AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN RETORTING COLORADO OIL SHALE, 1944-1954

The tremendous reserve of oil contained in the oil shale deposits of Colorado prompted the Congress of the United States to initiate a research program to determine the feasibility and methods of mining and retorting oil shale and converting shale oil into usable products. This work has been in progress for 10 years by the Bureau of Mines at the Oil Shale Mine and Engineering Experiment Station near Rifle, Colorado, and the Petroleum and Oil Shale Experiment Station, Laramie, Wyoming. At Rifle, a number of pilot plant retorts were built and tested, including the NTU, Royster, gas flow, dual flow, countercurrent, and gas combustion processes.

Tags: kmd
RIO BLANCO OIL SHALE PROJECT REVISED DETAILED DEVELOPMENT PLAN TRACT C-A (V.2, SECTIONS 2-5) MINING, PROCESSING AND SUPPORT FACILITIES

This revised DOP presents a 40 year plan for developing the oil shale resource on Tract C-a. This includes a 10 year modular development phase and 30 year commercial phase. At the end of that time, approximately one half of the tract will have been developed. RBOSP will develop the resources consistent with environmental, technical and economic constraints which prevail now or may exist in the future.

Tags: kmd
RIO BLANCO OIL SHALE PROJECT REVISED DETAILED DEVELOPMENT PLAN TRACT C-A (V. 1 SECTION 1, INTRODUCTION AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY)

This revised DOP presents a 40 year plan for developing the oil shale resource on Tract C-a. This includes a 10 year modular development phase and 30 year commercial phase. At the end of that time, approximately one half of the tract will have been developed. RBOSP will develop the resources consistent with environmental, technical and economic constraints which prevail now or may exist in the future.

Tags: kmd
RIO BLANCO OIL SHALE PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT 8 (SUMMARY) ON TRACT C-A OIL SHALE DEVELOPMENT (6/1/76-8/31/76)

This report is a summary of work accomplished during the period June 1, 1976 through August 31, 1976. This summary report presents an overview and highlights of these data and has been correlated to and organized consistent with Progress Report 8.

Tags: kmd
RIO BLANCO OIL SHALE PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT 7 (SUMMARY) ON TRACT C-A OIL SHALE DEVELOPMENT (3/1/76-5/31/76)

This report is a summary of work accomplished during the period March 1, 1976 through May 31, 1976. This summary report presents an overview and highlights of these data and has been correlated to and organized consistent with progress report 7; that is the numbering system and topic headings for the summary report is the same as that used in the progress report.

Tags: kmd
RIO BLANCO OIL SHALE PROJECT--PROGRESS REPORT 5 (SUMMARY) ON TRACT C-A OIL SHALE DEVELOPMENT (9/1/75-11/30/75)

This report is a summary of work accomplished during the period September 1, 1975 through November 30, 1975. The baseline data gathered for the project are on file in the Area Oil Shale Supervisors Office in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Tags: kmd
RIO BLANCO OIL SHALE PROJECT--PROGRESS REPORT 4 (SUMMARY) ON TRACT C-A OIL SHALE DEVELOPMENT AND APPENDIX (6/1/75-8/31/75)

Rio Blanco Oil Shale Project (RBOSP) is presenting its fourth summary progress report. This report is a summary of work accomplished during the period June 1, 1975 through August 31, 1975. Data collected in the Geotechnical Data Gathering and the Environmental Baseline Data Gathering Projects for this period are on file in the ADSS office in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Tags: kmd
RIO BLANCO OIL SHALE PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT 3 (SUMMARY) ON TRACT C-A OIL SHALE DEVELOPMENT (3/1/75-5/31/75)

This report is a summary of the work accomplished from the period of March 1, 1975 through May 31, 1975. The data collected from the Geotechnical Data Gathering Project and the Environmental Baseline Data Gathering Project for this period are on file in the ADSS office in Grand Junction, Colorado. These data comprise progress report 3. This summary report presents an overview and highlights of these data and has been correlated to and organized consistent with progress report 3.

