In situ retorting of oil shale
A method and apparatus are described for the in situ retorting of oil shale and purification products comprising establishing an underground in situ retort containing a mass of rubblized matter comprising oil shale and establishing a flame front within the rubblized matter. Oxygen containing gas comprising at least 90% by wt oxygen and diluent are passed into the retort to support combustion and form combustion gases suitable for the retorting of the rubblized mass and formation of off-gas comprising hydrogen, hydrocarbons, and contaminants. Off-gas comprising hydrogen, hydrocarbons, and contaminants are recovered from the retort and hydrocarbons and contaminants are substantially separated from at least a portion of the off-gas to produce a purified gas stream comprising hydrogen. At least a portion of the purified gas stream is passed to one or more conversion zones wherein shale oil is contacted with a stream comprising purified gas stream in the presence of a conversion catalyst at conversion conditions so as to substantially reduce the amount of nitrogen and sulfur contained in the shale oil. 9 claims.
- Assignee:
- Standard Oil Co. (Indiana)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4353418
- OSTI ID:
- 5540153
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
040401* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
MATERIALS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OIL SHALES
OXIDATION
OXYGEN
PROCESSING
RETORTING
SULFUR
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES