The IITRI In Situ RF Fuel Recovery Process

Abstract

In this paper the history and current status of development of IITRI’s RF process for in situ oil shale/tar sand fuel extraction is described. A brief description of the salient features of IITRI’s RF process is given, together with a review of past laboratory development activities. The results of the recently completed 5 million dollar cooperative program, jointly funded by government and industry, are also described, including oil shale field tests, tar sand field tests, and supporting laboratory and analytical studies. Of special interest are the results of the latest tar sand field test wherein a 60-ton block of tar sand was heated in place to 200°C and nearly 30% of the in place tars were recovered in two weeks.