The Shell in Situ Conversion Process

Harold J. Vinegar
Shell E&P Co, Houston, TX

Shell's In Situ Conversion Process (ICP)is a novel technology for converting unconventional resources such as oil shale into light hydrocarbon liquids and gases. The process involves inserting heaters into boreholes in the resource and slowly heating to conversion temperatures over a period of several years. The ICP technology has been under continuous development for over 25 years, starting with laboratory and shallow field experiments in oil shale to deeper and longer heated intervals. This paper will provide an overview of the ICP technology for the Piceance Basin oil shale.