Production of Synthetic Crude from Crude Shale Oil Produced by in Situ Combustion Retorting

Of six modern hydrogenation catalysts tested on a shale oil heavy gas oil, a Ni-Mo-on-alumina catalyst was found superior at 1500 psig and 800°F. This catalyst was used to prepare a premium synthetic crude oil from in situ combustion-produced crude shale oil by hydrogenation of naphtha, light oil, and heavy oil fractions. These fractions were obtained by distillation of the oil, coking the vacuum residuum, and combining like distillate ranges. The synthetic crude contained 250 ppm nitrogen and 5 ppm sulfur. Physical properties were: API gravity, 43.9°; pour point, 32°F; viscosity at 100°F, 32 SUS. The overall yield was 103 vol. %.