Method and apparatus for igniting an in situ oil shale retort

Patent · Mon Nov 23 23:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6841193

Burton, R S; Rundberg, S I; Vaughn, J V; Williams, T P; Benson, G C

An in situ oil shale retort having an open void space over the top of a fragmented mass of particles is ignited as follows. A conduit is extended into the void space through a hole in overlying unfragmented formation and has an open end above the top surface of the fragmented mass. A primary air pipe has an open end above the open end of the conduit and a liquid atomizing fuel nozzle in the primary air pipe above the open end of the primary air pipe is centered in teh conduit. Fuel is introduced through the nozzle, primary air through the pipe, and secondary air is introduced through the conduit for vortical flow past the open end of the primary air pipe. The resultant fuel and air mixture is ignited for combustion within the conduit and the resultant heated ignition gas impinges on the fragmented mass for heating oil shale to an ignition temperature. 14 claims.

• Assignee: Occidental Oil Shale Inc.
• Patent Number(s): US 4301866
• OSTI ID: 6841193
• 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
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DESIGN
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASES
IGNITION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
MATERIALS
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
OIL SHALES
PIPES
PROCESSING
RETORTING