Tags: kmd
RIO BLANCO OIL SHALE PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT 1 (SUMMARY) ON TRACT C-A OIL SHALE DEVELOPMENT (DATE OF LEASE TO TRACT C-A THROUGH 9/30/74)

The period covered in this report has been one of intensive organization efforts by people of the Rio Blanco Oil Shale Project. With the formation of a team of qualified management, engineering and scientific personnel, work has been proceeding to identify, assign and integrate specific tasks aimed at preparation of the Detailed Development Plan. In addition to development of intra-organizational policies and procedures, the period has been a time for establishing working relationships with various agencies which administer or have some degree of responsibility for various aspects of oil shale development.

Tags: kmd
METHODOLOGY FOR CALCULATING MATERIALS BALANCE FOR PARAHO DIRECT HEATED OIL SHALE RETORTING TECHNOLOGY

The methodology outlined below is applicable only to direct retorting of Green River oil shale by the Paraho process. Further, it should be used only for shales assaying between 20 and 36 gallons of oil per ton of shale. To facilitate materials balance calculations, several generalized assumptions have been made. These appear to be valid as first approximation but may need to be refined later.

Tags: kmd
METHODOLOGY FOR CALCULATING MATERIALS BALANCE FOR AN INDIRECT-HEATED OIL SHALE RETORTING TECHNOLOGY

The methodology outlined below is based on published information on the Union B indirect-heated oil shale retorting process, and as such, should be applicable only to processes that are similar to the Union B process. The published information was obtained from retorting 41 gpt shale in a Union B semi works retort. An arbitrary range of  /- 30% in terms of the shale grade was used in the methodology to allow calculations of overall materials balance and process stream characteristics for shales other than 41 gpt.

Tags: kmd
SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF OIL SHALE AND ITS RELATION TO OIL YIELD

Under problem Pet. 420, Analysis and Characteristics of Oil Shales and other Constituents, a study of the specific gravity of oil shale was undertaken. This study was made to determine: 1) a satisfactory analytical method of determining the specific gravity of oil shale. 2) the correlation between the specific gravity of oil shale and its yield of shale oil.

Tags: kmd
PRIMARY SULFUR CONSTITUENTS OF RAW COLORADO OIL SHALE AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION IN THE MODIFIED FISCHER ASSAY PRODUCTS

Oil shale is a mixture of organic and inorganic substances, both of which commonly contain the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. Separation of neither organic nor inorganic substances has been accomplished with any assurance that it remained unaltered. Therefore, determination of the ultimate composition of the organic material requires that the total values determined for each of the above elements on the raw shale be corrected for the amount of that element present as mineral.

Tags: kmd
NITROGEN TYPES IN SYNCRUDES FROM IN SITU CRUDE SHALE OIL

The purpose of the present work was to prepare a syncrude of total nitrogen content comparable to that of an NPC-type syncrude produced earlier by catalytically hydrogenating the total in situ crude shale oil in one step, and to determine the amounts and types of nitrogen compounds remaining the finished syncrude. Yields of products, properties of the finished syncrude, and amounts and types of nitrogen compounds remaining in the one step syncrude are compared with those of a multistep syncrude prepared by an NPC type process.

Tags: kmd
ASSAY RETORT STUDIES OF TEN TYPICAL OIL SHALES

The Bureau of Mines and the State of Colorado are cooperating in an investigation of the oil shales of Colorado. In this report the yields and the results of analyses of the oil and gas produced from a number of oil shale samples from the principal deposits of Colorado and other oil shale states, are compared with samples from Scotland and Australia, where the oil shale industry has had its greatest commercial development, and also with a sample from Brazil where extensive oil shale deposits are found. The samples were not selected as being representative of the different deposits, but they illustrate the wide variation in the nature of the organic matter of different oil shales.

Tags: kmd
BX IN SITU OIL SHALE PROJECT (EQUITY) MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORTS NOS. 22-33 AND 43-45 (FEB 1979-FEB 1981, FEB. 1980-OCT. 1980 MISSING)

During February 1979, construction of project surface facilities was substantially completed; installation of the project instrumentation system was substantially completed, a laboratory retorting run was made using oil shale from the project; and pre startup environmental oil monitoring continued.

Tags: kmd
BX IN SITU OIL SHALE PROJECT (EQUITY) MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORTS NOS. 2 AND 7 THROUGH 13 (6/77 AND 11/77 THROUGH 5/78)

During the month of June 1977, work on the BX in situ oil shale project proceeded in accordance with the statement of work of the agreement with the exception that delays in obtaining bottomhole pressure measuring devices delayed the vertical communication test until mid-July or possibly later. Work accomplished on specific project tasks is reported below.

Tags: kmd
BX IN SITU OIL SHALE PROJECT (EQUITY) MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORTS NOS. 14-17 (6/78-9/78)

During June 1978, work on the BX in situ oil shale project centered on the drilling of project wells; the detailed design and preparation of installation drawings for project equipment; and the performance of injectivity tests on project wells. Work accomplished on project tasks is summarized below.

Tags: kmd
BX IN SITU OIL SHALE PROJECT (EQUITY) MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORTS NO. 1,3,4,5, AND 6 (MARCH 1977-OCTOBER 1977, JUNE 1977 MISSING)

An initial cost plan as required under Appendix E of the Agreement has been previously submitted. This Plan breaks the project down by task, and in order to be consistent, this report and subsequent reports will to the degrees which is approporate describe the work accomplished, the overall progress, problems, and the work to be performed during the next reporting period, in accordance with the task outline set forth in the Cost Plan. To facilitate this method of reporting, Appendix A to this report lists the tasks as shown on the Cost Plan together with the Alpha-Numerical Designator which is being used for accounting classification for each task. If a task area is not mentioned in a monthly or quarterly report, this indicated that no work was performed in the task area during the reporting period.

Tags: kmd
DIELECTRIC MODELING OF OIL SHALES II; EFFECT OF WATER ON THE DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF OIL SHALES

The dielectric properties of oil shales over a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum has become increasingly important during the past few years from the standpoint of exploratory probing as well as a means of in situ volumetric heating of oil shales. Extensive modeling has been performed including parameters reflecting shale richness, water content, and interfacial polarization from 10 Hz to 1 MHz in an effort to understand reported dielectric properties of oil shales. Reasonable agreement between the model calculations and data are obtained plus reflectivity results which may be of value in remote sensing of retort products and oil shale deposits.

Tags: kmd
LABORATORY STUDY OF TRUE IN SITU COMBUSTION RETORTING OF OIL SHALE USING LARGE BLOCKS OF OIL SHALE

True in situ retorting of oil shale has been simulated in the laboratory in six experiments by igniting the common surfaces between two large blocks of oil shale while passing air between the blocks. The blocks were instrumented thoroughly and temperatures between the blocks and in the blocks are reported along with gas and oil analyses. The data allow estimation of combustion zone velocity to be 6.4 cm/hr, heating rates in the shale to be 19  /- 11C/min 2.5 cm from the fracture and 8  /- 3C 10 or 13 cm from the fracture. The amount of shale retorted was estimated to be 12% and about 1/3 of the oil produced was recovered. It was shown that movement of the combustion zone was diverted or stopped by condensed or coked oil, shale swelling, shale spallation, and shale fusion. It was also shown that dilution of the input air by carbon dioxide could be used to control the temperature in the combustion zone. It is suggested that a slower moving combustion zone may result in more efficient retorting of the shale.

Tags: kmd
EFFECT OF RETORTING ATMOSPHERE ON COMPOUND TYPES FOUND IN VARIOUS SHALE OILS

Six oil shales from different sources and of different grades have been retorted in a nitrogen and nitrogen/stream atmosphere. Two of the shales were also retorted in a nitrogen/stream/oxygen atmosphere. The oils produced were separated through liquid chromatography on florisil into a hydrocarbon fraction, a weakly polar fraction, and a polar fraction. The hydrocarbon fraction was then chemically treated to remove the olefinic material. Each oil and each oil fraction were then subjected to analysis by simulated distillation gas chromatography and to elemental analysis. The results of the analyses show that the retorting atmospheres used in this work did not affect the boiling point distributions of the oils and oil fractions produced. On the other hand, it was shown that when oxygen was present in the retorting gas, it appeared  in the higher boiling fractions of the weakly polar and polar materials. Addition of stream caused an increased amount of olefins, a decreased amount of polar materials, and an increase in the hydrogen content of the oils over those produced in a nitrogen atmosphere.

Tags: kmd
OXIDATION OF SHALE OIL NAPHTHA

A series of oxidation experiments were run on shale oil naphtha at oxygen partial pressures to about 15 atmospheres and to 90C in stainless steel equipment. It is shown that there is a rapid absorption of gas-apparently to satisfy solubility considerations-followed by an extended period of slow absorption. The absorption of gas varied directly with pressure and was not greatly influenced by temperature. Efforts to follow the results of oxidation by chemical analysis on the resulting naphtha were unsuccessful.

Tags: kmd
ELECTRICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF GREEN RIVER OIL SHALE FOR THE EVALUATION OF IN-SITU RETORTING OPERATIONS (THREE QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORTS DATED 9/15/76,12/15/76, AND 9/15/77)

This report contains three quarterly progress reports dated September 15, 1976, December 15, 1976, and September 15, 1977.

Tags: kmd
THERMOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF OIL SHALE (FINAL TECHNICAL PROGRESS REPORT-JAN. 1, 1977-JAN.1,1980)

In direct and indirect ways, the thermophysical properties of oil shale influence every stage of the shale oil extraction process from exploration and resource definition to mining, retorting, and upgrading. For example, knowledge and understanding of the electrical and acoustical properties of oil shale as a function of grade, mineraolology, and structure significantly enhance geophysical based resource definition and rubble evaluation measurements.

Tags: kmd
QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORTS (FIVE QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORTS-9/1/77-12/5/78)

"During the first quarter of this contract, efforts were focused on sample acquisition, equipment procurement, and upgrading the existing experimental apparatus to improve the repeatability of experimental conditions on each experimental run. In addition, three presentations were made at the 1st Annual Laramie Oil Shale Conference.  The results of these studies demonstrate the existence of a physical phase transition in oil shale at a temperature of about 250-300C. Evidence of this phase transition was first observed by Tisot in his study of the structural properties of oil shale. In that study the shale initially lost, and at higher temperatures regained, structural strength. This anomalous change in physical properties was also observed in the electrical, thermal, and acoustical properties of oil shale. Although the precise origin of this transition is as yet unexplained, it is possible that the change may be due to an alteration in the structure of the organic matter in the shale and the onset of carbonization of this organic matter."

Tags: kmd
ELECTRICAL AND THERMAL CONDUCTIVITIES OF GREEN RIVER OIL SHALE HEATED IN AIR (FINAL REPORY)

During this contract period an apparatus was constructed to simultaneously measure the electrical and thermal conductivities of oil shale under uniaxial load, and the pressure exerted against that load. Data was obtained on a wide range of sample grades in a direction perpendicular to the varves. The instrumentation was interfaced to a computer and partially automated to obtain the thermal and electrical conductivities and the pressure exerted against a load. The thermal expansion coefficient, the activation energy for electronic conduction, the resistivity variation with temperature and the energy balance in the test stack were derived from the data.

Tags: kmd
EFFECTS OF MOISTURE AND ORGANIC CONTENT ON THE THERMOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF GREEN RIVER OIL SHALE

Oil shale is a complex heterogeneous material whose thermophysical properties depend upon organic content, moisture content, temperature, orientation, mineralogy, and perhaps other variables. This paper discusses the effects of moisture and organic content on the thermal, electrical and mechanical properties of Green River oil shale, using oil shales obtained from the Anvil Points and Logan Wash deposits in the Piceance Creek Basin of Colorado.

Tags: kmd
BX IN SITU OIL SHALE PROJECT (EQUITY)--ANNUAL TECHNICAL REPORT (3/1/81-2/28/82) AND QUARTERLY TECHNICAL PROGRESS REPORT FOR 2/1/81-2/28/82)

The objective of this project is to demonstrate the technical feasibility of using superheated steam as a heat carrying medium to retort in situ the oil shale in the Green River Formation "leached zone" and provide a mechanism for the recovery of this shale oil with a minimum impact on the environment. Utilizing primarily the natural porosity in the "leached zone," approximately 450 billion BTU of heat have been injected into a site over a 2 year period to heat to retorting temperature a shale zone approximately 540 feet thick and covering about one acre. The field project is located at Equity's BX in situ site in Rio Blanco County in Northwestern Colorado.

