The patented Dry Fracture Shale System (DF2S™) increases US oil reserves by a factor of 10 or greater by providing access to over 1.2 trillion barrels of potential oil.   DF2S accomplished this through long term, environmentally safe, oil and gas extraction from in-situ retort processing of high yield oil shale fields. This potential oil is currently only accessible by mining. It is not accessible through conventional or unconventional oil extraction technology.  Also, DF2S™ is applicable to post processing of hydraulic fracking fields for extended yield.  Significantly, DF2S™ is a water- free, chemicals-free process.

 Key features of DF2S™ are:

Unique downhole, 3-dimensional electromagnetic energy array achieves precision heating of large shale modules (e.g. 100,000 ton, 50,000 cubic yard shale blocks)

DF2S™ was developed by a design team led by our Chief Scientist Dr. Chip Grounds, with skills drawn from Naval Research Laboratory experience in electromagnetic warfare, radar, and high power microwave systems, now joined by Dan Moos, former Technology Fellow at Baker Hughes.

On May 15, 2018, the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded Highland Light patent no. 9,970,276 B2 for the "System and Method for Dry Fracture Shale Energy Extraction".  The company submitted a follow on patent application May 11, 2018, covering enhancements to the DF2S.

Highland Light received a grant from the National Science Foundation (7/1/17 – 2,000 companies applied resulting in 125 grant awards) to develop a detailed model of the system and the process. The grant also has a testing component with Penn State conducting experiments into the permeability increase in shale caused by heating.  

Market and Collaboration with Oil Producers and Service Companies

Initial commercial market is in the U. S. Mountain States with high kerogen concentrations – where DF2S can increase total U.S. proved oil reserves by an order of magnitude.  DOE has identified 1.2 trillion bbls available for recovery but not accessible by current conventional or unconventional oil extraction techniques..  Highland Light is coordinating with oil companies. to assess DF2S application, using oil company field data and Highland Light production models incorporating our joint Dry Fracture Oil Shale Pilot Initiative.  Projections show high profitability and rapid payback for DF2S in high kerogen areas.  Goal is to establish DF2S pilot well and commercial operations in the Mountain States and then extend operations selectively throughout the U. S. and internationally – benefitting from design enhancements and operational experience, and to include post processing of fracked fields.

Development and Commissioning Program 

We are engaged in a 36-month program, working with industry to complete the system analysis, hardware development and testing, including two pilot wells (proving functional and commercial metrics).  We believe our Pilot Initiative partners will be the first to proceed with commercial operations.