Ventilation air and process air distribution for in situ oil shale retorts

Patent · Wed Apr 13 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6163794

Lefler, C A; Mccarthy, J E; French, G B; Mills, E A; Miall, D E

A method is described for recovering liquid and gaseous products from a number of in situ oil shale retorts in a subterranean formation containing oil shale, in which ventilation air is provided for underground workings and process air is provided for a number of in situ oil shale retorts each containing a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale. The method includes the steps of withdrawing ventilation air from underground workings at a first pressure lower than ambient air pressure aboveground, withdrawing process off gas from a number of in situ oil shale retorts at a pressure lower than air pressure in the underground workings for drawing process air from underground workings into the retorts, and introducing ventilation air and process air into the underground workings at an inlet pressure substantially the same as ambient air pressure aboveground. 26 claims.

• Assignee: Occidental Oil Shale Inc.
• Patent Number(s): US 4379590
• OSTI ID: 6163794
• 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
AIR FLOW
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GAS FLOW
GASES
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
MATERIALS
MINERAL OILS
OIL SHALES
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
RETORTING
SHALE GAS
SHALE OIL
VENTILATION