WO2010030263A1

WO2010030263A1 - Harvesting hydrocarbons from coal, shale, peat and landfill seams

Info

Publication number: WO2010030263A1
Application number: PCT/US2008/010744
Authority: WO
Inventors: Denyse Claire Dubrucq
Original assignee: Denyse Claire Dubrucq
Priority date: 2008-09-15
Filing date: 2008-09-15
Publication date: 2010-03-18

Abstract

A method of extraction of fuels and elements from coal, shale, peat and landfill seams is described which cuts the earth with only a main shaft and with auxiliary narrow drillings widely spaced from the shaft. The seam, which is first cooled to brittle cold and fractured with vibrations, is heated to the highest temperature of the hydrocarbon fraction desired to be extracted and the evaporated hydrocarbons are extracted in a Nitrogen gas carrier. To speed the extraction rate, tonal input from two or more organ pipes vibrates the seam structure frees the evaporated hydrocarbons allowing their escape into the shaft. As the extraction continues requiring inclusion of a greater area of the seam structure, narrow drillings are made and Liquid Nitrogen is inserted, first, cooling the extended seam structure to brittle and vibration fracturing the seam structure, and then continuing to provide the seam with Nitrogen gas which seeps into the seam carrying the evaporated hydrocarbons. Further expansion of the field moves the Nitrogen sourcing to the outer circle and inserts auxiliary heaters in the narrow drillings between the outer ring and main shaft bringing more of the seam to the desired extraction temperature. Extracted evaporated hydrocarbons are separated into the hydrocarbons fractions, into fuel types as heating oil, kerosene, gasoline, ethers, and fuel gas, methane, argon and rare gas segments. The thermal gradient of the extraction pipe is implemented by sourcing the Nitrogen from Liquid Nitrogen and running the pipes bundled with the extraction pipe condensing its contents by hydrocarbon fractions in vessels and gas drums depending on boiling points of fractions. Water is separated from the gasoline segment and purified first by separation and then further by freezing.

Description

HARVESTING HYDROCARBONS FROM COAL, SHALE, PEAT AND

LANDFILL SEAMS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The world's coal and shale reserves often pose difficulty in harvesting the fuel components. Extraction by mining is becoming increasingly dangerous because the easy to get coals have been mined and the shales have continued to be difficult to pull organics from with any degree of economic and procedural ease. Peat and landfill seam extraction of hydrocarbons should be handled in the same manner, though their deposits are more recent than coal and shale seams. The method here proposed should make the hard to access coals and in-ground shale safe and relatively easy and economical to extract the organics contained therein. The peat and landfill, because of their softness, may pose sinking problems which can be handled post extraction making them dry landfill.

Thermally, petroleum fractions have melting points from fuel gas at between minus 162°C. and plus 30⁰C. to lubricating oils melting over 300⁰C. Paraffin and asphalt melt at higher temperatures and may not be extracted in this method. To prevent heating flash in the extraction, pure Nitrogen gas is inserted in the extraction drilling and will be the carrier for the evaporated organics.

Economically, extraction is done with all personnel at ground level and the heat and tone causing the breakdown and evaporation of the light and medium weight organics. The method requires drilling, powering the heating element, and available Liquid Nitrogen to provide cold cracking cooling and pure Nitrogen gas for extraction. Physiologically, the coal/shale field workers will have little exposure to the coal or shale gases since they are captured at the lower segment of the drilling and pulled out via pipes leading directly to the on-site cold cracking system that separates the organics into common condensation point materials. Full containers are replaced with empties, sealed and trucked away for the heavy molecule substances and the gaseous components can be compressed into gas tanks drawing the contents from the drums. Tonal vibrations are used to unsettle the buried sediments and release the trapped organics enhancing the harvest of petroleum chemicals from both coal and shale structures. Convection at the coal or shale levels is created by inserting narrow drillings in ring patterns around the extraction drilling where the outer ring uses the coal mine fire equipment to insert pure Nitrogen gas into the layers being extracted. The first ring provides the external Nitrogen to push the evaporated petroleum into the extraction drilling. To expand the range of the extraction, a second ring of narrow drillings is made and the pure Nitrogen is inserted there while the inner ring holes are refitted with heating units comprise of, for instance, tube boilers with heating units inside them. To concentrate the pure Nitrogen gas input the upper portion of the drilling is fitted with an air sealing sleeve to reduce soil and rock layer absorption of the Nitrogen gas. To concentrate the heat in the inner narrow drillings, the narrow drilling is insulated to retain the heat emitted in the coal or shale layers of the earth at seam depths.

The present invention relates to cryo-technology providing pure Nitrogen gas cooling for the cold cracking process taking the seam temperature to brittle cold and then providing the wind power to activate the vibro-tonals to shake the seam allowing release of the volatile organics from their point of formation once the seam is heated to evaporation temperatures for the organics and passage in Nitrogen gas carrier to the drill location for drawing up to the surface, separating by cold cracking and collection. This will make inaccessible fuel resources available for present extraction increasing the overall active oil reserves to include previously "useless" territories. The peripheral insertion of the Nitrogen provides the inert carrier gas to transport the evaporated organics and provides fire protection preventing flash fire in the coal or shale layers. 2. Discussion of the Related Art

Patent application serial numbers of Denyse DuBrucq, Liquid Nitrogen Enabler, 11/706,723 section for coal mine fire control and condenser methods and Liquid Nitrogen Enabler Apparatus, 11/750,149 for the related apparatus. Similar methods are employed here for fire prevention, for the separator or cold cracking system, and for providing the Nitrogen carrier gas for the evaporated organics in coal, shale, peat and landfill layers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the method of drilling into the coal and shale fields for extraction of fuel gas and liquid petroleum fractions. Extraction from one drilling should pull organics from an acre or hectare or more.

In another aspect of the present invention, the first event in extraction is to freeze solid the site of the main drilling to make the seam rock brittle cold.

In another aspect of the present invention, the method includes shaking the substrate when brittle cold to loosen the organics from their long term entrapment and repeating this throughout extraction times allowing organics carried by Nitrogen gas to seep toward the heat source of the drilling.

In another aspect of the present invention, the method applies a contained heat source to the coal or shale layers heating them to evaporate the organic gases trapped in the underground. To safely carry these organic gases to the surface, the pure Nitrogen gas used in blowing the organ pipes mixes with and carries the organics from the depth of the drilling to the ground surface

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the method of using pure Nitrogen gas as the carrier prevents fires because it lowers Oxygen levels in the gas mixture as it is heated to evaporation temperatures and brought to the surface.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the method carries the hot gas mixture to a cold cracking system that slowly cools the gas as it moves through a tube with traps to remove the organic material that condensed in that section of the tube. Monitored temperatures and a means to move the divisions between condensation temperatures results in quite pure distillates to be carried from the mine site to market. As the remaining gases have boiling points at room temperature and below, the cold of the condenser for Liquid Nitrogen pulls them down as liquids and, once through the trap, they evaporate and are collected in gas drums. The remaining Nitrogen and Rare Gas mixture allows vertical passage of Hydrogen, Helium and Neon and capture in Mylar balloons for separation later. The Nitrogen release location has a mixing fan to insure the Nitrogen does not remain pure in clouds, rather mixes it to near 78% of atmospheric gases which is the portion of air it occupies.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the fractions of the extracted petroleum materials are separately collected and marketed as partially refined organics increasing the price levels of the unrefined extractions.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, this method expands the field of extraction by drilling narrow peripheral holes to apply Liquid Nitrogen as used in putting out coal mine fires. This provides pressure to fill the porous coal and shale layers with Nitrogen gas which carries the evaporants to the extraction drilling. 95 The Nitrogen flooding also reduces the opportunity for fires or flashes during extraction. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, once the extraction is exhausted in the space served by the first ring of narrow drillings, another ring of narrow drillings away from the extraction hole are made and these holes provide the Liquid Nitrogen application as did the first narrow holes drilled. The first narrow holes are then 100 converted to supplemental heating locations having narrow boilers inserted in the holes at the coal and shale depths and the top of the holes sealed with thermal insulation.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the field of extraction is expanded by drilling another ring of narrow drillings where Liquid Nitrogen is inserted and converting the inner ring holes to auxiliary heating locations to keep the evaporants 105 gaseous and able to be carried to the extraction drilling by the outer ring insertion of Nitrogen. This convection carriage of the desired organic material in gaseous form through the porous coal and shale is what allows this method of extraction to pull material from a large field of coal, shale, peat and landfill substrates under the ground. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, this method will be 110 ecologically an improvement over current mining methods because it does not disturb the underground structure and is carried out with a small surface footprint over the coal and shale reserves and subsequent narrow drillings to expand the field of extraction.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, this method will allow selection of the carbon content of the extraction by the primary heat and the auxiliary 115 heat temperature level. To extract petroleum to include fuel gas through gasoline substrates, the thermal temperature should be at 200⁰C. To include Kerosene as used in diesel and jet fuels, the thermal temperature must be 275⁰C, and heating oil, 375°C.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, this method will allow capture of the rare gases, helium, neon and hydrogen for later separation; provides means

120 to separate water from the gasoline segment of the Cold Cracker processing ridding the hydrocarbons of the contamination and pulling forth clear water and purifying it by freezing the water slowly allowing it to rid itself of contaminants. Regulating the evaporation of Liquid Nitrogen between the primary output into the Cold Cracker and a secondary output into the Nitrogen pipes after the Cold Cracker keeps both the Cold

125 Cracker segment outputs in the same range of temperatures on a continuous basis and allows the Nitrogen flow through the shaft via the organ pipes to maintain the working vibrational levels and sufficient Nitrogen carrier gas available for extracting the evaporated hydrocarbons.

These and other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to

130 those skilled in the art from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and accompanying drawings, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and

135 the invention includes all such modifications. BRIEF DESCRPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout, 140 and in which:

FIG. 1 is a drawing showing the overall drill hole from the surface of the ground to the coal, shale, peat or landfill seams below with components of the heater, tonal input, Nitrogen and the extraction tube shown complete vertically, and partially above the ground surface.

145 (Amended) FIG. 2 shows both the preparatory cryogenic freezing of the coal, shale, peat or landfill seam FIG. 2a and the initial configuration of the extraction hardware, FIG. 2b.

FIG. 3 is a drawing showing the surface equipment with a power source for the heating unit, a lever to tune one of the organ pipes, Nitrogen sourcing from a condenser 150 which is fed with Liquid Nitrogen from a large dewar.

FIG. 4 is a drawing better defining the extraction tube Cold Cracking of the extracted organics where the segments of the evaporant condenses as the temperature lowers and the Nitrogen warms up while condensing the evaporants. The major fractions of Petroleum are drawn out of the Cracking tube with drain type trapped piping. 155 FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the containment of the fractions of the extracted petroleum for collection and taking to market. Also shown is the Liquid Nitrogen storage and feeding into the condenser which cools the cracking pipe and eventually supplies the organ pipes with pure Nitrogen gas. FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the cross-sections of the condensing tube with the

160 cold Nitrogen gas cooling the extraction tube so as to condense the organic evaporants on a thermal gradient into increasingly larger carbon chain molecules.

