Patent ID: 7416022

Claim:
A method for in-situ production of hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation, the method comprising: providing a substantially vertically disposed borehole in the formation; providing at least one substantially horizontally disposed production borehole selectively in fluid communication with the substantially vertically disposed borehole; providing a plurality of substantially horizontally disposed fracturing boreholes selectively in fluid communication with the substantially vertically disposed borehole, at least two of the substantially horizontally disposed boreholes provided on substantially opposite sides of the substantially vertically disposed borehole in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of least regional stresses, the plurality of substantially horizontally disposed fracturing boreholes further disposed a distance below an upper surface whereby upon fracturing a formation the fractures terminate a distance from the upper surface; preventing substantially fluid communication between the substantially vertically disposed borehole and the at least one substantially horizontally disposed production borehole; and introducing an initial quantity of liquified gas into at least one of the plurality of substantially horizontally disposed fracturing boreholes at a rate and quantity sufficient to, upon vaporization of the initial quantity of liquified gas in the at least one substantially horizontally disposed fracturing borehole, fracture the formation to create a network of fractures having both horizontal and vertical fractures, the network of fractures in fluid communication with the at least one substantially horizontally disposed fracturing borehole.