US4166022A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recovery of oil from oil shale
Assignee: Gulf Research and Development Co
•
Filing: 1978-03-27
•
Granted: 1979-08-28
•
Expires: 1998-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A process for recovering oil from oil shale containing kerogen which comprises contacting said oil shale with steam having a partial pressure of at least about 600 psia (4.3 MPa) but no greater than about 3000 psia (20.8 MPa) at a reaction temperature ranging from about 300 DEG C. to about 500 DEG C. for a period of time ranging from about 0.5 to about 6 hours.
Inventors
- 👤 Shirley C. Tsai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:03
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G1/00; C10G1/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S208/00; Y10S208/952
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A novel process for recovering oil from oil shale having a mesh size ranging from about 4 to about 200 U.S. Standard sieve containing kerogen which consists essentially of contacting said oil shale with steam having a partial pressure of at least about 600 psia but no greater than about 3000 psia at a reaction temperature ranging from about 300° to about 500° C. and a total pressure ranging from about 800 to about 3500 psia for a period of time ranging from about 0.5 to about 6 hours, said contact being conducted by passing steam at a liquid hourly space velocity of about 0.1 to about 3 through a fixed bed reactor containing shale, said fixed bed reactor having a length to diameter ratio of about 5 to about 100.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A novel process for recovering oil from oil shale having a mesh size ranging from about 4 to about 200 U.S. Standard sieve containing kerogen which consists essentially of contacting said oil shale with steam having a partial pressure of at least about 600 psia but no greater than about 3000 psia at a reaction temperature ranging from about 300° to about 500° C. and a total pressure ranging from about 800 to about 3500 psia for a period of time ranging from about 0.5 to about 6 hours, said contact being conducted by passing steam at a liquid hourly space velocity of about 0.1 to about 3 through a fixed bed reactor containing shale, said fixed bed reactor having a length to diameter ratio of about 5 to about 100.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said shale can have a mesh size ranging from about 6 to about 20 U.S. Standard sieve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said steam has a partial pressure of at least about 800 psia but no greater than about 2000 psia.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said process has a total pressure ranging from about 1000 psia to about 2500 psia.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said process has a water to shale weight ratio ranging from about 1:4 to about 3:1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said process has a water to shale weight ratio ranging from about 1:3 to about 2:1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said temperature ranges from about 350° to about 450° C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said process has a contact time ranging from about 2.5 to about 5 hours.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said process has a contact time ranging from about 3 to about 4 hours.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said process is a fixed-bed operation having a plurality of fixed-bed reactors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
A novel process according to claim 1 wherein said steam has a partial pressure of at least about 800 psia but no greater than about 2000 psia and a temperature ranging from about 350° to 450° C.; and wherein said process has a total pressure ranging from about 1000 psia to about 2500 psia, a water to shale weight ratio ranging from about 1:3 to about 2:1 and a contact time ranging from about 2.5 to about 5 hours.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A novel process according to claim 11 wherein said contact time is about 3 to about 4 hours and wherein said process is a fixed-bed operation having a plurality of fixed-bed reactors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said contact is conducted by passing steam at a liquid hourly space velocity of about 0.2 to about 1.5 through a fixed bed reactor containing shale, said fixed reactor having a length to diameter ratio of about 25.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1674420A
Cited
US1836051A
Cited
US1713794A
Cited
US2434815A
Cited
US3051644A
Cited
US4037658A
Cited
US4028222A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-08-27 | 1983-02-26 | 1983-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-08-27 | 1987-02-26 | 1987-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-08-27 | 1991-02-26 | 1991-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |