Patent US4158638A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4158638A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Recovery of oil from oil shale
Assignee: Gulf Research and Development Co
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Filing: 1978-03-27
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Granted: 1979-06-19
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Expires: 1998-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A process for recovering oil from oil shale containing kerogen which comprises contacting said oil shale at a reaction temperature of at least about 300° C. with steam having a partial pressure of at least about 450 psia (3.1 MPa) and an organic solvent having a boiling point at ambient pressure, that is, about 15 psia (0.1 MPa), of at least about 80° C.
Inventors
- 👤 Shirley C. Tsai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:39
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G1/00; C10G1/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A process for recovering oil from oil shale containing kerogen which comprises contacting said oil shale at a reaction temperature of about 300° C. to about 500° C. with steam having a partial pressure of about 450 to about 2500 psia and an organic solvent having a boiling point at ambient pressure of about 80° to about 500° C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A process for recovering oil from oil shale containing kerogen which comprises contacting said oil shale at a reaction temperature of about 300° C. to about 500° C. with steam having a partial pressure of about 450 to about 2500 psia and an organic solvent having a boiling point at ambient pressure of about 80° to about 500° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said oil shale is pulverized to a mesh size ranging from about 10 to about 400 U.S. Standard sieve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said oil shale is pulverized to a mesh size ranging from about 20 to about 200 U.S. Standard sieve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said organic solvent is a liquid under reaction conditions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said organic solvent is a hydrocarbon solvent or a mixture of hydrocarbon solvents which is a liquid under reaction conditions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said organic solvent has a boiling point ranging from about 200° to about 450° C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said organic solvent is benzene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said organic solvent is tetralin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said organic solvent is product oil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said partial pressure of steam ranges from about 550 to about 2000 psia.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein total pressure ranges from about 500 to about 3000 psia.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein total pressure ranges from about 600 to about 2500 psia.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein a solvent to shale volume/weight ratio ranges from about 0.1:1 to about 4:1.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein a solvent to shale volume/weight ratio ranges from about 0.5:1 to about 2.5:1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein a water to shale weight ratio ranges from about 0.1:1 to about 2:1.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein a water to shale weight ratio ranges from about 0.2:1 to about 1:1.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said temperature ranges from about 350° to about 450° C.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said process has a contact time ranging from about 10 minutes to about 12 hours in batch and continuous operations.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said process has a contact time ranging from about 30 minutes to about 4 hours in batch and continuous operations.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said process has a contact time ranging from about 1 hour to about 30 days in in-situ operation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said process has a contact time ranging from about 2 hours to about 15 days in in-situ operation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
79 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said solvent is tetralin; said partial pressure of steam ranges from about 475 to about 1000 psia; and wherein said process has a total pressure ranging from about 600 to about 2000 psia, a solvent to shale volume weight ratio ranging from about 0.5:1 to about 2.5:1, a water to shale weight ratio ranging from about 0.2:1 to about 1:1 and a temperature ranging from about 350° to about 450° C.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
79 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said solvent is benzene; said partial pressure of steam ranges from about 475 to about 1000 psia; and wherein said process has a total pressure ranging from about 600 to about 2000 psia, a solvent to shale volume weight ratio ranging from about 0.5:1 to about 2.5:1, a water to shale weight ratio ranging from about 0.2:1 to about 1:1 and a temperature ranging from about 350° to about 450° C.
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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) | 1982-06-18 | 1982-12-18 | 1983-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-06-18 | 1986-12-18 | 1987-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-06-18 | 1990-12-18 | 1991-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |