Method for the pyrolytic extraction of hydrocarbon from oil shale

• US 20110094940A1
• Filed: 10/22/2009
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Komline-Sanderson Corp.
• Original Assignee: Wyssmont Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Weisselberg, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,435,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 208/390
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/00 Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal mechanical winning of oil from oil-shales, oil-sand, or the like B03B
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/02 by distillation

Abstract

A method for the pyrolytic extraction of hydrocarbons such as shale oil from kerogen containing oil shale. Oil shale which has been ground into particulate form, is cascaded downwardly between a plurality of rotating trays within a heated processing chamber. As the hydrocarbons are volatized within the chamber, the volatiles are collected and condensed within a condenser or other suitable recovery apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for extracting shale oil from kerogen containing oil shale, said method comprising:

cascading kerogen containing oil shale in particulate form between a plurality of trays vertically stacked within at least one heated processing zone provided within a material processing chamber,

heating said oil shale within said at least one heated processing zone to volatize said shale oil within said kerogen,

condensing the volatized shale oil, and

discharging the residual of said oil shale from said material processing chamber.

2. The method of claim 1, further including supplying said oil shale in particulate form in the range of about 15-325 mesh size.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the residual of said oil shale discharged from said chamber is substantially free of organic solvents.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein heating said oil shale comprises heating said material processing chamber to a temperature in the range of 480°

F. to 1200°

F.

5. The method of claim 1, further including condensing at least one organic solvent volatized from said oil shale.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein condensing the volatized organic solvent is independent from condensing said volatized shale oil.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said volatized shale oil is condensed within said material processing chamber.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said heating comprises supplying heated inert gas to said material processing chamber.

9. The method of claim 8, further including distributing said heated inert gas within said material processing chamber by a plurality of fans.

10. A method for extracting shale oil from kerogen containing oil shale, said method comprising:

passing kerogen containing oil shale in particulate form downwardly between a plurality of horizontal rotating material supports within a material processing chamber,

heating said oil shale within said material processing chamber to a sufficient temperature to volatize said shale oil within said kerogen,

discharging the volatized shale oil from said material processing chamber,

condensing the volatized shale oil, and

discharging the residual oil shale from said material processing chamber.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said material supports comprise a plurality of vertically stacked trays

12. The method of claim 10, further including supplying said oil shale in particulate form in the range of about 15-325 mesh size.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the residual of said oil shale discharged from said chamber is substantially free of organic solvents.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein heating said oil shale comprises heating said material processing chamber to a temperature in the range of 480°

F. to 1200°

F. and maintaining a pressure within said material processing chamber of about ±

0.05-±

0.10 inches water.

15. The method of claim 10, further including condensing at least one organic solvent volatized from said oil shale.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein condensing the volatized organic solvent is independent from condensing said volatized shale oil.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said volatized shale oil is condensed within said material processing chamber.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein said heating comprises supplying heated inert gas to said material processing chamber.

19. The method of claim 18, further including distributing said heated inert gas within said material processing chamber by a plurality of fans.

20. A method for extracting hydrocarbons from kerogen containing oil shale, said method comprising:

Supplying kerogen containing oil shale in particulate form to a material processing chamber having an upper processing zone and a lower processing zone, said material processing chamber including a plurality of vertically displaced material supports extending between said upper processing zone and said lower processing zone;

passing said oil shale downwardly within said material processing chamber from one material support to another underlying material support;

applying heat within said upper and lower processing zones within said material processing chamber for volatizing said hydrocarbons within said kerogen;

discharging a first volatized shale oil component from said upper processing zone within said material processing chamber;

discharging a second volatized shale oil component from said lower processing zone within said material processing chamber;

condensing at least one of the volatized shale oil components, and

discharging the residual oil shale from said material processing chamber.

21. The method of claim 20, further including supplying said kerogen containing oil shale in particulate form in the range of about 15-325 mesh size.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the residual of said oil shale discharged from said chamber is substantially free of organic solvents.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said lowering processing zone is heated to a temperature in the range of 480°

F. to 1200°

F.

24. The method of claim 20, further including condensing each of the volatized shale oil components.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein said upper processing zone is heated to a temperature in the range of 480°

F. to 1200°

F.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein said applying heat comprises supply heated inert gas.

27. The method of claim 26, further including distributing said heated inert gas within said material processing chamber by a plurality of fans.

28. A method for extracting shale oil from oil shale, said method comprising:

transferring oil shale through a heated processing chamber between a plurality of material supports arranged in a vertical stack within said processing chamber,

heating said oil shale within said plurality of material supports, said heating of said oil shale volatizing shale oil contained in said oil shale, and

condensing the volatized shale oil.

29. The method of claim 28, further including supplying said oil shale in particulate form in the range of about 15-325 mesh size.

30. The method of claim 28, discharging the residual of the oil shale from said processing chamber, wherein the residual oil shale is substantially free of organic solvents.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein said processing chamber is heated to a temperature in the range of 480°

F. to 1200°

F.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein said material supports comprise horizontally arranged trays.

33. The method of claim 32, further including rotating said trays containing said oil shale.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein said volatized shale oil is condensed within said material processing chamber.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein said heating comprises supplying heated inert gas to said material processing chamber.

36. The method of claim 35, further including distributing said heated inert gas within said material processing chamber by a plurality of fans.

37. The method of claim 28, wherein said material processing chamber is maintained at a pressure of about ±

0.05-±

0.10 inches water.