Patent ID: 8784649
Filing Date: 2014-07-22
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
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.