Enhanced recovery of hydrocarbonaceous fluids from oil shale

摘要

The present application relates to a method for enhancing the recovery of hydrocarbonaceous fluids from oil shale containing organic carbon material which comprises heating the oil shale in a retort vessel to a temperature at which thermal decomposition of the organic carbons is initiated. After the initial thermal decomposition temperature is reached, a pre-determined quantity of oil is introduced into the retort wherein the amount of added oil is sufficient to enhance the organic carbon conversion to hydrocarbonaceous fluids and wherein the majority of the added oil does not distill at the initial thermal decomposition temperature of the organic carbons in the shale. Subsequently, the retort temperature is increased to that temperature where the highest amount of organic carbon conversion is obtained. This second higher temperature is maintained for a period of time sufficient to allow substantial conversion of organic carbon material. Subsequently, retorting is continued by increasing the temperature to about 525° C. The present invention results in the recovery of increased amounts of oil as compared to Fischer Assay methods.