Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Hydrocarbon recovery method and apparatus

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5251376

Disclosed is an improved method and apparatus for the recovery of hydrocarbons from tar sands, oil shale or oil containing diatomaceous earth. The method comprises passing feed comprising tar sands, oil shale or oil containing diatomaceous earth to a contacting zone wherein the feed is contacted with heat transfer medium in a screw mixing zone to heat said feed to near recovery temperature wherein the feed is at least partially heated to form fluid material having heating value and forming partially spent inorganic matter associated with carbonaceous material; passing a mixture comprising substantially all of the fluid material and partially spent inorganic matter associated with carbonaceous material from the contacting zone to a separation zone wherein solids are partially separated from the fluid material; and recovering fluid material.

Assignee:
Standard Oil Co. (Ind.)
Patent Number(s):
US 4415432
OSTI ID:
5251376
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English