Process to secure oil, gas, and by-products from pyrobetuminous shale and other matter impregnated with hydrocarbons

摘要

The process for obtaining oil, gas and other products from pyrobituminous shales and the like includes introducing crushed shale into a retort and contacting the crushed shale in the top portion of the retort with a stream of retort gases. Hot gases are injected at an intermediate point of the retort and a stream of cold gases are injected at the bottom of the retort. The gaseous retorted matter above the zone where the shale undergoes pyrolysis is removed and directed to a cyclone from separation of heavy liquid components from a gaseous stream. The gaseous stream is then purified and compressed with a portion of the compressed stream being heated and reinjected as the steam of hot gases into the retort. The other portion of the compressed stream of gases is cooled and a liquid component consisting primarily of water and heavy oil is separate therefrom in a spray tower. The water portion is separated from the oil and recirculated to the spray tower while a part of the oily portion is separated for resue outside the process with the remainder being recycled to the cyclone. A portion of the compressed gases from the cyclone is cooled and injected into the bottom of the retort as the stream of cold gases.