Tags: kmd
THE CREATION OF HIGH FLUID CONDUCTIVITY IN AN OIL SHALE BY INJECTION OF EXPLOSIVES

In situ processing of oil shale to recover its potential oil content has been viewed by many as a panacea for most of the problems associated with oil shale retorting. Among the advantages often cited are the reduction or elimination of mining and shale transportation problems, reduced water consumption, reduced manpower requirements, less environmental impact, and a tremendous increase in the available resource brought about by the addition of oil shales not amenable to standard mining techniques.

Tags: kmd
RETORTING RANDOM-SIZED LEAN OIL SHALE IN A BATCH TYPE RETORT: AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS

Results obtained from 11 tests in a nominal 10 - ton batch-type retort on random-sized oil shale demonstrated that retorting of oil shales assaying 12 to 16 gallons per ton is possible. Oil recoveries of up to 56 volume percent of Fischer assay were obtained. The effects of the oxygen content and the superficial velocity of the retorting gas were statistically correlated to the oil recovery. Maximum oil recoveries were obtained when the oxygen flux was between 0.6 and 0.8 scfm oxygen per square foot .

Tags: kmd
RETORTING TECHNOLOGY OF OIL SHALE

An efficient retorting process, either above or underground, is a requisite for the utilization of oil shale.  Many retorting systems have been suggested and quite a number  tried over the last 100 years or so.  Development  in recent years, however, have been mainly in the U.S.A., Brazil and the U.S.S.R. on a limited number of systems. The present state of retorting technology in these countries is discussed in this chapter.  A major requirement for successfully utilizing oil shale as a source of liquid and gaseous fuels is a technically and economically feasible retorting process to thermally degrade the solid organic matter (kerogen) in the shale.  In such a process, which may be conducted either above or below ground, the shale is heated to 425-475 C to decompose the kerogen to oil, gas and carbonaceous residue.  Oil shale is normally retorted without beneficiation, but in some special circumstances concentration has been proposed.  The retorting process has an effect on the relative quantities and properties of the products obtained.  Shale oil resembles petroleum but may differ from it in important aspects, such as the nitrogen content of oil produced from Green River oil shale.  The products produced from petroleum however, can be obtained from shale oil if appropriate refining procedures are used.

Tags: kmd
OIL SHALE AND ITS POTENTIAL UTILIZATION

The large deposits of oil shale in the Green River Formation in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming offer a potential source of significant quantities of liquid fuels.  This paper discusses the location  and potential of the resource, the present state of technology for producing shale oil by both aboveground and in situ processes, the characteristics of shale oil, environmental aspects of oil-shale utilization and recent developments particularly results of the Department of the Interior's Prototype Oil Shale Leasing Program, that suggest inauguration of commercial oil-shale processing.

Tags: kmd
EVALUATION OF INVESTIGATIONS OF THE OIL SHALE RESOURCES OF JORDAN AND COMMENTS ON THEIR UTILIZATION

"The El-Laijun deposit of oil shale represents one of Jordan's major mineral resources and will probably sometime be of importance in the country's economic development, although immediate utilization does not appear likely because of the ready availability of low-cost  imported petroleum. Because of the potential importance, the present field and laboratory program to evaluate the deposit should be continued to produce information on the extent, richness, and thickness of the deposit and on the composition of materials that might be produced from it.  When appropriate information becomes available, an estimate  should be made of costs of mining the oil shale on a scale corresponding to Jordan's potential needs. If these costs are economically attractive , preliminary estimates should be made of the utilization of the oil shale as a source of power plant fuel and/or of fuels, chemicals, and minerals. Developing these estimates will require retaining some consultants, but should be relatively inexpensive. The estimates will furnish a basis for deciding whether an attempt should be made to utilize the oil shale and if so, how and when."

Tags: kmd