Coal-oil slurry pipeline process

Abstract

A process for conveniently transporting particulate coal and crude oil together as a slurry through a pipeline. The coal, having particle size of 20-350 mesh size range, is added to the oil in sufficient amount to form a transportable coal-oil slurry. The slurry is maintained at sufficient velocity and turbulence in the pipeline to prevent solids settling, and also at sufficient pressure, temperature, and time conditions to liquify at least 5 weight percent of the coal. Also, when the sulfur content of the coal used is less than the oil, the sulfur content of the delivered oil portion is reduced during its transit through the pipeline. At its destination, the oil portion can be separated from the slurry and passed to refining operations, while the coal along with some contained heavy oil can be either liquefied to produce hydrocarbon liquid fuel products, or burned as fuel in a power plant.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.