Enhanced recovery of hydrocarbonaceous fluids from oil shale
The present application relates to a method for enhancing the recovery of hydrocarbonaceous fluids from oil shale containing organic carbon material which comprises heating the oil shale in a retort vessel to a temperature at which thermal decomposition of the organic carbons is initiated. After the initial thermal decomposition temperature is reached, a pre-determined quantity of oil is introduced into the retort wherein the amount of added oil is sufficient to enhance the organic carbon conversion to hydrocarbonaceous fluids and wherein the majority of the added oil does not distill at the initial thermal decomposition temperature of the organic carbons in the shale. Subsequently, the retort temperature is increased to that temperature where the highest amount of organic carbon conversion is obtained. This second higher temperature is maintained for a period of time sufficient to allow substantial conversion of organic carbon material. Subsequently, retorting is continued by increasing the temperature to about 525/sup 0/ C. The present invention results in the recovery of increased amounts of oil as compared to Fischer Assay methods.
- Assignee:
- Mobil Oil Corporation
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4536279
- OSTI ID:
- 5958905
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Retorting hydrocarbonaceous solids
Shale distillation
Related Subjects
040402* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Surface Methods
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EQUIPMENT
FISCHER ASSAY
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HEATING
HIGH TEMPERATURE
MATERIALS
MINERAL OILS
OIL SHALES
OIL YIELDS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RECOVERY
RETORTING
RETORTS
SHALE OIL
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
THERMAL DEGRADATION
THERMAL RECOVERY
YIELDS