Processing of coal, oil sand and heavy oil in situ by electric and magnetic fields

A study has been made to determine the feasibility of extracting the energy commodities-electricity, gas, petroleum, coke, and chemical feedstocks-from coal, oil sand, and heavy oil, heating the deposits by electric and magnetic fields. Available electrical and chemical data indicate that this process may be technically and economically feasible. Some basic data are missing, and it has been necessary to indicate possible ranges of values for some parameters. The tentative conclusions drawn are: all these solid fossil fuels can successfully be processed underground. All five energy commodities can be produced economically in adequate quantities for a period of a century or more, without recourse to any other major energy source. The development and construction time required is short enough to permit an uninterrupted supply of energy commodities as present sources decline.