Abstract: The friability of green needle coke is reduced by heating the green needle coke to a temperature between about 875.degree. F. and about 1,200.degree. F. for a time sufficient to reduce the friability of the green needle coke.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing needle coke comprising the steps of heating green needle coke at temperatures between about 935.degree. F. and about 1,100.degree. F. for between about 10 minutes and about 24 hours, cooling the coke to below about 250.degree. F., and calcining the coke at calcination temperatures above about 2,000.degree. F.

Abstract: Oil shale solids are pyrolyzed or retorted by contact with a non-oxidizing recycle gas in a first retorting zone to produce an effluent containing pyrolysis products and pyrolyzed oil shale solids. Liquid and gaseous product hydrocarbons are recovered from the effluent of the first retorting zone. The pyrolyzed oil shale solids are contacted with an oxygen-containing gas in a combustion zone under conditions such that at least a portion of the organic material in the pyrolyzed solids is burned to produce hot, decarbonized solids and a hot flue gas. At least a portion of the gases in the effluent from the first retorting zone is contacted in the substantial absence of molecular oxygen with a portion of the hot, decarbonized solids produced in the combustion zone in the presence of added hydrocarbon-containing fines, preferably oil shale fines, in a second retorting zone such that the gases are heated and the fines are pyrolyzed to produce pyrolyzed fines and pyrolysis products containing gases and vapors.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing needle coke comprising the steps of heating green needle coke at temperatures between about 875.degree. F. and about 1,200.degree. F. for between about 10 minutes and about 24 hours, and, without first allowing the temperature of the coke to cool below about 250.degree. F., calcining the green needle coke at calcination temperatures above about 2,000.degree. F.

Abstract: A desirably upgraded charge stock for catalytic cracking containing a relatively large proportion of heavy hydrocarbons boiling above about 800.degree. F., is produced by first subjecting a raw feedstock boiling predominantly above 600.degree. F. and containing a substantial proportion of material boiling above 800.degree. F., to catalytic hydrofining followed by catalytic hydrocracking at high pressures in the presence of a Group VIB and/or Group VIII metal-promoted, crystalline zeolite hydrocracking catalyst. The hydrocracking catalyst and conditions are chosen so as to achieve selective conversion of material boiling between about 600.degree. and 800.degree. F. to lower boiling materials with a relatively minor conversion of the 800.degree. F+ material. The resulting product boiling above 400.degree. F is rich in 800.degree. F+ material, and constitutes an excellent catalytic cracking charge stock.