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Title: Thermally insulated bulkhead for in-situ oil shale retort

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6321771

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
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: Filed date 9 Apr 1979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English