Systems, Apparatus and Methods of a Dome Retort

A system for extracting hydrocarbons from organic material, the system comprising:

• a substantially monolithic dome capping a subterranean chamber;
• a process isolation barrier liner surrounding the subterranean chamber below the substantially monolithic dome;
• at least one layer of aggregate material overlying the dome;
• at least one apparatus configured for introducing organic material into the subterranean chamber through an upper end of the dome, the at least one apparatus configured for preventing escape of vapor from the subterranean chamber through the dome;
• at least one retort vessel located within the subterranean chamber and configured to receive the organic material therein;
• and
• a control system comprising a computer program stored in memory of the control system, the computer program configured to control at least one operating process parameter within the at least one retort vessel.

A system for extracting hydrocarbons from organic material, the system comprising:

• a dome structure defining a cap over a subterranean chamber;
• an isolation barrier below the cap and surrounding the subterranean chamber, the isolation barrier in contact with a surface of at least one earth formation, a periphery of the dome structure in substantially sealed engagement with the isolation barrier;
• at least one apparatus for introducing organic material into an upper end of the subterranean chamber through the dome and configured for preventing substantial escape of vapor from the subterranean chamber through the dome;
• at least one preheat vessel located within the dome and configured to receive the organic material therein;
• at least one retort vessel located within the dome and configured to receive the organic material therein from the at least one preheat vessel;
• at least one fabricated cooling chamber configured to receive the organic material from the at least one retort vessel;
• at least one quenching chamber configured to receive the organic material from the at least one cooling chamber;
• at least one device for collecting hydrocarbons extracted from the organic material;
• and
• a control system comprising a computer program stored in memory of the control system, the computer program configured to control at least one retorting process operating parameter within the subterranean chamber.