FIG. 7 is a drawing showing means of driving evaporants with Nitrogen gas placed in narrow drillings and instilling safety in the process by displacing Oxygen.

FIG. 8 is a drawing showing the second use of the narrow drillings, heating the

165 extraction layer while being thermally insulated from the soil and rock over the extraction layer and the air above the drilling.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the first ring of narrow drillings surrounding the extraction drilling, which feed the Nitrogen gas into the system to carry the evaporated organics to the central drilling for extraction.

170 FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the expanded extraction field with several rings surrounding the extraction drilling where the outer ring of narrow drillings insert the Nitrogen gas into the systems and the inner rings of narrow drillings provide auxiliary heat to the coal, shale, peat or landfill layers being extracted of their selected organics based on the residual temperatures maintained during the extraction.

175 FIG. 11 is a drawing showing the final Cold Cracking step, capturing the rare gases by allowing these light molecular weight gases to rise into an inverted cylinder, which becomes lighter weigh as the rare gases fill the cylinder lifting it up. It is then lowered as these gases fill a mylar balloon, or other such reservoir, preserving this segment of the evaporated hydrocarbon mix from the coal, shale and peat seams.

180 FIG. 12 is a drawing showing the separation of water from the gasoline segment of the evaporated hydrocarbons in the Cold Cracker where the density of water is greater than that of hydrocarbons and thus settles to the bottom of an undisturbed vessel. The light gasoline is drained into a container and the water segment is siphoned out and then processed through freezing the water to gain purity from dissolved material.

185 FIG. 13 is a drawing showing the details of Nitrogen insertion in the system having a regulator that balances the output of Liquid Nitrogen between the condenser feeding the Nitrogen pipes going through the Cold Cracker and the auxiliary condenser feeding the Nitrogen pipes after the Cold Cracker and before entering the Shaft. This keeps both the Cold Cracker thermal segments stable and the needed flow of Nitrogen in

190 the shaft to both produce the vibrations by passing through the organ pipes and appropriate levels to handle the carrier function for emerging evaporated hydrocarbons. FIG. 14 details the tuning of the thermal segments of the Cold Cracker whereby one method is to have thermodetectors planted in the insulation monitoring the temperature of the extraction pipe. A partial block is placed at the desired break between

195 the condensation temperatures that is adjustable, as a bag of iron spheres moveable with external magnets to the desired location. The extraction pipe is expanded downward to drain the liquid contents of that segment of the pipe into the drain trap and container.

FIG. 15 labels and locates the position of the various fractions of the evaporants and gases extracted from the coal, shale, peat and landfill seams.

200 FIG. 16 details the heaters, major and peripheral drillings designs.

(New) FIG. 17 illustrates electric heating with spiral elements in FIG. 17a and using Fuel gas just extracted to heat the liquid at the ground surface in FIG. 17b. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

>

Turning now to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-3, showing the center, lower

205 section and top of the drill hole for extracting fuel hydrocarbons from coal, shale or peat. In FIG. 1, the coal, shale, peat or landfill seam 1 is cooled with evaporating Liquid Nitrogen to brittle cold and then vibrated with sound at both the frequency of the standard organ pipe 30 and the frequency difference beats created by the adjustable frequency organ pipe 31 that can vary widely with the tuning of the adjustable pipe. The purpose of

210 this ground stimulation is break up the seam structure when brittle cold, and then continued through the heating phase to get motion throughout the seam 1 such that the heat evaporated hydrocarbons can escape the structure of the seam. The pipes 30, 31 are blown with pure Nitrogen gas 3 which is carried into the extraction drilling 10 by Nitrogen pipes 32, one for each organ pipe. The Nitrogen gas is sealed in the shaft 10 by

215 seal 37 so it can act as the carrier gas for the evaporated hydrocarbons. The funnel 11 below the organ pipes catches the hydrocarbon enriched Nitrogen and draws it out of the shaft 10 enclosed in a thermally insulated pipe 12 carrying the hydrocarbon enriched Nitrogen 15.

(Amended) FIG. 2 shows both the preparatory cryogenic freezing of the coal,

220 shale, peat or landfill seam and the initial configuration of the extraction hardware. FIG. 2a shows the drilled hole with the organ pipes in place and a sieve pan 53 mounted at the upper level of the seam. The Liquid Nitrogen 35 is poured from a dewar 50 down the Liquid Nitrogen pipe 61 and emptying into the sieve pan causing the Liquid Nitrogen 35 to evaporate into super cold Nitrogen gas 3. When this cool zone 44 reaches cryogenic

225 temperatures, the organ pipes are activated causing the brittle cold seam to shatter, which allows the hydrocarbons to escape once the heating process begins. FIG. 2b shows the lower part of the drilling gauging better the distance at the bottom of the drilling where the heating of the reserve occurs making volatile organics evaporate and escape to the drilling location. The funnel catches the pressured Nitrogen and evaporants, which are

230 drawn into a well-insulated vertical pipe, which once at the surface bends horizontally to enter the Cold Cracking system. Illustrating the lower portion of the shaft 10 has the heat energy source 20 passing down through the funnel 11 and the heating element 2 which heats the coal, shale, peat, or landfill seams 1. The middle section of the shaft is the cool zone 44 and the lower is the hot zone 45. Convection in the shaft 10 forces the pressure

235 imposed Nitrogen 3 activating the organ pipes and allows it to flow to the hot zone 45 around the gaps between the funnel 11 and the walls of the shaft. Evaporants 15 from the seams 1 enter the hot zone and are taken out of the shaft via the gaseous escape pipe 12 which pulls the hot gases rising with the heat out of the shaft. The evaporants 15 in the seams 1 escape the seam as the tonal output of the organ pipes cause the seam structure to

240 vibrate.

