In situ retorting of oil shale and energy recovery

Patent · Tue Oct 02 04:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:5602739

Berry, K L

Disclosed is a process for the in situ retorting of oil shale and energy recovery from generated off gases. An underground retort containing rubblized oil shale is subjected to retorting, thereby forming shale oil and off gases. The off gases are purified and burned in a gas turbine. Commonly this process comprises forming a subterranean in situ retort containing rubblized oil shale having a void space of about 5 to about 40 percent; passing a retorting gas through the in situ retort to effectively retort the oil shale and produce a mixture of shale oil and off gases; subjecting the mixture of shale oil and off gases to a preliminary separation to remove gross quantities of shale oil from the off gases; passing a portion of the off gases to a purification zone so as to remove off gas impurities which would be detrimental to the environment or the operation of downstream equipment; and passing a portion of the purified off gases to a gas turbine where said off gases are burned and power is generated.

• Assignee: Standard Oil Co. (Indiana)
• Patent Number(s): US 4169506
• OSTI ID: 5602739
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040401* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320304 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Waste Heat Recovery & Utilization
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
ENERGY RECOVERY
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GAS TURBINES
GASEOUS WASTES
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
MACHINERY
MINERAL OILS
OIL SHALES
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
PURIFICATION
RECOVERY
RETORTING
SHALE OIL
SYNTHETIC FUELS
SYNTHETIC PETROLEUM
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
WASTES