Process of producing oil by pyrolysis

摘要

Oil is preferably recovered from oil shale through the use of a process involving two separate heating steps. During the first of these steps the shale is heated by contact with a hot gas stream while it is agitated for a period and at a temperature which together are such that any significant further heating will cause the vaporization of pyrolysis products of the kerogen within the shale. During the second heating step the shale is further heated by contact with a hot gas stream while being agitated for a period and to a temperature which together are sufficient to produce and volatilize substantially all of the volatiles which can be obtained from or derived from the shale. After the second heating step the vaporized products and the remaining inorganic mineral matrix are separated, and the volatiles are recovered as oil.