Thermally insulated bulkhead for in-situ oil shale retort

Patent · Tue Oct 13 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:6321771

Kilburn, J S

A means is provided for forming a heat-insulated gas seal in an access drift in gas communication with a hot portion of a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale in an in situ oil shale retort. The gas seal is provided by a bulkhead placed across the access drift. The bulkhead has an inside surface which faces toward the hot portion of the fragmented mass. A layer of heat insulating material on the inside surface of the bulkhead reduces heat transfer to the bulkhead from the hot portion of the fragmented mass. The bulkhead insulation layer sufficiently insulates the bulkhead from heat present in the access drift during retorting operations to inhibit structural failure or weakening of the bulkhead. A layer of heat insulating material overlies an inside wall of the drift adjacent the inside surface of the bulkhead for reducing heat transfer from the hot portion of the fragmented mass to formation adjacent the periphery of the bulkhead. The drift wall insulation layer inhibits thermal degradation of formation adjacent the periphery of the bulkhead. 37 claims.

• Assignee: Occidental Oil Shale Inc.
• Patent Number(s): US 4294563
• OSTI ID: 6321771
• 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
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
DECOMPOSITION
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
MATERIALS
OIL SHALES
PROCESSING
RETORTING
RETORTS
SEALING MATERIALS
SEALS
THERMAL INSULATION