Catalytic hydroretorting of eastern US oil shales: CHESS process

Abstract

Laboratory tests of the CHESS process were conducted using beneficiated Alabama oil shale and regenerable catalysts at 500°C and 7 MPa with 20 min shale residence time. Product oil sulfur and nitrogen contents were reduced by up to 98 and 74% respectively, compared with uncatalysed pressurized fluidized-bed hydroretorting (PFH). Operation with the catalysts reduced the density of the oil by 10% to 0.909 g cm −3 while still achieving 200% Fischer assay oil yield.