Method and Apparatus for Underground Oil Extraction

Abstract

There is provided a portable oil extraction system comprising one or more high heat energy generators that supply high heat energy to an underground oil-rich zone. Each heat energy generator comprises a chamber for gasifying used rubber tires, waste oil, coal or other combustible materials for the production of volatile gases and high energy heat. Exhaust gases from the heat generator are piped underground into a zone of oil-rich material such as oilsands, oilshale, or contaminated soil to heat the oil-rich material therein to vaporize the hydrocarbons. Vacuum pressure withdraws the vaporized hydrocarbons from the underground oil-rich zone. The vaporized hydrocarbons are condensed and collected within a forced-air condenser for reuse. An optional second stage refrigeration unit condenses any residual vaporized hydrocarbons that may be missed by the forced-air condenser. No water or chemical additives are used in this environmentally benign process.

1 . An oil extraction apparatus for extracting oil from underground oil-rich material, comprising:
 (a) at least one heat energy generator, each heat energy generator comprising
 (i) a vaporization chamber for receiving and holding waste materials to be vaporized; 
 (ii) air supply means for supplying air under slight pressure into the vaporization chamber; 
 (iii) fuel supply means for supplying fuel into the vaporization chamber; 
 (iv) a volatile gas withdrawal manifold communicating with the vaporization chamber for withdrawing volatile gases from the vaporization chamber; 
 (v) a mixing chamber having a volatile gas inlet communicating with the volatile gas withdrawal manifold, air pressure means for introducing pressurized air thereinto, a fuel injector, and ignition means for igniting a gas fuel air mixture, and an outlet; and 
 (vi) a combustion chamber that communicates with the mixing chamber outlet, the combustion chamber having an outlet; 
   (b) inlet piping for carrying heated exhaust gas of the heat energy generator into an underground oil-rich zone;   (c) condensing means for condensing the hydrocarbon vapor from exhaust gases; and   (d) outlet piping for carrying vaporized hydrocarbons from the underground oil-rich zone to the condensing means;   (e) a blower to create vacuum pressure to draw the vaporized hydrocarbons toward the condenser means.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each heat energy generator and the condenser means are mounted on skids for portability. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second-stage hydrocarbon recovery system comprising a water-cooled condenser and freon refrigeration heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat energy generator comprises two energy generators. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heat energy generator vaporization chamber and the oil extractor housing include linings of a refractory material. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vaporization chamber further comprises a plurality of openings in at least one wall for ingress of air. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each of the openings has a diameter of between 2.5 and 3.5 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of openings comprises 12 openings. 
     
     
         9 . Use of the apparatus of  claim 1  to extract useable oil from an underground oil-rich material. 
     
     
         10 . Use of the apparatus as in  claim 9 , wherein the oil-rich material is oilsand. 
     
     
         11 . Use of the apparatus as in  claim 9 , wherein the oil-rich material is oil shale. 
     
     
         12 . Use of the apparatus as in  claim 9 , wherein the oil-rich material is contaminated soil. 
     
     
         13 . A method of extracting oil from an underground source without the use of water. 
     
     
         14 . A method of extracting oil from an underground source without the addition of chemical additives. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the oil is extracted from an oil-rich material selected from the group of oil-rich materials comprising oilsand, oil shale, and contaminated soil. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the oil is extracted from an oil-rich material selected from the group of oil-rich materials comprising oilsand, oil shale, and contaminated soil.