Abstract: A process for the in situ attrition and break up of an agglomerating, or agglomerated catalyst to maintain and control the fluidization characteristics of a bed wherein low molecular weight hydrocarbons, oxygen and steam are contacted with the bed to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide via both partial oxidation and steam reforming reactions. The feeds are injected into the reaction zone with mechanical energy input sufficient to balance the intrinsic rate of agglomeration by fracturing and breaking apart in situ the agglomerated catalyst to maintain the fluidization characteristics of the bed throughout the cycle of operation.

Abstract: Oil is recovered from oil-bearing rock composed primarily of carbonates by treating the oil-bearing rock with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal silicates, alkali metal phosphates, and alkali metal borates at a temperature above about 150.degree. F. and then contacting the treated oil-bearing rock with hot water or a hot aqueous solution for a sufficient amount of time to extract the oil from the oil-bearing rock. Normally, the concentration of the alkali metal in the aqueous solution will be above about 0.5 molar and an organic solvent such as toluene, xylene or cyclohexane will be present in the treatment step. The oil-bearing rock will normally be an oil-bearing limestone containing a high viscosity oil which cannot be recovered using conventional hot water extraction techniques.

Abstract: Coal or similar carbonaceous solids impregnated with gasification catalyst constituents (16) are oxidized by contact with a gas containing between 2 volume percent and 21 volume percent oxygen at a temperature between 50.degree. C. and 250.degree. C. in an oxidation zone (24) and the resultant oxidized, catalyst impregnated solids are then gasified in a fluidized bed gasification zone (44) at an elevated pressure. The oxidation of the catalyst impregnated solids under these conditions insures that the bed density in the fluidized bed gasification zone will be relatively high even though the solids are gasified at elevated pressure and temperature.

Abstract: Coal or a similar solid carbonaceous feed material is converted into lower molecular weight liquid hydrocarbons by contacting the feed material with a hydrogen-donor solvent containing above about 0.6 weight percent donatable hydrogen and molecular hydrogen in a liquefaction zone or a series of two or more liquefaction zones under liquefaction conditions in the presence of an added carbon-alkali metal catalyst comprising a carbon-alkali metal reaction product prepared by heating an intimate mixture of carbonaceous solids and an alkali metal constituent to a temperature above about 800.degree. F. in a reaction zone external to the liquefaction zone.

Abstract: An intermediate Btu gas is produced by reacting steam with a carbonaceous feed material in the presence of a carbon-alkali metal catalyst and substantially equilibrium quantities of added hydrogen and carbon monoxide at a temperature between about 1000.degree. F. and about 1500.degree. F. and a pressure in excess of about 100 psia to produce an effluent or raw product gas consisting essentially of equilibrium quantities, at reaction temperature and pressure, of methane, steam, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen; recovering at least a portion of the effluent or raw product gas from the gasifier as an intermediate Btu product gas; contacting a carbon-containing material with steam in a steam reforming zone under conditions such that at least a portion of the carbon-containing material reacts with the steam to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen; and passing the effluent from the reforming zone into the gasifier, thereby supplying the added hydrogen and carbon monoxide required in the gasifier.

Abstract: An intermediate Btu gas is produced by reacting steam with a carbonaceous feed material in the presence of a carbon-alkali metal catalyst and substantially equilibrium quantities of added hydrogen and carbon monoxide at a temperature between about 1000.degree. and about 1500.degree. F. and a pressure in excess of about 100 psia to produce a raw product gas consisting essentially of equilibrium quantities, at reaction temperature and pressure, of methane, steam, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen; withdrawing the raw product gas from the gasifier and treating it for the removal of acid gases to produce a treated gas; withdrawing a portion of the treated gas as an intermediate Btu product gas; mixing the remainder of the treated gas with steam; passing the resultant mixture into a steam reforming furnace where the methane in the gas reacts with the steam to produce additional amounts of carbon monoxide and hydrogen; and passing the effluent from the reforming furnace into the gasifier.