US4461696A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shale-oil recovery process
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
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Filing: 1983-04-25
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Granted: 1984-07-24
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Expires: 2003-04-25
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a process for converting organic material of oil-shale to predominantly liquids. The oil-shale is first heated to a temperature from about 360 DEG C. to 475 DEG C. in an inert atmosphere. The resulting liquids and gases are collected and the residue is extracted with a microemulsion capable of extracting organic material from the heat treated oil-shale.
Inventors
- 👤 Jan Bock
- 👤 Patrick P. McCall
- 👤 Max L. Robbins
- 👤 Michael Siskin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:24
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G1/00; C10G1/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A method for obtaining high conversions of organic material in oil-shale to predominately liquids, which method comprises: (a) heating the oil-shale to a temperature of about 360° C. to about 475° C. wherein volatiles are simultaneously collected during heating; (b) maintaining the oil-shale within the temperature range of about 360° C. to about 475° C. for an effective amount of time; (c) cooling the remaining residue to a temperature below the boiling point of the aqueous phase of the microemulsion of step (d) below; (d) extracting the remaining residue with a microemulsion, or a coarse emulsion containing a microemulsion, which is capable of extracting the organic material of the residue, wherein the microemulsion is comprised of: (i) about 0.3 to about 98 wt.% of an extracting agent capable of extracting organic material from the heat treated oil-shale; (ii) about 1 to about 99 wt.% of water containing up to about 25 wt.% dissolved inorganic salts, and (iii) about 0.2 to about 20 wt.% of at least one surfactant capable of forming a microemulsion; wherein an inert atmosphere is maintained throughout the process.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
182 words
A method for obtaining high conversions of organic material in oil-shale to predominately liquids, which method comprises: (a) heating the oil-shale to a temperature of about 360° C. to about 475° C. wherein volatiles are simultaneously collected during heating; (b) maintaining the oil-shale within the temperature range of about 360° C. to about 475° C. for an effective amount of time; (c) cooling the remaining residue to a temperature below the boiling point of the aqueous phase of the microemulsion of step (d) below; (d) extracting the remaining residue with a microemulsion, or a coarse emulsion containing a microemulsion, which is capable of extracting the organic material of the residue, wherein the microemulsion is comprised of: (i) about 0.3 to about 98 wt.% of an extracting agent capable of extracting organic material from the heat treated oil-shale; (ii) about 1 to about 99 wt.% of water containing up to about 25 wt.% dissolved inorganic salts, and (iii) about 0.2 to about 20 wt.% of at least one surfactant capable of forming a microemulsion; wherein an inert atmosphere is maintained throughout the process.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein component (i) of the microemulsion is a cut, boiling at a temperature from about 20° C. to about 200° C., from an oil-shale liquid, a coal liquid, or a petroleum stream.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein component (iii) of the microemulsion is a mixture of an anionic surfactant with at least one other anionic, nonionic; or cationic cosurfactant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
273 words
The method of claim 1 wherein component (iii) of the microemulsion is one or more anionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of: (a) sulfonates represented by the formula [R.sup.1 --SO.sub.3 ].sup.- Y.sup.+ wherein R 1 is C 8 to C 25 aliphatic, C 14 to C 36 alkylaryl or R 2 --(OCH 2 CH 2 ) n where R 2 has the same definition as R 1 and n is an integer from 1 to 60, and Y is hydrogen or a monovalent cation such as alkali metal or N(R 3 ) + 4 where each R 3 is independently hydrogen, alkyl or hydroxy substituted alkyl, each of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; (b) sulfonates represented by the formula [R.sup.4 --OSO.sub.3 ].sup.- Y.sup.+ where R 4 is C 8 to C 25 aliphatic, C 14 to C 38 alkylaryl or R 5 --(OCH 2 CH 2 ) n where R 5 has the same definition as R 4 and n is an integer from 1 to 60, and Y is hydrogen, alkali metal cation or N(R 3 ) + 4 , where each R 3 is independently hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or hydroxyalkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and (c) surfactants represented by the formula R.sub.a O(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.m (C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.n YX where R a is a C 8 to C 30 aliphatic radical or benzene substituted by C 6 to C 24 alkyl or alkenyl, m and n are at least 1 and preferably have average values between about 1 and 10, respectively; Y is sulfate, sulfonate, carboxylate or phosphate and X is a cation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the surfactant is one or more sulfonates in which R 1 is a C 14 to C 36 alkylaryl group selected from the group consisting of alkylphenyl, alkyltolyl, and alkylxylyl.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 5 wherein R 1 is an alkylbenzene or alkylxylene with the alkyl containing from 8 to 18 carbon atoms.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein component (iii) of the microemulsion is one or more nonionic surfactants which are selected from the ethoxylated derivatives of phenols, amines, carboxylic acids, alcohols, mercaptons, and polyhydroxy compounds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the surfactant is one or more ethoxylated phenols represented by the formula (R.sup.6).sub.r --A--[O(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.p ].sub.q H wherein R 6 is C 1 to C 24 alkyl, A is benzene, naphthalene or diphenyl, p is 2 to 60, q is 1 or 2 and r is 1 to 5 with the proviso that when r is 1, R 6 is at least C 8 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 4 wherein at least one nonionic ethoxylated phenol surfactant is present and is represented by the formula (R.sup.6).sub.r --A--[O(CH.sub.2 CHd2.sup.O)p]q.sup.H wherein R 6 is C 1 to C 24 alkyl, A is benzene, naphthalene or diphenyl, p is 2 to 60, q is 1 or 2 and r is 1 to 5 with the proviso that when r is 1, R 6 is at least C 8 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 4 wherein at least one cationic surfactant is present having the formula ##STR6## where m is from 8 to 25 and the sum of u+v is from 2 to 20.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4 wherein at least one amphoteric surfactant is also present and is comprised of an amino moiety and a carboxylic acid or a sulfonic acid moiety.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8 wherein at least one amphoteric surfactant is also present and is comprised of an amino moiety and a carboxylic acid or a sulfonic acid moiety.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the surfactants employed have hydrophilic and lipophilic properties which are balanced.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the oil-shale is heated to, and maintained for an effective amount of time at, a temperature of about 400° C. to about 450° C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the oil-shale is heated to, and maintained for an effective amount of time at, a temperature of about 400° C. to about 450° C.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-07-24 | 1988-01-23 | 1988-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-24 | 1992-01-23 | 1992-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-24 | 1996-01-23 | 1996-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |