| Process type | chemical |
|---|---|
| Industrial sector(s) | chemical industry,oil industry |
| Feedstock | oil shale |
| Product(s) | shale oil |
| Leading companies | ExxonMobil |
| Developer(s) | ExxonMobil |
ExxonMobil Electrofrac is anin situshale oil extraction technology proposed byExxonMobil for convertingkerogen inoil shale toshale oil.
ExxonMobil Electrofrac uses a series of fractures created in the oil shale formation. Preferably these fractures should be longitudinal vertical fractures created from horizontal wells and conducting electricity from the heel to the toe of each heating well. For conductivity, an electrically-conductive material such ascalcined petroleum coke is injected into the wells in fractures, forming aheating element.[1][2][3] Heating wells are placed in a parallel row with a second horizontal well intersecting them at their toe. This allows opposing electrical charges to be applied at either end. Laboratory experiments have demonstrated that electrical continuity is unaffected by kerogen conversion and that hydrocarbons are expelled from heated oil shale even underin situ stress.[3] Planar heaters should be used because they require fewer wells than wellbore heaters and offer a reduced surface footprint. The shale oil is extracted by separate dedicated production wells.[1][2]
