Process for in situ retorting of oil shale

Patent · Tue Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1967

OSTI ID:6327949

Burgh, E E

This process for in-situ retorting of oil shale includes the drilling of a pilot hole terminating in cross drifts through an oil-shale section. The pilot hole is enlarged laterally to form a retort while displacing material removed during the enlargement downward into the cross drift. Leaner kerogen shale is blended with kerogen richer shale or other fuel with the blended shale being returned to the retort. A combustion wave is passed through the returned shale to retort hydrocarbons from the blended shale in the retort and the shale adjacent to the retort. The combustion front is maintained at temperatures of from about 700 - 1,500$F. (16 claims)

• Assignee: TUL; EDB-81-109348
• Patent Number(s): US 3349848
• OSTI ID: 6327949
• 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
COMBUSTION
COMMINUTION
CRACKING
DECOMPOSITION
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FUELS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
MATERIALS
OIL SHALES
OXIDATION
PROCESSING
PYROLYSIS
RECOVERY
RETORTING
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TUNNELING
VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE