Hydrogenation of shale oil

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS OF HYDROFINING A SHALE OIL BOILING IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 350*F. TO 1000*F.+, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES PREHEATING THE SHALE OIL FEED TO AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE HIGH ENOUGH TO VAPORIZE A MAJOR PROPORTION THEREOF, SEPARATING A RESULTING VAPORIZED FRACTION FORM A REMAINING LIQUID FRACTION OF THE FEED OIL, PASSING THE SAID LIQUID FRACTION AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURE MIXED WITH TOTAL HYDROGEN-RICH TREAT GAS DOWN THROUGH A HYDROGENATION CATALYST CONTAINED IN A FIRST REACTION ZONE UNDER HYDROGENATIN CONDITINS FOR NITROGEN REMOVAL WHICH CAUSE VAPORIZATION OF A PART OF SAID LIQUID FRACTION, COMMINGLING SAID VAPORIZED FRACTION OF THE FEED OI WITH EFFUENT GAS, VAPOR AND LIQUID FROM THE FIRST REACTION ZONE FOR HEAT EXCHANGE OF THUS COMMINGLED SUBSTANCES AND CONDENSATION OF HIGHEST BOILING COMPONENTS OF THE EFFUENT FROM THE FIRST REACTION ZONE, PASSING REMAINING VAPORS AND GASES SUBSTANTIALLY FREE OF LIQUID FROM SAID COMMINGLING THROUGH A SECOND REACTION ZONE CONTAINING HYDROGENATION CATALYST UNDER HYDROGENATION CONDITIONS FOR NITROGEN REMOVAL.