The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 22, 1980
Filed:
Apr. 17, 1978
Donald L Klass, Barrington, IL (US);
Sambhunath Ghosh, Homewood, IL (US);
Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A process for recovering underground fossil fuel deposits retained in an inorganic matrix wherein the deposit is contacted with an aqueous medium of anaerobic microorganisms for a time sufficient to produce particles of the deposit containing both the organic fossil fuel and inorganic matrix of a size capable of forming a slurry with the aqueous medium for pumping to the ground surface. At the ground surface, the particulates are separated from the aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms, the particulates further processed by efficient surface techniques to separate the organic carbon and hydrocarbon component from the inorganic matrix. The aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms is recycled to the underground fossil fuel deposit for further production of the slurry forming particles of the deposit. Spent inorganic matrix may be added to the aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms to provide solid support and nutrient for the organisms and to maintain the desired pH. Such use of the spent inorganic matrix provides a useful service for the waste from the organic carbon and hydrocarbon recovery process. The anaerobic organisms may also form gaseous hydrocarbons during contact with the underground fossil fuel deposit.