Union Oil Company of California

Ben A Christolini

Chien-Cheng J Shih

Mitchell J Berndt

Kimanh T Le

Steven E Howe

A vapor-liquid distribution method and apparatus utilize a cap assembly for attachment over an opening in a deck tray of a gas-liquid contact apparatus (e.g., catalytic reactor). The cap assembly comprises a riser located over the opening in the deck tray, and providing fluid communication from an upper surface to a lower surface of the deck tray. A cap encompasses an upwardly extending end of the riser. A key feature of the assembly is the provision of a dispersion plate in a lower end of the riser which provides a flow restriction for two phase fluids flowing through the riser to produce a mist flow of the two phases. Preferably, the dispersion plate has a plurality of openings therethrough, at least the outer openings being provided with tabs to disperse the mist flow radially outward.

Vapor-liquid distribution method and apparatus

Enhanced recovery of oil from an oil-containing particulate shale sludge is achieved by contacting the sludge with a light hydrocarbon solvent fraction, obtained from the processing of oil derived from the shale, in the presence of water to form an oil-solvent liquid phase which is separated from an aqueous phase containing oil-depleted shale. The oil-solvent liquid phase when introduced into a slurry of product oil and particulate contained within a shale retort provides several advantages, including lowering the viscosity of the product oil and enhanced separation of the product oil from the particulate shale.

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Yorba Linda, CA, United States of America

Ben A Christolini