Method for flattening the combustion zone in an in situ oil shale retort by the addition of fuel
A secondary combustion zone is established and its location is controlled in a fragmented mass of particles containing oil shale in an in situ oil shale retort. A processing zone including a primary combustion zone is established in the retort by igniting a portion of the mass of particles. An oxygen-supplying gas is introduced into the retort to advance the processing zone through the fragmented mass. If the primary combustion zone is not substantially planar or has not progressed uniformly, a secondary combustion zone is established upstream of the primary combustion zone by introducing into the retort a retort inlet mixture comprising fuel and at least sufficient oxygen for combustion of the fuel at a temperature no greater than the primary combustion zone temperature. The secondary combustion zone is maintained at an upstream location and allowed to spread laterally through the fragmented mass, heating portions of such fragmented mass, to the self-ignition temperature of oil shale which spreads the primary combustion zone laterally across the fragmented mass at the upstream location. 48 claims.
- Assignee:
- EDB-84-106019
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4224990
- OSTI ID:
- 7079936
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
040401* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COMBUSTION CONTROL
COMBUSTION WAVES
CONTROL
DECOMPOSITION
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURED RESERVOIRS
FUELS
GAS INJECTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
MATERIALS
NONMETALS
OIL SHALES
OXYGEN
PROCESSING
RETORTING
RETORTS