It is this section of the drilling that will initially be frozen to brittle coldness with evaporating Liquid Nitrogen applied through a sieve described in Liquid Nitrogen Enabler patents of DuBrucq (11/704,723 and 11/750,149) where the funnel 11 is located. Liquid Nitrogen is poured down the drilling and at the sieve will rain down in the lower

245 end of the drilling cooling the seam closer and closer to its -195.8°C. evaporating temperature. Once brittle cold, the sieve is removed and the heaters 2 as shown in FIG. 16, the funnel 11 and exhaust tube 12 are installed with the pipes 30, 31 to cause vibration while the seam is still brittle and then to do so as the heat extracts the hydrocarbons with Nitrogen gas carrier to clear their pathway to the exhaust tube 12. 0 FIG. 3 presents the top of the shaft 10 showing the ground level 4 and a spacing

42 indicating the workings of the shaft contents can be well below the surface of the ground. The power source for the heater 22 is on the ground powering the heat energy source 20 which passes down to the bottom of the shaft. The tonal adjustment 36 for the adjustable tone organ pipe 31 sticks up so it can be controlled from the top of the shaft. 5 The Nitrogen pipes 32, one for each organ pipe 30, 31 get their Nitrogen 3 from the condenser 33 where Liquid Nitrogen 35 is evaporated into Nitrogen gas and passes through the Cold Cracker 13 which heats the Nitrogen before entering the shaft. The gaseous escape pipe 12 comes up the shaft and passes under the Nitrogen pipes 32.

FIG. 4 elaborates on the Cold Cracker 13 showing the gaseous escape pipe 12

I 0 coming from the shaft. The tank of Liquid Nitrogen 39 feeds Liquid Nitrogen 35 down the Liquid Nitrogen pipe 34 and into the condenser 33 which is insulated 23 throughout the Cold Cracker 13 providing cooling for the evaporated hydrocarbon/Nitrogen mix 15 i coming through the gaseous escape pipe 12. The coldest Nitrogen cools the last, low carbon chain hydrocarbons left in the gaseous escape pipe 12. As the Nitrogen gas 5 warms, it condenses the longer carbon chain hydrocarbons to where the longest as collected in the Cold Cracker 13 closest to the shaft 10. To separate the Kerosene from the gasoline and petroleum ethers and fuel gases segment output pipes 14 draw the condensed hydrocarbons in sections of the pipe 12. These liquids pass through the trap 17 and go to storage shown in FIG. 5. The final output of the gaseous escape pipe 12 is 0 the Nitrogen gas 3 left in the pipe which is dispersed being mixed with air by a fan 38. For safety and to prevent clouding of pure Nitrogen 3, a fan 38 is employed to mix the Nitrogen with the residual air so there is no opportunity for people or animals to develop Nitrogen Asphyxiation or Nitrogen Coma, a reflex of the lungs when Oxygen is not available and Carbon dioxide cannot be exchanged in the lungs. Breathing stops, but

275 the heart keeps pumping and one loses consciousness. There are about six minutes from when one is so stricken until he or she or an animal would die. With these Nitrogen employing methods, one should be aware of the possibility of this condition and, if finding a person down, one should think first to apply artificial respiration with a good mix of air present and, if the person recovers, all is well. If he or she does not recover,

280 then call 911 and do the CPR-type work to recover a person from a heart attack. And if that fails, check for stroke or other difficulties. Shortly the medics will arrive.

FIG. 5 completes the Cold Cracking apparatus by having the segment output 14 and trap 17 allow the condensed liquids to flow into containers 18 if the hydrocarbon is liquid at ambient temperatures or gas drums 19 if the hydrocarbon fraction is a gas. The

285 gas drums 19 are fed with an outsource pipeline 16. The final separation 60 in the sequence is collection of the rare gas segment - Hydrogen, Helium and Neon - light weight gases 6 collected in an inverted container 61 and drawn off through the extraction tube 63 into a mylar balloon 64 held to the ground with a tether line 65.. It also shows the remaining gas in the gaseous escape pipe 12. Also defined is the cold source for

290 condensing the hydrocarbons with the tank of Liquid Nitrogen 39 feeding through a pipe 34 Liquid Nitrogen 35 into the condenser 33 which feeds its cold Nitrogen gas 3 into the Nitrogen pipes 32 that cool the gaseous escape pipe 12 as it enters the Cold Cracker 13. FIG. 6 defines the Cold Cracking System 13 structure with the insulated cover 23 enclosing the Nitrogen pipes 32 carrying the warming Nitrogen gas 3 to the shaft. Radiator tabs 24 transfer the cold from the Nitrogen pipes 32 to the gaseous escape pipe 12 carrying the Hydrocarbon/Nitrogen mix 15. As the mix is cooled, first the high number carbon molecules condense and the liquid runs into the segment output 14 and through the trap 17 and into the container 18. Viewing the containers 18 in FIG. 6A, the patterns indicate lighter and lighter condensation coming into the containers at each segment output 14. The gas contents of the pipes defined in FIG. 6B are included but not shown in FIG 6 A. This method of separation of output at the drilling site brings high prices for the extraction process because the chemicals emerging are defined in melting point ranges. The major fractions of petroleum assumed to be included in the extractions from the drilling include from heaviest to lightest: Heating oil with boiling (condensing) points between 275-375⁰C; Kerosene between 175-275⁰C; Gasoline between 40-200⁰C; Petroleum ether between 30-60⁰C; and Fuel gas at -162-+3O⁰C Fortunately, Liquid Nitrogen evaporates at -195.8⁰C so even the Methane Gas can be captured which condenses at -162°C.

