Wells – Processes – In situ combustion
Patent
1974-03-04
1976-11-30
Purser, Ernest R.
Wells
Processes
In situ combustion
208 11R, E21B 4324, E21B 4326
Patent
active
039943437
ABSTRACT:
This process is suitable for in situ retorting of oil shale particles, with retorting proceeding downwardly through a bed of broken pieces of shale. When a single bed is being retorted, air is passed downwardly after ignition until a hot zone trailing the combustion zone has built up to some predetermined thickness, for example, 20 feet having a temperature over 1000.degree. F. Thereafter off gas from the bed is recycled downwardly without air. Reaction of the recycle gas with the heated spent shale increases the heating value of the resultant off gas. The transfer of heat without combustion increases the yield of oil. When the maximum temperature in the bed drops to a predetermined temperature above the self-ignition temperature of the shale, air is again introduced to reestablish a combustion zone and build up a hot zone. Retorting continues with alternating combustion and recycling periods through the entire bed.
When multiple beds of oil shale particles are retorted air is passed downwardly through one of the beds to maintain a combustion zone until a sufficient hot zone trailing the combustion zone has been produced. Air is then passed through a second bed of oil shale particles and at least a portion of the off gas from the second bed is recycled through the first bed for cooling the hot zone, increasing the heating value of the off gas, and retorting additional oil. Additional beds of oil shale particles can be included in series with combustion zones being intermittently established in each of the beds, alternatingly with cooling by recycled off gas.
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Cha Chang Yul
Ridley Richard D.
Occidental Petroleum Corporation
Purser Ernest R.
Suckfield George A.
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