Patent ID: 7789164

Claim:
A method for extracting a hydrocarbon-based product from a low-permeability hydrocarbon-bearing subsurface formation, the method comprising the steps of: a) increasing permeability in a region of the subsurface formation to a fluid so as to establish a region of enhanced permeability, wherein the step of increasing permeability comprises the sub-steps of: i) delivering a slurry to the subsurface formation via an injection well, the slurry comprising liquid CO 2 and solid CO 2 ; ii) pressurizing the well by permitting the liquid CO 2 and solid CO 2 inside the well to form supercritical CO 2 , thereby forming a pressurized well; and iii) depressurizing the pressurized well to reach a steady state reduced pressure, whereby an associated adiabatic expansion of the CO 2 cools the subsurface formation and causes thermal and mechanical stresses within the formation which in turn lead to fracturing of said formation, b) contacting hydrocarbonaceous material in the region of enhanced permeability with a reactive fluid to create a mobile hydrocarbon-based product; and c) transporting the mobile hydrocarbon-based product out of the subsurface formation to yield an extracted hydrocarbon-based product.