Oil collection and recovery system for in situ oil shale retort

Patent · Tue Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:6555077

Ridley, R D

An in situ oil shale retort is described which has a sealed space at the bottom in which liquids produced in the in situ retort and retort off gases are separated. The separated liquids and retort off gases are removed from the sealed space through a bulkhead provided in an access tunnel leading to the sealed space, which can be a portion of the tunnel. A sump in the floor of the access tunnel inside the sealed space collects the liquids. Trenches extending from the bottom of the in situ retort into the sump direct liquids from the in situ retort into the sump. The trenches are backfilled with large shale particles to prevent blocking of the trenches when the oil shale in the retort is explosively fragmented. Conduits extending through the bulkhead and into the sealed space are provided for removing liquids from the sump and retort off gases from the sealed space above the liquid level. (16 claims)

• Assignee: Occidental Petroleum Corp
• Patent Number(s): US 4007963
• OSTI ID: 6555077
• 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
COMMINUTION
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINEERING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FUELS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
MATERIALS
OIL SHALES
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
RETORTING
THERMAL RECOVERY