FIG. 7 shows a method of inserting Nitrogen in the periphery of the coal, shale or peat seam 1. One drills narrower holes, 10 centimeter diameter, maximum, around the periphery of the drill site. These allow one to add Nitrogen 3 to the mix by putting in the Liquid Nitrogen Enabler coal mine fire fighting equipment 5 including a four liter dewar 50 with an apparatus for slow flow from the dewar 51 which fills a dump bucket 52 with Liquid Nitrogen which, when full, dumps the Liquid Nitrogen 35 into the sieve with spaced small holes 53 which separates the Liquid Nitrogen drop into tiny droplets that evaporate rapidly as they fall from the sieve. The cold Nitrogen gas 3 flows to the bottom of the drilling and seeps into seam 1 so it carries the evaporated hydrocarbons 15 into the evacuation drilling or shaft 10 shown in FIGS. 1 - 3. When the dewars 50 are taken for filling, the drilling hole top is sealed with a bowling ball. A plastic sleeve 37 is

320 inserted down the drilling covering the walls above the coal, shale, or peat seams. When the dewars are in place, they seal the top of the hole as well preventing the Nitrogen from flowing out of the narrow drill hole and insuring that it seeps into the porous seam structure to carry the evaporated hydrocarbons to the shaft. This operation does two things. First, it reduces the amount of Oxygen available in the hydrocarbons lowering,

325 and hopefully eliminating, the chance of starting a coal mine fire, shale fire or peat fire. Second, it helps carry the evaporated hydrocarbons to the collection and extraction site. FIG. 8 shows an auxiliary heating of the coal, shale or peat seam 1. As the draw of hydrocarbons into the shaft 10 continues, the periphery of the extraction range grows. The holes that held the coal mine fire apparatus 5 can next be equipped with an auxiliary

330 heating unit 2. The heating unit is powered by the energy source and the wiring to the heaters 26 are shown. The hole heating unit 2 consists of the heat energy source 20 which extends the depth of the hole with its heating element 28 in a boiling can 27 that has a fluid in it 21 which boils at the temperature desired to heat the seam 1, as, if one wanted to extract all hydrocarbons from fuel gas to heating oil, one would heat it to

335 275⁰C. and to include heating oil extraction, 375°C. The whole apparatus is lowered down the narrow drilled hole 25 and insulation 23 is placed in the hole to insure no heat loss to the surface occurs. This will help heat a larger region of the seam 1 to increase the area or space underground from which the evaporated hydrocarbons emerge. To keep the Nitrogen flow going from the peripheral regions, new holes are drilled for the coal mine

340 fire units 5 further from the shaft 10. As that area is exhausted, the heating units can occupy two circles of holes and a third circle of narrow drills is made for another placement of the coal mine fire units. TMs can continue with many circles of heating units rimmed by one circle of Nitrogen inserting coal mine fire units.

FIG. 9 shows the initial circle of coal mine fire units 5 around the shaft 10 shown

345 from the ground surface 40. The shaft heating unit is heating the coal, shale or peat seam 1 so close to the shaft 10 is the hot zone 45. The Liquid Nitrogen flowing from the coal mine fire units 5 are cool so the periphery is the cool zone 44. This schematic does not represent the true distance of sourcing the Nitrogen 3 as shown by the distance spacer 42. The vector arrow shows the flow direction of the Nitrogen gas from the narrow drillings

350 25 to the shaft 10.

FIG. 10 illustrates the expanded periphery of the draw of hydrocarbon extraction with distances larger than shown as indicated by spacers 42 where the shaft 10 is surrounded by narrow drillings 25 containing heating units 28 closest to the shaft 10 and the furthest ring containing the coal mine fire units 5 supplying Nitrogen 3 to the seams

355 carrying the evaporated hydrocarbons to the shaft 10 for extraction. The hot zone 45 is expanded to include all the rings of heaters 28 and the cold zone 44 includes the final ring of coal mine fire units 5. Nitrogen 3 flow is indicated by the vector arrow from the coal mine fire units 5 to the shaft 10. This schematic also is showing the layout from the ground surface 40.

360 FIG. 11 shows in FIG. 11a a means to preserve for marketing the rare gases that emerge from the coal, shale and peat seams as the last component of the Cold Cracker 13. The rare gas extractor 61 is comprised of an inserted elbow pipe insertion 66 placed in the Cold Cracker piping 13 which has a vertical pipe 63 to release the rare gases 6 into the inverted rare gas container 60. As the rare gas 6 fills the inverted container 60, it becomes lighter weight and rises on the vertical pipe 63 as shown in FIG. lib. Brushes 62 on the outer wall of the vertical pipe 63 keep the inverted container 60 properly vertical. To save these light gases, the rare gas extractor 61 opens and allows the rare gas 6 to flood the mylar balloon 64, which lowers the inverted container 60 on the rare gas release tube 63 as shown in FIG. lie. The trigger to open the valve on the rare gas extractor 61 is the tether line 67 attaching to the inside top of the rare gas container 60 and the inner wall of the vertical pipe 63. When the tether line 67 is tight because the rare gases have lifted the container 60 so high the line is tight, the valve opens on the extractor 61 and the rare gases enter the mylar balloon 64. As it does the container lowers, loosening the tether line, the valve has a time delay to allow the rare gases to enter the balloon. When the top of the container 60 strikes the vertical tube 63, the valve shuts allowing rare gases to accumulate again in the rare gas container 60. When the balloon is filled it is held to the ground with the tether line 65. Once the mylar balloon 64 is filled, it will be removed from the rare gas extractor, and its opening folded and sealed as is common practice in use of these balloons. The balloon 64 is kept on the tether line 65 as it is stored and carried to market. Rare gases 6 contained are hydrogen, helium and neon. Argon, another noble gas, may be captured as the final part of the Cold Cracker final gas drum since its condensing temperature is higher than that of the Liquid Nitrogen and Nitrogen gas just after evaporation will liquefy Argon so it runs through the trap and evaporates in the gas drum as shown in FIG. 5. 385 FIG. 12 shows the manner the Cold Cracker separates water, boiling and condensing at 100⁰C, from the gasoline fraction of the hydrocarbons, condensing at between 40 and 200⁰C. This segment is split into two components, heavy gasoline between 200⁰C and 12O⁰C and light gasoline between 119⁰C and 4O⁰C which includes the water condensation.. The container 18 collecting the light gasoline segment is shown

390 with the segment output 14 attached to the gaseous escape pipe 12 in the Cold Cracker 13 with its trap 17 and container 18 is illustrated in FIG. 12a. Details of this particular container 18 are shown in FIG. 12b. These include a float lighter than water 71 which has spaced holes and rides between the liquid of the light gasoline 9 and the water 7 keeping the interface calm and undisturbed as the added condensed materials enter the

395 vessel. This water/gasoline separator 70 has the float 71 defined by rounded shape with a pattern of holes 75 shown in FIG. 12c in the vessel 18 and a siphon tube 72 draining the water 7 from the vessel into a water container 73. When the volume of the cylinder is close to full, the light gasoline extractor 91 allows the gasoline fraction 9 to empty into the light gasoline container 93. Not shown here are: the trigger floats noting the height

400 of the gasoline 9 and the float 71 which properly high and spaced opens the light gasoline extractor 91 to drain some of the gasoline, and the float height that triggers the water siphon tube 72 to drain emptying some water into the water container 73; and the final water purifying process of slowly freezing the water in cubes and lower its temperature well below freezing such that the contaminants are eliminated from the water crystal of

405 the ice. Surface contaminants can be removed by wiping or lifting the ice cube from its container where the rejected contaminates remain or a quick pure water rinse. This purifying process is common. In the oceans, when ice bergs form, the salt and organics in the water are eliminated from the ice crystals and left in the ocean water. Tasting ice from an ice berg and sea water just beside the ice berg will allow one to experience the

410 difference of contamination, the ice berg being more like fresh water and the sea water, salty. FIG 12c defines the float 71 between the light gasoline 9 and water 7 segments which has spaced holes 75 holding the liquid relatively calm so the gasoline/water separation 76 easily reforms after condensation pours into the container 18,

FIG. 13 shows the physical features of the regulated Liquid Nitrogen 3 flow with

415 the regulator 8 on the tank of Liquid Nitrogen 39 feeding two Liquid Nitrogen pipes 34, one feeding the Cold Cracker 13 condenser 33 and the other feeding the secondary Nitrogen input 80 with condenser 83 feeding Nitrogen gas into the one-way valves 82 allowing Nitrogen gas 3 to enter the Nitrogen insertion elbows 81 inserting the Nitrogen into the Nitrogen pipes 32 which, of course, drive the organ pipes and carry the

420 evaporated hydrocarbons out of the shaft. This system keeps the thermal levels of the segments of the Cold Cracker constant because the thermostats imbedded in the Cold Cracker 13 at the segments drive the regulator to determine if any or how much Nitrogen gas should be fed into the Nitrogen pipes to keep shaft functions at needed levels when the Cold Cracker segment temperatures are kept at the determined levels to get

425 appropriate fractions of the hydrocarbons extracted from the coal, shale or peat seam at the location of the shaft and zone surrounding which is enabled by the rings of auxiliary heaters and the outer ring forcing Nitrogen gas into the coal, shale, peat or landfill seam. FIG. 14 shows further definition of the condensing tube and its cooling from the Nitrogen gas lines shown in FIG. 6 where the condensing tube is expanded downward 84 430 to implement draining into drain tube 14 with the radiator plates 24 elongated to accommodate this expansion and keep the thermal conditions constant. FIG. 14a shows the side view of a length of the piping and FIG. 14b defines this drain accommodation. A vertical line shows where the cross section is taken. A second vertical line leading to FIG. 14c shows the thermal tuning of the condensing system

435 where the constantly round condensing pipe sections have thermodetectors 86 along the distance allowing one to tune the system at desired temperatures to define the condensing material at that interval by placing a sack of iron balls 87 at the division temperature between two condensing drains. A magnet 85 is used to move the sack of iron balls 87 to that location where the temperature in the condensation tube 12 matches the junction

440 temperature between the two hydrocarbon groups being collected. A cutaway 88 in FIG.14a condensation tube 12 shows the side view of this divider 87 between drains. This method is used between the collection zones of all the hydrocarbon and noble gas groups collected by condensation. The magnets can be driven manually or by an automated process. When the manual method is used, the instrument tracking the

445 thermodetectors can signal the thermal change in any of the junctions so the supervisor on duty can adjust the location of the sack of iron balls with the magnet. Once these dividers are placed, the thermodetectors in one section will have a common temperature among the detectors more so than without the divider. Automated, the electromagnet in that pipe segment can go on so the change of location of the sack of iron balls is made

450 and the condensation progresses. It can be expected that there may be changes in hydrocarbon contents over time in the extracting process which will necessitate adjustments at various times, even varying as to when one segment junction needs adjusting from when another segment junction needs adjusting.

FIG. 15 is included to show where each of the extracted components from the

455 coal, shale, peat and landfill seams are collected including: Rare Gases as Hydrogen, Helium, and Neon; Argon; Methane; Ethane; Fuel Gas; Light Gasoline and Water (separated in second stage); Heavy Gasoline, Jet Fuel; Diesel Fuel; and two sections of Heating Oil. This array of components isolated will probably be a maximum sized group of isolated elements, molecules and molecule mixtures.

