Recovery of products from oil shale
First Claim
1. A process for recovering hydrocarbonaceous products from nonrubilized oil shale, the process comprising the following steps:
- forming a hole in a body of nonrubilized oil shale;
positioning a gas inlet conduit into the hole;
pressurizing a processing gas;
heating the processing gas to a temperature sufficient to convert kerogen in the oil shale to hydrocarbonaceous products;
introducing the heated processing gas through the gas inlet conduit and into the hole, thereby creating a nonburning thermal energy front within the oil shale so as to convert kerogen in the oil shale to hydrocarbonaceous products; and
removing the hydrocarbonaceous products from the oil shale by withdrawing the processing gas and hydrocarbonaceous products as effluent gas through the hole.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A process and system for recovering hydrocarbonaceous products from in situ oil shale formations. A hole is drilled in the oil shale formation and a processing gas inlet conduit is positioned within the hole. A processing gas is pressurized, heated, and introduced through the processing gas inlet conduit and into the hole. The processing gas creates a nonburning thermal energy front within the oil shale formation so as to convert kerogen in the oil shale to hydrocarbonaceous products. The products are withdrawn with the processing gas through an effluent gas conduit positioned around the opening of the hole, and are then transferred to a condenser wherein a liquid fraction of the products is formed and separated from a gaseous fraction.
203 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A process for recovering hydrocarbonaceous products from nonrubilized oil shale, the process comprising the following steps:
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forming a hole in a body of nonrubilized oil shale; positioning a gas inlet conduit into the hole; pressurizing a processing gas; heating the processing gas to a temperature sufficient to convert kerogen in the oil shale to hydrocarbonaceous products; introducing the heated processing gas through the gas inlet conduit and into the hole, thereby creating a nonburning thermal energy front within the oil shale so as to convert kerogen in the oil shale to hydrocarbonaceous products; and removing the hydrocarbonaceous products from the oil shale by withdrawing the processing gas and hydrocarbonaceous products as effluent gas through the hole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A process for recovering hydrocarbonaceous products from nonrubilized oil shale, the process comprising the following steps:
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forming a production hole in a body of nonrubilized oil shale; positioning a gas inlet conduit into the hole; pressurizing a processing gas; heating the processing gas to a temperature sufficient to convert kerogen in the oil shale to hydrocarbonaceous products; installing at least one resonant tube in a corresponding number of cored holes placed around the production hole; connecting the at least one resonant tube to a signal generator placed above the surface of the ground; actuating the signal generator to excite the at least one resonant tube; introducing the heated processing gas through the gas inlet conduit and into the hole, thereby creating a nonburning thermal energy front within the oil shale so as to convert kerogen in the oil shale to hydrocarbonaceous products; and removing the hydrocarbonaceous products from the oil shale by withdrawing the processing gas and hydrocarbonaceous products as effluent gas through the hole. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification