AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Fracture mechanics investigation of oil shale to aid in understanding the explosive fragmentation process. Final technical report, January 1983-July 1984

This report summarizes goals and findings achieved in developing technologies to improve the overall efficiency of oil shale recovery processes. The objectives are to (a) develop theoretical fracture mechanics tools that are applicable to transversely isotropic materials such as sedimentary rock, more particularly oil shale; and (b) develop a fracture mechanics test procedure that can be conveniently used for rock specimens. Such a test procedure would: utilize the geometry of a typical rock core for the test; require a minimum amount of specimen machining; and provide meaningful, reproducible data that corresponds well to test data obtained from conventional fracture mechanics tests. Critical review of the state-of-the-art of fracture mechanics on layered rocks has been completed. Recommendations are made for innovative and promising methods for oil shale fracture mechanics. Numerical and analytical studies of mixed mode fracture mechanics are investigated. Transversely isotropic properties of oil shale are input using isoparametric finite elements with singular elements at the crack tip. The model is a plate with an edge crack whose angle with the edge varies to study the effect of mixed mode fracture under various conditions. The three-dimensional plate is in tension, and stress, energy methods are used in the fracture analysis. Precracked disks of oil shale cored perpendicular to bedding planes are analyzed numerically. Stress intensity factors are determined by (i) strain energy method, and (ii) elliptic simulation method. 47 refs., 12 figs., 1 tab.

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Coal-water mixture combustion technology development. Final technical report

United Technologies Research Center has conducted a comprehensive investigation of the combustion characteristics of coal-water mixture (CWM) fuel for use in gas turbine combustors. Included in the program have been studies of the physical and chemical processes involved in CWM combustion. In particular, subrig test programs were performed to document the level of atomization achieved by candidate fuel nozzles and to evaluate the mixing/stability characteristics as evidenced by flow patterns in the combustor. Additionally, an extensive investigation of the pyrolysis behavior of coals used in the preparation of CWM fuels has been conducted for the high heat flux conditions experienced in a gas turbine combustor. These several activities were performed in preparation for tests in a combustor rig which simulated full-load gas turbine combustor conditions. Data were acquired to evaluate the ability of several configurations to achieve high levels of fuel burnout while controlling the conversion of fuel nitrogen to NOx. The bulk of the combustion tests were performed using one slurry, designated UCC-1, which was a 60% loaded CWM with a heating value of approximately 8800 Btu/lb. A limited test effort was conducted using a second fuel (UCC-2) which was chemically identical to the original CWM but contained coal possessing a larger particle size distribution. High levels of combustion efficiency were obtained using either UCC-1 or UCC-2 fuels. 9 refs., 53 figs., 7 tabs.

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Preliminary study of the remote sensing of a modified in situ oil shale retort by electromagnetic methods

A preliminary study has been conducted to ascertain the feasibility of interrogating a vertical modified in situ oil shale retort by high frequency electromagnetic methods. The study is focused on determining the distribution of void and particle size after rubblization within the retort zone. The ability to map void fraction distribution by this method shows promise; however, oil shale anisotropy along with variations in oil shale electrical properties with grade, moisture content, and mineral content, will somewhat limit the accuracy of such a technique. Laboratory measurements of oil shale electrical properties indicate that frequencies high enough to observe scattering effects are feasible with typical source to receiver separation distances. However, computer simulation shows that the scattering effects are primarily dependent on void dimensions rather than rock sizes. Recommendations are given for future laboratory and theoretical studies as well as a field test with existing equipment.

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Characterization of Black Trona Waters and use of the waters for recovery of bitumen from US tar sands

There were two principal research objectives for this project. The first objective was to characterize organic material in Black Trona Water with an emphasis on colloids and organic acids. The second objective was to determine the utility of Black Trona Water as a solvent for extracting fossil fuels from US Tar Sands. Spectroscopic studies, molecular weights and shapes of polymeric acids and behavior as a polysoap were determined. Experiments indicate that trona water is preferable to Black Trona Water as an extraction agent for tar sands. The trona water is fairly efficient at stripping bitumen from the sand with gentle heating. In trona water, the displaced bitumen is readily collected on a Teflon surface (i.e., a non-water-wetted surface) with little material dissolving in the water. In contrast, the polysoap in Black Trona Water appears to take up displaced bitumen in a detergent-like process. Separating bitumen from the polysoap would undoubtedly be very difficult. 38 references, 16 figures, 2 tables.

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Hydrologic monitoring program, Rifle Oil Shale Facility Site, Colorado. Progress report

A hydrologic monitoring and assessment program is being developed to investigate the hydrologic characteristics of surface and ground waters in the region of the Anvil Points, Colorado, Rifle Oil Shale Facility. The objectives of the program are to: evaluate ground-water contributions to study streams; assess contaminant transport capability of surface and ground waters; determine peak discharge magnitude and frequency relationships for use in designing possible spent oil shale disposal works; and assess the impact of specified hypothetical problems, events, or scenarios. To accomplish these objectives, seven major tasks have been identified: (1) literature review of existing studies dealing with the regional, hydrological, physiographical, geological, and climatological characteristics; (2) ground-water characterization; (3) drainage basin characteristics and channel geometry; (4) streamflow and sediment transport; (5) stream travel times; (6) analysis of spent shale disposal; and (7) support of water quality sample collection.

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Energy from oil shale:  environmental research

The development of the vast energy resources of the oil shales of the Green River Formation in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming requires the application of satisfactory environmental controls. Expected waste materials from processing oil shale are the shales from which the organic materials have been removed, waters produced during retorting. Present status of environmental research on oil shales at the Laramie Energy Research Center is discussed. (13 refs.)

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Controlled low-temperature pyrolysis of benzene-extracted Green River oil shale

The present study was undertaken to determine the rate at which oil shale kerogen decomposes and to determine the composition of the pyrolyric products formed at 300 to 350 degrees C in a helium atmosphere at atmospheric pressure. A study of the thermal reaction at these low temperatures is important because of the current interest in the in situ retorting processes of converting oil shale to shale oil. During in situ retorting it may take long periods of heating to raise the temperature of the oil shale from ambient temperature to the final retorting temperature, thus thermal reactions or intermediate temperatures may become important. The present study was made to investigate some of the possible variables in the thermal behavior of the oil shale organic material as a function of time and temperature.

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Reproducibility of chemical analyses of raw Colorado oil shales

This study was undertaken to establish the real magnitudes of the errors of the determinations of total carbon, acid-evolved carbon dioxide, organic carbon, total nitrogen, total hydrogen, and total sulfur in oil shales ranging the natural gamut of kerogen richness. Four shales, one low in kerogen, two of medium kerogen content, and one very rich shale, were divided into twelve samples each. These were submitted for analysis, randomly and under blind labels, over a 15-month period. The results show that the true errors of the carbon and sulfur analyses are much larger than replicate differences would indicate, while intersample variance was comparable to between-replicate variance for nitrogen and hydrogen. Still, the errors for total carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen, as determined with the Perkin-Elmer elemental analyzer, are comparable to or smaller than those expected for fully combustible compounds by Perkin-Elmer experts. Historical plots of within-group variations show definite biases which may be correctable but whose causes have not been found. Samples about ten times larger than the 2-mg samples recommended for pure combustible compounds are probably appropriate for oil shale. A regular quality-control program should be instituted for these analyses.

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Sorption-desorption capacity of oil shale materials. Volume 2. Experimental methods and results. [2-hydroxynaphthalene, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline, and 2,3,5-trimethylphenol]

The primary objective of this research was to evaluate the sorption/desorption (S/D) behavior of several inorganic and organic agents in the presence of four shales (Antrim, Anvil Points, Oxy 6, and Run 16) and a western soil. In addition, an attempt was made to relate batch test results to data obtained in continuous-flow, column trials, and to develop a spectrophotometric method for the analysis of organic compound mixtures. With respect to the results of studies with the inorganic agents, it appeared that retort temperature and porosity (and/or hydraulic conductivity) was strongly correlated to the distribution and quantity of inorganic agents which eluted from the shales. Most of the inorganic agents eluted from columns of the shales in the first two to eight pore volumes of effluent. Shales retorted at a lower temperature appeared to have a greater capacity for arsenic, cadmium, and fluoride removals than the other shales considered. Arsenic, cadmium, and iron were generally removed to below detection limits. In the case of cadmium and iron, removals were effected largely by precipitation due to the relatively high pH of the shale surfaces and associated fluids. Experiments with the organic agents indicated that 2-hydroxy-naphthalene was generally sorbed better than 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline which in most trials was more completely sorbed than 2,3,5-trimethylphenol. Overall, it appeared that Antrim shale was the best sorbent for the organic agents considered and Run 16 was generally the worst. Anvil Points and Oxy 6 shales often ranked intermediate to the other shales as sorbents and provided similar results. The western soil provided for sorption levels of the organics which were nearly as good, if not better, than those accomplished by the shales. 188 refs., 100 figs., 21 tabs.

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Organic emissions from shale oil wastewaters and their implications for air quality

The emission of organic compounds from shale oil wastewaters used to cool hot, retorted, spent oil shale and for codisposal with retorted shale was investigated. The major classes of compounds emitted are aromatic nitrogen-containing compounds, ketones, phenols, and nitriles, the same as those previously reported to be emitted from wastewaters exposed to air at room temperature. A gas-stripping method was modified to allow the determination of several Henry's law constants simultaneously. Measured values of H for these solutes in the wastewaters (10/sup -4/-10/sup -5/ atm m/sub 3/ mol/sup -1/) generally agreed with values determined for solutes in pure water, indicating that the wastewater matrix has little effect on H. Air samples collected in regions likely to be affected by atmospheric emissions from the shale oil industry had no detectable levels of the major organic species that are emitted from shale oil wastewaters, indicating that these species may be useful in tracing pollutant air masses resulting from shale oil production.

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Individual Water Sample Quality Assurance Program

This report documents the development and implementation of a flexible Individual Water Sample Quality Assurance (IWSQA) Program. The management of the data obtained from the chemical characterization of a water sample is described. These data are used to calculate the IWSQA ratios used to evaluate the data for possible errors and indications of which chemical constituents should be reanalyzed before reporting. The theory, definitions, tables for calculation, and guidelines for interpretation of the ratios are given. 13 refs., 3 figs., 10 tabs.

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Process and technology development activities for in situ coal gasification, FY83

As part of DOE's Underground Coal Gasification Program, activities at Sandia National Laboratories have been directed at Process and Technology Development. The project areas include (1) the development of a cornering water jet drill for use in linking vertical wells in Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) tests; (2) the development of a controlled source audio-frequency magnetotelluric (CSAMT) surface geophysical technique for monitoring the process, and (3) the development of models for use in predicting surface subsidence and cavity growth. The accomplishments for the year include (1) the successful completion of the high wall tests of the cornering water jet drill, (2) the start of the down hole tests including completion of the vertical hole and underreamed volume, testing of the sump pump and initial drilling to a hole length of three meters, (3) the preliminary CSAMT survey of the Tono partial seam controlled reacting injection point (CRIP) test area, (4) the development of a data acquisition and analysis system for the CSAMT technique, (5) the development of a predictive model for subsidence and cavity growth and their application to the partial seam CRIP test.

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Geochemical modeling research related to the surface disposal of processed oil shale solid waste. [Elements and compounds in oil shale wastes]

Several geochemical codes are available in the literature to model chemical processes such as oxidation-reduction, precipitation-dissolution, formation of solution complex, adsorption, and ion exchange. However, these models differ in the environments to which they apply. The objective of this research was to evaluate the applicability of existing geochemical codes to predict water quality from an oil shale solid waste environment. We selected EQ3/EQ6, GEOCHEM, MINTEQ, PHREEQE, SOLMNEQ, and WATEQFC geochemical models for further evaluation. We concluded that all these models lack thermodynamic data for minerals and solution complexes which are important for oil shale solid waste studies. Selection of any one of the models would require development of a more reliable thermodynamic database, and this report describes the initiation of that work. So far, critical evaluation of thermodynamic data has been completed for Sr, F, Mo, and Se. 64 refs., 15 tabs.

