Abstract: Oil shale is well mixed and efficiently, effectively, and economically retorted in a special gravity flow retorting process and system which utilizes novel arrangements of internal baffles in a static mixer.

Abstract: Oil shale is well mixed and efficiently, effectively, and economically retorted in a special gravity flow retorting process and system which utilizes novel arrangements of internal baffles in a static mixer.

Abstract: Oil shale is well mixed and efficiently, effectively, and economically retorted in a special gravity flow retorting process and system which utilizes novel arrangements of internal baffles in a static mixer.

Abstract: A process is provided to produce, stabilize, dedust and upgrade synthetic oil, such as shale oil. In the process, synthetic fuels, such as oil shale, tar sands and diatomite are retorted with heat carrier material to liberate an effluent product stream comprising hydrocarbons and entrained particulates of dust. In order to minimize polymerization of the product stream and agglomerate the dust, the product stream is stabilized, upgraded, and pretreated prior to dedusting, in a hydroprocessor, such as an ebullated bed reactor, with a hydroprocessing gas in the presence of a catalyst. The hydroprocessing gas can be hydrogen, scrubbed fractionator gases, or hydrocarbon-enriched hydroprocessor off gases.

Abstract: Ammonium nitrate shale oil explosives are provided which are effective, powerful, inexpensive, and safe. The explosives contain about 2% to 10% by weight shale oil and about 90% to 98% by weight ammonium nitrate. The shale oil can be whole shale oil or heavy shale oil containing from 0.1% to 65% by weight oil shale dust. The ammonium nitrate is preferably in the form of explosive grade ammonium nitrate prills.

Abstract: Raw oil shale is retorted to liberate an effluent product stream. Ammonia is withdrawn from the product stream and reacted to produce ammonium nitrate. Shale oil is separated from the product stream and mixed with 90% to 98% by weight ammonium nitrate to produce explosives. The shale oil can be whole shale oil or heavy shale oil containing from 0.1% to 65% by weight oil shale dust. The ammonium nitrate is preferably in the form of explosive grade ammonium nitrate prills. The shale oil is preferably heated before being mixed with the ammonium nitrate to make the shale oil more blendable.

Abstract: A flame front is ignited and passed through an underground oil shale retort to produce shale oil. The flame front is supported by a specially blended feed gas consisting essentially of air, steam and retort off gases. Product yield and quality are increased by varying the volumetric ratio of air, steam and retort off gases in the feed gas during retorting in proportion to the oil yield, or the relative richness, leanness and kerogen content of the oil shale being heated by the flame front, or in proportion to the amount of carbon residue on the retorted shale being combusted.

Abstract: An in situ retort and process are provided for underground retorting of oil shale. The in situ retort is formed with at least one flame front-stabilizing layer of minute lean oil shale particles which serves as a redistribution region or grid. When the flame front is ignited and passed through the retort with a feed gas, the flame front-stabilizing layer will stabilize and enhance horizontal uniformity of the flame front to substantially minimize burning of the product shale oil.

Abstract: A delayed coking and dedusting process in which dust laden heavy oil derived from solid hydrocarbon-containing material, such as oil shale, coal or tar sand, is preheated in a furnace and thermal cracked in a retort to yield light oils and middle oils. Preferably, steam is injected into the dust laden heavy oil before the dusty oil is heated in the furnace to minimize coking in furnace tubes and furnace outlet lines. The thermal cracked dusty oil leaves a residual dust enriched, coked material that can be combusted to provide a portion of the solid heat carrier material for use in retorting oil shale, coal or tar sand.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method and apparatus for the recovery of hydrocarbons from tar sands, oil shale or oil containing diatomaceous earth. The method comprises passing feed comprising tar sands, oil shale or oil containing diatomaceous earth to a contacting zone wherein the feed is contacted with heat transfer medium in a screw mixing zone to heat said feed to near recovery temperature wherein the feed is at least partially heated to form fluid material having heating value and forming partially spent inorganic matter associated with carbonaceous material; passing a mixture comprising substantially all of the fluid material and partially spent inorganic matter associated with carbonaceous material from the contacting zone to a separation zone wherein solids are partially separated from the fluid material; and recovering fluid material.

Abstract: A two-stage dedusting process is provided for dedusting heavy oil derived from solid hydrocarbon-containing material, such as oil shale, coal, or tar sand. In the process, heavy oil is fed to a first centrifuge where it is separated into a purified stream of heavy oil and a residual dust-enriched stream. The residual dust-enriched stream is fed to a second centrifuge where it is separated into a second purified stream of heavy oil and an even more highly concentrated, dust-enriched, second residual stream. Light oil derived from the solid hydrocarbon-containing material can be injected into the centrifuges to flush out the sticky dust-enriched residual streams. The concentrated, dust-enriched, second residual stream can be dried and combusted for use as solid heat carrier material in the retort.

Abstract: A heating and drying process for dedusting heavy oil derived from solid hydrocarbon-containing material, such as oil shale, coal or tar sand, without the use of diluents, solvents, chemical additives or mechanical separators, such as centrifuges and filters. In the process, heavy oil is fed to a dryer, such as a screw conveyor dryer or fluid bed dryer, and separated into a dedusted stream of oil and a powdery, dust-enriched residual stream. Preferably, heavy oil residue in the residual stream is combusted to leave a spent stream for use as heat carrier material in both the dryer and retort.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method for the retorting of oil shale comprising passing feed comprising oil shale to a contacting zone wherein the feed oil shale is contacted with heat transfer medium to heat said shale to retorting temperature. Retorting of the feed oil shale is substantially effected to form fluid material having heating value and forming partially spent oil shale comprising inorganic and carbonaceous material. At least a portion of the partially spent oil shale is passed to a combustion zone wherein the partially spent oil shale is contacted with oxidizing gas comprising oxygen to substantially combust carbonaceous material and forming spent oil shale. At least a portion of the spent shale is passed to a cooling zone to remove heat from the spent shale and at least a portion of the spent shale from the cooling zone is recycled to the contacting zone.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method and apparatus for the retorting of oil shale and the formation of spent oil shale having improved cementation properties. The improved method comprises passing feed comprising oil shale to a contacting zone wherein the feed oil shale is contacted with heat transfer medium to heat said shale to retorting temperature. The feed oil shale is substantially retorted to form fluid material having heating value and forming partially spent oil shale containing carbonaceous material. At least a portion of the partially spent oil shale is passed to a combustion zone wherein the partially spent oil shale is contacted with oxidizing gas comprising oxygen and steam to substantially combust carbonaceous material forming spent oil shale having improved cementation properties.