US4153533A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shale conversion process
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-09-07
•
Granted: 1979-05-08
•
Expires: 1997-09-07
Abstract
Abstract A process for converting the kerogen of oil shale to oil products is provided, which includes subjecting a mixture of oil shale and hydrogen to the influence of wave energy in the microwave range.
Inventors
- 👤 Chalmer G. Kirkbride
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:59
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10B; C10B53/00; C10B53/06; C10G; C10G1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
48 words
Process for recovering oleaginous products from oil shale which comprises drying oil shale particles to a free moisture content of less than 3.0% by weight, admixing the dried shale particles with hydrogen, and subjecting, at a temperature of less than 600° F., the shale-hydrogen mixture to microwave energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
48 words
Process for recovering oleaginous products from oil shale which comprises drying oil shale particles to a free moisture content of less than 3.0% by weight, admixing the dried shale particles with hydrogen, and subjecting, at a temperature of less than 600° F., the shale-hydrogen mixture to microwave energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein the free moisture content of the shale is reduced below 0.5 by weight in the drying step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein the microwave energy is from 1 megacycle per second to 1,000 gigacycles per second.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein oil shale in situ is dried to a moisture content of below about 3% by weight, and a mixture thereof with hydrogen subjected to microwave energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
Process for recovering oleaginous products from oil shale which comprises drying oil shale particles to a free moisture content of below 3.0% by weight, mixing the dried shale particles with hydrogen, and subjecting, at a temperature of less than 600° F., the shale-hydrogen mixture to microwave energy wherein the microwave energy is comprised of at least two frequencies.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
Process for recovering oleaginous products from oil shale which comprises drying oil shale particles to a free moisture content of below 3.0% by weight, mixing the dried shale particles with hydrogen, and subjecting, at a temperature of less than 600° F., the shale-hydrogen mixture to microwave energy wherein the microwave energy is comprised of at least two frequencies.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process according to claim 5 wherein the different frequencies of the microwave energy are applied simultaneously.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process according to claim 5 wherein the different frequencies of the microwave energy are applied consecutively.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3484364A
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US3652447A
Cited
US3843457A
Cited
US3922215A
Cited
US3925190A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-05-07 | 1982-11-06 | 1983-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-05-07 | 1986-11-06 | 1987-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-05-07 | 1990-11-06 | 1991-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |