Method of extracting hydrocarbons

Abstract

A method of extracting hydrocarbons entrapped in a land formation includes forming at least one passage into an exposed surface portion of the land formation, such that the passage is formed as a substantially horizontal or as an upwardly inclined passage into the land formation. The exposed surface portion is positioned vertically lower than at least a portion of the entrapped hydrocarbons. The method of extraction includes accessing the entrapped hydrocarbons with the passage, removing the entrapped hydrocarbons from the land formation via the passage, and capturing the removed hydrocarbons. Optionally, the entrapped hydrocarbons may be detected via a directionally-variable seismic exploration system or method, which may include projecting seismic signals into the land formation from different locations and receiving return signals in response thereto. The return signals may provide information indicative of entrapped hydrocarbons within the land formation.

1 . A method of extracting hydrocarbons entrapped in a land formation, the land formation having an exposed surface portion that is positioned vertically lower than at least a portion of the entrapped hydrocarbons, said method comprising: 
 forming at least one passage into the land formation at the exposed surface portion, said at least one passage being formed as at least one of (a) a substantially horizontal passage and (b) an upwardly inclined passage;    accessing the entrapped hydrocarbons with said at least one passage;    removing the entrapped hydrocarbons via said at least one passage; and    capturing the removed hydrocarbons.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming at least one passage comprises forming at least one passage by drilling into the land formation to access the entrapped hydrocarbons.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein forming at least one passage by drilling into the land formation comprises forming at least one passage by drilling into the land formation with a rotary drill bit having a diameter between approximately two inches and approximately forty inches.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein forming at least one passage by drilling into the land formation comprises forming at least one passage by drilling generally horizontally into the land formation to access the entrapped hydrocarbons.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein forming at least one passage by drilling into the land formation comprises forming at least one passage by drilling generally upwardly into the land formation to access the entrapped hydrocarbons.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein forming at least one passage by drilling into the land formation comprises forming at least one passage by drilling generally horizontally into the land formation to form a generally horizontal passage and then drilling generally upward into the land formation to form a generally vertical passage to access the entrapped hydrocarbons.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein forming at least one passage comprises forming at least one generally L-shaped passage by drilling into the land formation to access the entrapped hydrocarbons.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the entrapped hydrocarbons are at least one selected from the group consisting of a gasified state of matter and a liquefied state of matter.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein removing the entrapped hydrocarbons is substantially accomplished by force of gravity.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising pumping the entrapped hydrocarbons out of the land formation.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein accessing the entrapped hydrocarbons comprises accessing the entrapped hydrocarbons at a lower portion of the entrapped hydrocarbons.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising inserting a conduit into the at least one passage.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the land formation is at least one selected from the group consisting of a mountain, a ridge, a hill, and a cliff.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the entrapped hydrocarbons are covered by a cap.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the entrapped hydrocarbons are located within a trap and are covered by a cap.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein forming at least one passage comprises forming at least one passage to access the trap at a location vertically lower than the cap.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein forming at least one passage comprises forming at least one passage to access at least two traps at a location vertically lower than the cap.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising detecting entrapped hydrocarbons in the land formation and determining a target location for forming said passage.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein detecting entrapped hydrocarbons comprises: 
 projecting at least one seismic signal into the land formation from a first location;    receiving at least one first location return signal in response to the at least one seismic signal projected from the first location;    projecting at least one seismic signal into the land formation from a second location; and    receiving at least one second location return signal in response to the at least one seismic signal projected from the second location; and    wherein the second location is remote from the first location and said at least one seismic signal projected from the first and second locations generally intersect within the land formation, and wherein said first and second location return signals are adapted to provide information indicative of entrapped hydrocarbons within the land formation.    
   
   
       20 . A hydrocarbon extraction system for extracting entrapped hydrocarbons from a land formation, said system comprising: 
 a drilling mechanism, said drilling mechanism operable to form at least one passage into the land formation, said drilling mechanism forming said at least one passage at an exposed surface portion that is positioned vertically lower than at least a portion of the entrapped hydrocarbons and forming said at least one passage into or at least partially through the land formation, whereby said drilling mechanism is operable to form said at least one passage as at least one of (a) a substantially horizontal passage and (b) an upwardly inclined passage.    
   
   
       21 . The extraction system of  claim 20  further comprising a pumping mechanism, said pumping mechanism operable to draw the hydrocarbons out of the land formation through said at least one passage.  
   
   
       22 . The extraction system of  claim 20  further comprising a conduit, said conduit being located within said at least one passage.  
   
   
       23 . The extraction system of  claim 20  further comprising a piping system, said piping system being adapted to transport the released hydrocarbons to a location remote from the land formation.  
   
   
       24 . The extraction system of  claim 20 , wherein said drilling mechanism forms said at least one passage via a rotary drill bit.  
   
   
       25 . A method of directionally-variable seismic exploration for hydrocarbons entrapped in a land formation, said method comprising: 
 projecting a first seismic signal into the land formation from a first location;    receiving a first return signal in response to said first seismic signal;    projecting a second seismic signal into the land formation from a second location; and    receiving a second return signal in response to said second seismic signal; and    wherein the second location is remote from the first location and said first seismic signal and said second seismic signal generally intersect within the land formation, and wherein said first and second return signals provide information indicative of entrapped hydrocarbons within the land formation.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said first and second seismic signals and said first and second return signals comprise shock waves.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising detonating an explosive for projecting at least one of said first and second seismic signals from at least one of the first and second locations.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the second location is positioned vertically lower than the first location.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising projecting a plurality of seismic signals into the land formation from at least one of the first and second locations.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising projecting at least one seismic signal into the land formation from at least one additional location, the at least one additional location being remote from the first and second locations, and wherein said at least one seismic signal projected from the at least one additional location generally intersects with said first and second seismic signals projected from the first and second locations.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the first and second locations is positioned within a tunnel.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the land formation is at least one selected from the group consisting of a mountain, a ridge, a hill, and a cliff.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein projecting a first seismic signal comprises projecting a generally horizontally directed first seismic signal and wherein projecting a second seismic signal comprises projecting a generally vertically downwardly directed second seismic signal.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising processing said first and second return signals to determine the presence and quantity of entrapped hydrocarbons within the land formation.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising accessing and removing the detected entrapped hydrocarbons from the land formation.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein accessing and removing the detected hydrocarbons comprises: 
 forming at least one passage into the land formation at an exposed surface portion, said at least one passage being formed as at least one of a substantially horizontal passage and an upwardly inclined passage;    accessing the entrapped hydrocarbons with said at least one passage;    removing the entrapped hydrocarbons via said at least one passage; and    capturing the removed hydrocarbons.