landfill seams are
collected including: Rare Gases as Hydrogen, Helium, and Neon;
Argon; Methane; Ethane; Fuel Gas; Light Gasoline and Water
(separated in second stage); Heavy Gasoline. Jet Fuel; Diesel Fuel;
and two sections of Heating Oil. This array of components isolated
will probably be a maximum sized group of isolated elements,
molecules and molecule mixtures.
[0054] This clean method of hydrocarbon extraction should allow the
readily burnable parts of coal, shale and peat be extracted from
underground with minimal disturbance of the site and with little
chance of sinking surface structure after the extraction. It may
replace surface mining as we know it, eliminate underground coal
mining as we know it, and bring hydrocarbons from some situations
where mining would not be practical or economical because of the
difficulty of extraction of the material, as is the case presently
with shale deposits.
[0055] This completes the statement of invention.
* * * * *