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.fhe CondLlction, Convection, Reflux (CCR'"") retorting process is AMSO's trademarked term to <br />• describe the generic type of process in EGL's original Plan of Operations. The CC'RI"' process <br />uses a boiling pool ofshale oil in the bottom of tile retort in contact with it heat source, as shown <br />schematically in Figure 4-1. Hot vapors evolving from the boiling shale oil heat the surrounding <br />oil shale with both their sensible heat and latent heat of condensation as they I-ecirculate throu,'ll <br />the retort by dual-phase natural convection. As the oil shale nearest the evolving hot vapors <br />reaches retorting temperatures of approximately 630 "F, kerogen is retorted. As oil shale is <br />heated to retort temperature. thermal expansion, in combination with _(eomechanical coil tinement <br />by the surrounding formation, causes it to break apart (spill) at the retort boundary, resulting in a <br />debris filled retort. As the oil shale spalls, more oil shale is exposed to the hot vapors. As these <br />hot vapors condense on the freshly exposed oil shale, rapid retort growth occurs. The condensed <br />shale oil drains and replenishes the boiling pool, this is generally referred to as a reflux process. <br />Vapors that do not condense at retort temperature report to the surface. <br />Vapor Product Out <br />- u <br />Rubble- <br />Filled C <br />Retort J o <br />- Q. <br />O <br />.. <br />t <br />well <br />Figure 4-1. Schcmalic rejw(r' elation ol'the C'C'Rr11 Process as m4qa tee to take adivntage of <br />t?1c'1'llln-Illc'l'haJlJC'a/ ?l'a,??111t'lltcJ/lUl1. <br />Heat is required to boil the pool of shale oil In tile bottom of the retort. Variations ofthe C'CR'nr <br />process involve different \va_ys of heating the boiling oil pool. This heat can he applied using <br />• se\ eral mclllods as dc,rribed as fi)llo\\ <br />18