# US 8,784,649 B2 · Method for the pyrolytic extraction of hydrocarbon from oil shale

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- Number: US 8,784,649 B2
- Document ID: US8784649B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/678,059
- Filed: 2012-11-15
- Published: 2013-06-13
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2009-10-22
- Assignees: Wyssmont Company Inc.
- Applicants: Wyssmont Company Inc.
- Inventors: Edward Weisselberg
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784649B2

## CPC

- C10G 1/00: Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal (mechanical winning of oil from oil-shales, oil-sand, or the like B03B)
- C10G 1/02: by distillation
- C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES

## Abstract

A method for the pyrolytic extraction of hydrocarbons such as shale oil from kerogen. Oil shale containing kerogen which has been ground into particulate form, is cascaded downwardly between a plurality of rotating trays within a heated processing chamber. As the hydrocarbons are volatized within the chamber, the volatiles are collected and condensed within a condenser or other suitable recovery apparatus.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for extracting hydrocarbons from oil shale containing kerogen, said method comprising:
supplying oil shale in particulate form to a material processing chamber having an upper processing zone for volatizing hydrocarbons of a first volatility and a lower processing zone for volatizing hydrocarbons of a second volatility lower than the first volatility at least including shale oil, said material processing chamber including a plurality of vertically displaced material trays contained within said upper processing zone and said lower processing zone;
passing said oil shale downwardly within said material processing chamber from one material tray to another underlying material tray;
supplying heat at a first temperature to said upper processing zone and at a second temperature to said lower processing zone for volatizing said hydrocarbons from said kerogen, wherein said first temperature is lower than said second temperature;
discharging a first oil shale component volatized within said upper processing zone from said material processing chamber;
discharging a second oil shale component comprising at least shale oil volatized within said lower processing zone from said material processing chamber;
condensing at least the volatized shale oil component; and
discharging the residual oil shale from said material processing chamber.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further including supplying said oil shale in particulate form in the range of about 15 to 325 mesh size.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the residual of said oil shale discharged from said chamber is substantially free of organic contaminants.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said lower processing zone is heated to a temperature in the range of 480° F. to 1200° F.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further including condensing each of the volatized oil shale components.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said upper processing zone is heated to a temperature in the range of 480° F. to 1200° F.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said supplying heat comprises supplying heated inert gas.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further including distributing said heated inert gas within said material processing chamber by at least one or a plurality of fans.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further including maintaining said material processing chamber at a pressure of about ±0.05-±0.10 inches water.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further including controlling a temperature profile within the material processing chamber.

### Claim 11

A method for extracting hydrocarbons from oil shale containing kerogen, said method comprising:
supplying oil shale in particulate form to a material processing chamber having an upper processing zone for volatizing hydrocarbons of a first volatility and a lower processing zone for volatizing hydrocarbons of a second volatility lower than the first volatility at least including shale oil, said material processing chamber including a plurality of vertically displaced material trays contained within said upper processing zone and said lower processing zone;
passing said oil shale downwardly within said material processing chamber from one material tray to another underlying material tray;
supplying heat at a first temperature to said upper processing zone and at a second temperature to said lower processing zone for volatizing said hydrocarbons from said kerogen, wherein said first temperature is lower than said second temperature;
discharging a first oil shale component volatized within said upper processing zone from said material processing chamber through a first outlet port;
discharging a second oil shale component comprising at least shale oil volatized within said lower processing zone from said material processing chamber through a second outlet port;
condensing at least the volatized shale oil component; and
discharging the residual oil shale from said material processing chamber.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further including controlling a temperature profile within the material processing chamber.