US2665238A - Recovery of oil from shale - Google Patents
Recovery of oil from shale Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US2665238A US2665238A US236478A US23647851A US2665238A US 2665238 A US2665238 A US 2665238A US 236478 A US236478 A US 236478A US 23647851 A US23647851 A US 23647851A US 2665238 A US2665238 A US 2665238A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- shale
- oil
- kerogen
- water
- temperature
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 title description 7
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 11
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000000354 decomposition reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004058 oil shale Substances 0.000 description 4
- UHOVQNZJYSORNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N Benzene Chemical compound C1=CC=CC=C1 UHOVQNZJYSORNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 230000029087 digestion Effects 0.000 description 2
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004927 clay Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000428 dust Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
- C10G1/00—Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal
- C10G1/02—Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal by distillation
Definitions
- This invention relates to the recovery of oil from oil shale and contemplates the digestion of lump shale with water under elevated temperatures and high pressures.
- the treatment with the water reduces the shale to a soft clay consistency. It is preferable to have the shale crushed to relatively small sizes.
- crushed shale containing maximum sizes of about 1 or 2 inches has been successfully processed with digestion periods not exceeding about six hours.
- the method of recovering oil from oil shale containing kerogen comprises charging to a retort feed materials consisting of the shale and water in large amount approximating the weight of the shale and subjecting the material in the retort to a temperature in excess of 500 F. under a pressure in excess of 1000 lbs. per square inch to thereby effect the decomposition of the kerogen and resultant formation of oil.
- the method of recovering oil from oil shale containing kerogen that comprises charging to a retort feed materials consisting of the shale and water in large amount approximating the weight of the shale and subjecting the material in the retort to a temperature of the order of 700 F. under a pressure of the order of 3000 lbs. per square inch to thereby effect the decomposition of the kerogen and resultant formation of oil.
Description
Patented Jan. 5, 1954 RECOVERY OF OIL FROM SHALE James K. Truitt, Wappingers Falls, and George B. Arnold, Glenham, N. Y., assignors to The Texas Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application July 12, 1951, Serial No. 236,478
2 Claims. 1
This invention relates to the recovery of oil from oil shale and contemplates the digestion of lump shale with water under elevated temperatures and high pressures.
We have discovered that by digesting the shale with water under high temperatures and high super-atmospheric pressures the kerogen is resolved and displaced by the water. The temperature and pressure conditions to efiect resolution of the kerogen vary somewhat with the character of the shale, but in general pressures of the order of 3000 lbs. and temperatures approximating 700 F. are required to effect a substantially complete resolution of the kerogen and recovery of the oil content of the shale.
At temperatures around 500 F. and, pressures of about 1000 lbs. the water has little or no effect in resolving the kerogen but as the temperature is increased above 500 F. and as the pressure is increased above 1000 lbs, the effect of the water in resolving the kerogen becomes noticeable. The amount of oil recovered increases generally as the temperature or pressure is further increased, but pressures as high as about 3000 p. s. i. g. and temperatures at least approximating as high as 700 F. are required to effect a substantially complete recovery of the oil.
The effect of the temperature and pressure is well shown by a series of typical runs in which the oil shale was subjected to a variety of temperature-pressure conditions. The shale for these runs was crushed shale composed of material of which the largest sizes approximated A; of an inch and of smaller material including dust. The shale in each run was digested with approximately equal weight of water in a closed bomb for a period of six hours. The following table gives the temperature-pressure conditions and the recoveries of oil obtained in these particular runs:
It will be seen that while material oil recoveries were obtained under the lower temperaturepressure conditions that only run 1, which was under the most severe conditions of temperature and pressure, accomplished a sufliciently high yield of recovered oil to be considered suitable for commercial operations. In determining the data for the carbon contained in the solid residue the treated shale was extracted with benzene and then dried.
The treatment with the water reduces the shale to a soft clay consistency. It is preferable to have the shale crushed to relatively small sizes.
in order to facilitate complete penetration and displacement by the water. In our process crushed shale containing maximum sizes of about 1 or 2 inches has been successfully processed with digestion periods not exceeding about six hours.
Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described herein, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein, while securing to a greater or less extent some or all of the benefits of the invention, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.
We claim:
1. The method of recovering oil from oil shale containing kerogen that comprises charging to a retort feed materials consisting of the shale and water in large amount approximating the weight of the shale and subjecting the material in the retort to a temperature in excess of 500 F. under a pressure in excess of 1000 lbs. per square inch to thereby effect the decomposition of the kerogen and resultant formation of oil.
2. The method of recovering oil from oil shale containing kerogen that comprises charging to a retort feed materials consisting of the shale and water in large amount approximating the weight of the shale and subjecting the material in the retort to a temperature of the order of 700 F. under a pressure of the order of 3000 lbs. per square inch to thereby effect the decomposition of the kerogen and resultant formation of oil.
JAMES K. TRUITT. GEORGE E. ARNOLD.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,486,243 I-Iackstaff Mar. 11, 1924 1,497,607 Streppel June 10, 1924 1,520,752 Horwitz Dec. 30, 1924 1,904,477 Krauch et a1. Apr. 18, 1933 1,936,819 Bayer Nov. 28, 1933
Claims (1)
1. THE METHOD OF RECOVERING OIL FROM OIL SHALE CONTAINING KEROGEN THAT COMPRISES CHARGING TO A RETORT FEED MATERIALS CONSISTING OF THE SHALE AND WATER IN LARGE AMOUNT APPROXIMATING THE WEIGHT OF THE SHALE AND SUBJECTING THE MATERIAL IN THE RETORT TO A TEMPERATURE IN EXCESS OF 500* F. UNDER A PRESSURE IN EXCESS OF 1000 LBS. PER SQUARE INCH TO THEREBY EFFECT THE DECOMPOSITION OF THE KEROGEN AND RESULTANT FORMATION OF OIL.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US236478A US2665238A (en) | 1951-07-12 | 1951-07-12 | Recovery of oil from shale |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US236478A US2665238A (en) | 1951-07-12 | 1951-07-12 | Recovery of oil from shale |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US2665238A true US2665238A (en) | 1954-01-05 |
Family
ID=22889670
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US236478A Expired - Lifetime US2665238A (en) | 1951-07-12 | 1951-07-12 | Recovery of oil from shale |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US2665238A (en) |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3051644A (en) * | 1959-07-01 | 1962-08-28 | Texaco Inc | Method for recovering oil from oil shale |
US3960702A (en) * | 1974-08-08 | 1976-06-01 | Marathon Oil Company | Vapor phase water process for retorting oil shale |
US4005005A (en) * | 1974-05-31 | 1977-01-25 | Standard Oil Company (Indiana) | Process for recovering and upgrading hydrocarbons from tar sands |
US4108760A (en) * | 1974-07-25 | 1978-08-22 | Coal Industry (Patents) Limited | Extraction of oil shales and tar sands |
US4161428A (en) * | 1976-10-06 | 1979-07-17 | Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft | Device for recovering oil products from oil sands |
US4557820A (en) * | 1984-05-24 | 1985-12-10 | The Standard Oil Company | Conversion of high boiling organic materials to low boiling materials |
US4559127A (en) * | 1984-05-24 | 1985-12-17 | The Standard Oil Company | Conversion of high boiling organic materials to low boiling materials |
WO1988002285A1 (en) * | 1986-10-03 | 1988-04-07 | Still Otto Gmbh | Process for treating contaminated earth |
US4840725A (en) * | 1987-06-19 | 1989-06-20 | The Standard Oil Company | Conversion of high boiling liquid organic materials to lower boiling materials |
WO2013070312A1 (en) * | 2011-11-08 | 2013-05-16 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Processing a hydrocarbon stream using supercritical water |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1486243A (en) * | 1920-04-19 | 1924-03-11 | George C Hackstaff | Process for treatment of oil shale and apparatus therefor |
US1497607A (en) * | 1920-06-30 | 1924-06-10 | Firm Deutsche Erdol Ag | Separating of oil from sand |
US1520752A (en) * | 1920-02-27 | 1924-12-30 | Horwitz Wilhelm | Process for the recovery of petroleum |
US1904477A (en) * | 1927-01-13 | 1933-04-18 | Ig Farbenindustrie Ag | Production of valuable organic products |
US1936819A (en) * | 1928-10-03 | 1933-11-28 | Uhde Gmbh Friedrich | Production of liquid products from solid or liquid carbonaceous materials |
-
1951
- 1951-07-12 US US236478A patent/US2665238A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1520752A (en) * | 1920-02-27 | 1924-12-30 | Horwitz Wilhelm | Process for the recovery of petroleum |
US1486243A (en) * | 1920-04-19 | 1924-03-11 | George C Hackstaff | Process for treatment of oil shale and apparatus therefor |
US1497607A (en) * | 1920-06-30 | 1924-06-10 | Firm Deutsche Erdol Ag | Separating of oil from sand |
US1904477A (en) * | 1927-01-13 | 1933-04-18 | Ig Farbenindustrie Ag | Production of valuable organic products |
US1936819A (en) * | 1928-10-03 | 1933-11-28 | Uhde Gmbh Friedrich | Production of liquid products from solid or liquid carbonaceous materials |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3051644A (en) * | 1959-07-01 | 1962-08-28 | Texaco Inc | Method for recovering oil from oil shale |
US4005005A (en) * | 1974-05-31 | 1977-01-25 | Standard Oil Company (Indiana) | Process for recovering and upgrading hydrocarbons from tar sands |
US4108760A (en) * | 1974-07-25 | 1978-08-22 | Coal Industry (Patents) Limited | Extraction of oil shales and tar sands |
US3960702A (en) * | 1974-08-08 | 1976-06-01 | Marathon Oil Company | Vapor phase water process for retorting oil shale |
US4161428A (en) * | 1976-10-06 | 1979-07-17 | Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft | Device for recovering oil products from oil sands |
US4557820A (en) * | 1984-05-24 | 1985-12-10 | The Standard Oil Company | Conversion of high boiling organic materials to low boiling materials |
US4559127A (en) * | 1984-05-24 | 1985-12-17 | The Standard Oil Company | Conversion of high boiling organic materials to low boiling materials |
WO1988002285A1 (en) * | 1986-10-03 | 1988-04-07 | Still Otto Gmbh | Process for treating contaminated earth |
US4840725A (en) * | 1987-06-19 | 1989-06-20 | The Standard Oil Company | Conversion of high boiling liquid organic materials to lower boiling materials |
WO2013070312A1 (en) * | 2011-11-08 | 2013-05-16 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Processing a hydrocarbon stream using supercritical water |
US9505989B2 (en) | 2011-11-08 | 2016-11-29 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Processing a hydrocarbon stream using supercritical water |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US2665238A (en) | Recovery of oil from shale | |
ES454969A1 (en) | Process for upgrading lignitic-type coal as a fuel | |
US2900269A (en) | Preparation of molded articles from kerogenic minerals | |
GB1481800A (en) | Production of coke | |
US2393214A (en) | Processing acid sludge | |
DE1800238A1 (en) | Process for the production of shaped cokes in spherical shape | |
US2433008A (en) | 4, 6-di-tertiary-butyl-3-methylcyclo-hexanol | |
US2464267A (en) | Dehydrating alumina in the production of aluminum | |
US2596793A (en) | Process for the extraction of valuable constituents from unexposed oil-bearing shales not spent by oxidation | |
US2681300A (en) | Extraction of coal | |
US2304351A (en) | Method of manufacturing primary carbon | |
US2033159A (en) | Method of recovering potassium sulphate from syngenite | |
US1685772A (en) | Reduction of sulphate minerals and briquettes therefor | |
US2350422A (en) | Cork product and process of making the same | |
US1269170A (en) | Method of separating borates from their gangue. | |
US4419217A (en) | Process for improving the yield of shale oil | |
US3259324A (en) | Methods of breaking up sintered compacted metal bodies | |
ES326939A1 (en) | A procedure for the thermal craquization of a hydrocarboned feed, with dilution water vapor. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) | |
GB894727A (en) | Improvements in or relating to the production of oil from shale | |
US1782556A (en) | Coke and process of producing the same | |
US1374666A (en) | Process for the acetylation of hydrocarbons and subsequent recovery of the products of the reaction | |
US2353040A (en) | Recovery of styrene | |
DE828682C (en) | Process for the preparation of ceramic and bauxite-like raw materials, in particular raw clay slate | |
US1744958A (en) | Fermentation process for producing acetone and butyl alcohol | |
US1353532A (en) | Producing compounds of radium |