University of California

Los Alamos National Security, LLC

Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Other

Scott A Kinkead

Craig V Taylor

Marcus Oliver Wigand

Mark Dean Looney

Robert Lestz

Kent D Abney

Kirk Hollis

Michael A Hiskey

David E Chavez

John F Kramer

Robert L Bishop

Rebecca L Miller

Jiri Rais

Caroline F Mason

Paul K Hurlburt

Anthony B Pinkerton

The present invention is directed to methods for extracting a kerogen-based product from subsurface (oil) shale formations, wherein such methods rely on fracturing and/or rubblizing portions of said formations so as to enhance their fluid permeability, and wherein such methods further rely on chemically modifying the shale-bound kerogen so as to render it mobile. The present invention is also directed at systems for implementing at least some of the foregoing methods. Additionally, the present invention is also directed to methods of fracturing and/or rubblizing subsurface shale formations and to methods of chemically modifying kerogen in situ so as to render it mobile.

Kerogen extraction from subterranean oil shale resources

A method for chemically-upgrading shale-bound kerogen comprises contacting shale-bound kerogen comprising carbon-carbon double bonds with a quantity of alkene species in the presence of an olefin metathesis catalyst. A catalyzed metathetical reaction occurs between the shale-bound kerogen and the alkene species and smaller kerogen-derived molecular species are formed. The smaller kerogen-derived molecular species are recovered.

Olefin metathesis for kerogen upgrading

A method of preparing 3,3&prime;-diamino-4,4&prime;-azofurazan is provided together with a composition of matter including a mixture of 3,3&prime;-diamino-4,4&prime;-azofurazan and 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene.

Preparation of 3,3&prime;-diamino-4,4&prime;-azofurazan

Use of 3,3'-diamino-4,4'-azoxyfurazan and 3,3'-diamino-4,4'-azofurazan as insensitive high explosive materials

Preparation and use of polymeric materials containing hydrophobic anions and plasticizers for extraction of cesium and strontium. The use of polymeric materials containing plasticizers which are solvents for hydrophobic anions such as derivatives of cobalt dicarbollide or tetraphenylborate which are capable of extracting cesium and strontium ions from aqueous solutions in contact with the polymeric materials, is described. The polymeric material may also include a synergistic agent for a given ion like polyethylene glycol or a crown ether, for removal of radioactive isotopes of cesium and strontium from solutions of diverse composition and, in particular, for solutions containing large excess of sodium nitrate.

Preparation and use of polymeric materials containing hydrophobic anions

A method for selectively adding chlorine, bromine, or iodine to cobalt dicarbollide anions by means of electrophilic substitution reactions. Halogens are added only to the B10 and B10' positions of the anion. The process involves use of hypohalous acid or N-halosuccinimide or gaseous chlorine in the presence of iron.

Halogenation of cobalt dicarbollide

Preparation and use of tetra-C-alkyl cobalt dicarbollide for extraction of cesium and strontium into hydrocarbon solvents. Tetra-C-alkyl derivatives of cobalt dicarbollide, Co(C.sub.2 R.sub.2 B.sub.9 H.sub.9).sub.2.sup.- (CoB.sub.2 R.sub.4.sup.- ; R=CH.sub.3 and C.sub.6 H.sub.13) are demonstrated to be significant cesium and strontium extractants from acidic and alkaline solutions into non-toxic organic solvent systems. Extractions using mesitylene and diethylbenzene are compared to those with nitrobenzene as the organic phase. CoB.sub.2 -hexyl.sub.4.sup.- in diethylbenzene shows improved selectivity (10.sup.4) for Cs over Na in acidic solution. In dilute alkaline solution, CoB.sub.2 -hexyl.sub.4.sup.- extracts Cs less efficiently, but more effectively removes Sr from higher base concentrations. A general synthesis of tetra-C-alkyl cobalt dicarbollides is described.

Preparation and use of tetra-alkyl cobalt dicarbollide for extraction of

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Los Alamos, NM, United States of America

Scott A Kinkead