ExxonMobil's Electrofrac™ Process for In Situ Oil Shale Conversion

ExxonMobil is pursuing research and development of the Electrofrac process for in situ oil shale conversion. The process heats oil shale in situ by hydraulically fracturing the oil shale and filling the fracture with an electrically conductive material, forming a resistive heating element. Heat generated in the fracture is thermally conducted into the oil shale, converting the organic matter into oil and gas which are produced by conventional methods. Electrofrac has the potential to recover oil and gas from deep, thick oil shale formations with less surface disturbance than mining and surface retorting or competitive in situ heating techniques. Laboratory and numerical modeling results have been encouraging, and field experiments are underway to test Electrofrac process elements at a larger scale. Several years of research and development will be required to demonstrate the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of this breakthrough technology.