460 This clean method of hydrocarbon extraction should allow the readily burnable parts of coal, shale and peat be extracted from underground with minimal disturbance of the site and with little chance of sinking surface structure after the extraction. It may replace surface mining as we know it, eliminate underground coal mining as we know it, and bring hydrocarbons from some situations where mining would not be practical or

465 economical because of the difficulty of extraction of the material, as is the case presently with shale deposits.

FIG. 16 shows the heater 2 design with the electric heating coil 20 encased and its wires 26 leading to the power source 22; its container boiling can 27 with multiple channels 29 looking like handles on a sugar bowl allowing the fluid 21, as lubricating oil,

470 to rise as it is heated by the encased coil 20 and lower as it cools passing down the tubular handles 29; and its radiator baffles or plates 24. A large version is used in the shaft 10 and narrow versions in the heating holes 28 where the upward vertical is insulated 23 keeping the heat at the seam 1 level. FIG. 17 shows alternative heating methods, with, in FIG 17a, electric spiral

475 heating units placed in the lower part of the heating units allowing stacking of these units to match the depth of the coal, shale, peat or landfill seam for most rapid heating. The power source 22 allows power through wiring 26 which enters each heating element 2. The fuel gas 95 gathered from the seam and extracted from the gas drum 19 is the heat energy source 20. Shown is the cool zone from which the fluid as lubricating oil 21

480 flows to the heating source 20. Along this pipe are a series of one-way valves 82 insuring the flow pattern goes from cool to the heating source to the hot zone 45 with one one-way valve 82 on the top of the pipe leading from the heat source over the top to the funnel unit in the mid section of the boiling can 27. Pipes leading from each heating unit to the surface and back are insulated to not lose heat in the transfer process to the ground

485 surface. This gas burning can light and heat the site eliminating the need for electricity. The drawing of FIG. 17b shows the entry and exit plumbing of the side view of the heating unit stacks, three units 2 high for the main hole heating apparatus and two units 2 in the narrow hole apparatus, on the outside toward the viewer. The funnel and entry pipes are inside the boiling can 27 as shown correctly in the views from the top.

490 Because of there being so much detail these parts could not be enveloped and recognized where they actually reside. The vertical pipes are outside and exist where shown in both the side view and top view of the heating units 2. This completes the statement of invention.

495

Claims

Therefore I claim

1. (Currently amended) A method of extracting evaporated hydrocarbons from a coal, shale, peat, or landfill seam using a primary shaft drilling comprising the 500 steps of: a. (New) cooling the coal, shale, peat or landfill seam to brittle with Liquid Nitrogen to enable vibration shock to open the seam formation for hydrocarbon extraction, b. (Originally "a") heating the coal, shale or peat seam with a contained heat 505 source at the seam level in the lower parts of the main shaft; c. vibrating the coal, shale or peat seam with single frequency sound, and with harmonic beating of a matching size, but adjustably tuned sound using two or more organ pipes; d. applying Nitrogen gas to the shaft environment initially using it to activate 510 the organ pipes, then to be an inert carrier of the evaporated hydrocarbons emerging from the seam into the shaft, and, at the same time, serve as a fire suppressant so the mining operation does not ignite a coal mine, shale or peat seam fire; and e. keeping the Nitrogen gas pressure such that the shaft functions are kept at 515 required levels of vibrations and carrying the evaporated hydrocarbons out of the shaft and into processing.

2. (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit raises the coal, shale, peat or landfill seam temperature to the highest temperature of the longest carbon content hydrocarbons desired to be extracted determining the range of 520 hydrocarbon fractions being extracted from the seam.

3. (Original) The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cue or harmonic vibration rate causing the highest extraction rate for the evaporated hydrocarbons from the coal, shale, peat or landfill seams into the shaft for extraction.

4. (Original) The method according to claim 3, wherein the adjustable organ pipe 525 can be manually adjusted or driven to scan harmonics and enter matched tuning with the fixed tone organ pipe.

5. (Original) The method according to claim 1, further comprising the carriage of the evaporated hydrocarbons with Nitrogen gas heated to the highest temperature of the heaviest hydrocarbon desired to be extracted.

530 6. (Original) The method according to claim 5, further comprising the collection of the hot Nitrogen/Hydrocarbon into an isolated extraction tube taking these gases hot from the shaft.

7. (Original) The method according to claim 1 of regulating Nitrogen flow such that the thermal segments of the Cold Cracker are kept at constant conditions so the

535 separated hydrocarbons are accurately refining the output into reliable fractions of hydrocarbons.

8. (Original) A method of extracting evaporated hydrocarbons from a coal, shale, peat or landfill seam using a primary shaft drilling, and as the extraction continues, secondary narrow drillings to enable continued evaporated hydrocarbon extraction

540 comprising the steps of: a. (amended) drilling narrow secondary holes and applying a pulsed application of Liquid Nitrogen through a spaced hole sieve making Nitrogen droplets that evaporate rapidly as they drop down the hole releasing Nitrogen gas into the coal, shale, peat or landfill seam. Initially

545 this can freeze to brittle the coal seam in this area allowing vibration cracking of the seam structure. As it heats up, the hydrocarbons evaporated are carried to the main drilling in the gaseous Nitrogen flow and as the ring of these units freezes it keeps the ground water from entering the active extraction zone.

550 b. forcing the Nitrogen gas to seep into the seam only by covering the soil and rock above the seam with a gas impervious sleeve. c. (amended) increasing the sequence of rings of holes, keeping the furthest hole for the application of the Liquid Nitrogen the hydrocarbons evaporated are carried to the main drilling in the gaseous Nitrogen flow and as the ring

555 of these units freezes it keeps the ground water from entering the active extraction zone, and applying a heating unit to the holes where earlier the Liquid Nitrogen was applied. d. regulating the temperature of the narrow drilling heaters to the desired temperature, as that of the highest temperature of the highest carbon count

560 molecules of the fraction of hydrocarbons desired to be extracted.

9. (Original) The method according to claim 8, wherein the Nitrogen sourcing insures the Nitrogen gas evaporating from the Liquid Nitrogen seeps into the coal, shale, peat or landfill seam by keeping the top of the drilling sealed and lining the drilling to the seam levels with Nitrogen gas-impenetrable material.

565 10. (Original) The method according to claim 8, further comprising the heating of the inner narrow drillings by insulating the narrow drilling down to the coal, shale or peat seam so all the heat produced affects the temperature of the seam only.

11. (Original) The method according to claim 8, wherein the heating unit in the narrow drillings is controlled by an enclosed liquid boiler at the temperature desired

570 by selection of the liquid in the boiler where the heating element is immersed to boil at the temperature desired to heat the seam.

12. (Original) The method according to claim 8, which prevents ignition of the seam by containing the heating element in a boiler and flooding the porous seam with Nitrogen which is the carrier for the evaporated hydrocarbons.

575 13. (Original) A method of separating the hydrocarbon fractions by Cold Cracking comprised by the steps of: a. initiating the infusion of Nitrogen gas by evaporating Liquid Nitrogen in a condenser which feeds directly into two or more pipes delivering Nitrogen gas, one organ pipe per Nitrogen pipe; 580 b. running the Nitrogen pipes over the evaporated hydrocarbon/Nitrogen extraction pipe in an insulated packet including the Nitrogen pipes and the extraction pipe with radiator plates to transfer the thermal temperature between the cold pipes of Nitrogen gas and hot gas of the extraction pipe; c. segmenting the extraction pipe by placing draining pipes with traps in 585 sections of the extraction pipe to drain out condensed liquids and allow their flow into a collecting vessel; d. accommodating both hydrocarbon fractions which are liquids at normal temperatures and hydrocarbon fractions which are gaseous at normal temperatures; 590 e. enabling collection of the rare gases, Hydrogen, Helium and Neon, by allowing their rising into a tube and capturing them in an inverted container which allows by their containment in mylar balloons their storage and movement to market and final separation, one from another; f. separating the light gasoline from water in the collection cylinder with a

595 float with holes to keep the separation from turmoil in the solution when adding condensed liquid mix; and g. further removing contaminants from the water by slow freezing so the crystal structure of the freezing water eliminates other materials.

14. (Original) The method according to claim 13, wherein the cold Nitrogen tubes 600 emerging from the condenser for evaporating Liquid Nitrogen intersect with the extraction tube at its coolest point and flows warming to its hottest point as it is insulated coming from the shaft causing the extraction pipe to have a thermal gradient.

15. (Original) The method according to claim 13, wherein the thermal ranges of the 605 extraction pipe are isolated with a drain collecting the condensed hydrocarbons in the segment collecting the highest temperature evaporating (condensing) hydrocarbons in barrels or vessels storing them as liquid at normal temperatures and collecting the lower temperature evaporating (condensing) hydrocarbons that are gaseous at normal temperatures in gas collection drums.

610 16. (Original) The method according to claim 15, wherein the condensed liquids are divided at the thermal point between the neighboring segments at the defined thermal point as defines the types of hydrocarbons, molecules, and atoms using an adjustable barrier so the cooler condensation goes to the first drain and the hotter segment condenses and flows to the second drain of the two materials.

615 17. (Original) The method according to claim 13, wherein the gases that condense at higher temperatures than Nitrogen and are of smaller molecular weights are allowed to escape from the extraction tube by rising in a vertical tube topped with an inverted container that allows transfer to transport-capable containment.

18. (Original) The method, according to claim 13 of extracting water from the 620 material condensed by using a secondary separation in the thermal range of water condensation where water being denser than hydrocarbons, will sink to the bottom and the hydrocarbons condensed in that section float on the water and increasing the separation stability with a float riding on water but sinking in hydrocarbons that is slightly smaller than the cylinder and has many holes allowing small regional 625 separation and less splash and mixing as condensed material is added to the cylinder.

19. (Original) The method according to claim 18 whereby the water is further purified by slow freezing so crystal structure of water formed forces out contaminates making water that is welcome to a clean environment from the extraction process.

20. (Original) A method of clearing the extraction tube of its remaining gas after 630 cooling to minus 162⁰C, which condenses methane gas and possibly Argon at -

185.7⁰C, allowing release of the rare gases and then releasing the remaining Nitrogen to the atmosphere, and cutting the Nitrogen clouding with a fan causing air mixing at wind speeds exceeding five miles an hour to insure any resulting Nitrogen cloud is dispersed, insuring that people or animals do not breathe the pure Nitrogen gas and

635 succumbing to Nitrogen Asphyxiation or Coma.

21. (New) The method according to claim 8 which uses a large heater, electric using a heating element in the lower section of the boiling can or fuel gas heating of the liquid using extracted fuel gas with cooler liquid drained to the flame heater at ground level with one-way valves keeping the fluid rising and the heated liquid proceeding

640 upward with one one-way valve keeping the heated fluid going down to enter the boiling can through a funnel in the middle of the can releasing the hot liquid upward with all fluids passing through insulated hoses, with higher boiling point liquid transferring the coil heat to the outside and radiating the heat to the gases in the shaft and drillings and though the coal, shale, peat, or landfill seams evaporating the

645 hydrocarbons designated for extraction.

650

655