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Integral Monitored Retrievable Storage (MRS) Facility conceptual design report

The Regulatory Assessment Document (RAD) was developed to provide assurance that the design meets the requirements of 10 CFR 72 as amended or clarified in the Federal Register (FR) and will not cause an undue risk to the health and safety of the public and workers during normal or off-normal operations. The RAD also fulfills the requirements of DOE Orders 6430 and 5481.1A, which require a preliminary safety evaluation of new projects be conducted to identify hazards or potential accidents and to describe and analyze the adequacy of the design to eliminate, control, or mitigate those hazards or accidents and/or their consequences. The results of this preliminary assessment thus provide a precursor to final design development, including special safety features to ensure the safety of operating personnel and the general public. 1 tab.

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Results and interpretation of rapid-pyrolysis experiments using the LLNL solid-recycle oil shale retort

Virtually all rapid pyrolysis oil shale retorting processes currently under study utilize some form of hot-solid as the heat carrying medium. The conditions under which rapid retorting is achieved call for rapid mixing of the solid heat carrier and raw shale followed by a 2 to 3 minute soak period during which pyrolysis occurs. Both chemically active and inactive solid heat carriers have been proposed along with a number of processing strategies. To assess the merits of the various processing alternatives, a thorough understanding of the chemistry and physics involved in solid-recycle retorting is required. At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory we are studying the chemistry and physics of solid-recycle retorting in a 2 ton/day continuous-loop pilot scale facility. We have operated our continuous-loop system, over the past two years, using both a two-stage fluidized bed pyrolyzer and a cascading mixer and gravity bed pyrolyzer, with recycled shale as the heat carrying medium. The majority of runs have used an Anvil Points 24 GPT shale with dolomite and calcite concentrations typical of western oil shale. The quantity and quality of the oil produced under rapid-pyrolysis conditions is of key interest in continuous-loop systems. We have determined oil yields and have characterized the oil in a number of ways under a variety of processing conditions. The effects of product sweep, recycle ratio, retorting temperature and atmosphere have been studied in both pyrolyzers and are reported. The facility provides a unique opportunity to study sulfur and nitrogen chemistry throughout the recycle system. Oxidized shale has been shown to effectively scrub H/sub 2/S from the pyrolysis gas, and only trace quantities of SO/sub 2/ have been measured from the combustion of recycled shale. Nitric oxides in the combustor effluent have been measured and are discussed. 12 refs., 7 figs., 14 tabs.

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Legal aspects of coalbed gas

The major institutional problem in production of gas from coalbeds is the legal question of who owns the gas. In this study, related judicial decisions in West Virginia are examined along with U.S. federal and state regulations, and a limited overview of Pennsylvania law is given. The problem could be resolved by litigation, legislation, or cooperation. An outline for a model legislative solution is given. However, it is recognized that cooperation may be a viable solution for near-term development of this unconventional gas source. 26 refs.

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Atmospheric fluidized-bed projects:  technology overview

The accomplishments of the DOE Atmospheric Fluidized-Bed Combustion (AFBC) program during FY82 are described. The methodology by which the DOE-funded projects achieved the goals and objectives of the program are addressed. The status of the technology is reviewed, areas are identified where further development or research is required, and projects are identified where this work is currently being addressed or will be addressed. A description and scope of the major projects is given, followed by a delineation of the key technology areas of concern. Program objectives include demonstrating process reliability with numerous fuels, developing an operating/maintenance cost data base, and developing the technology in those areas where demonstrations show further work is required. In addition, tests are sponsored in areas where further data are required to verify or expand the existing technology data base.

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Oil shale in the Piceance Basin: an analysis of land use issues

The purpose of this study was to contribute to a framework for establishing policies to promote efficient use of the nation's oil shale resources. A methodology was developed to explain the effects of federal leasing policies on resource recovery, extraction costs, and development times associated with oil shale surface mines. This report investigates the effects of lease size, industrial development patterns, waste disposal policies, and lease boundaries on the potential of Piceance Basin oil shale resource. This approach should aid in understanding the relationship between federal leasing policies and requirements for developing Piceance Basin oil shale. 16 refs., 46 figs. (DMC)

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Heat contents of some Green River oil shales. [Burned shale, spent shale, and raw oil shale]

"Heat content studies were conducted on burned shale, spent shale , and three grades of raw oil shale from the Green River Formation. Corrections were made for product enthalpies. The results were compared with previous work, indicating good agreement below retorting temperatures, but some differences at retorting  temperatures. A general equation was developed relating  heat content to oil-shale grade and temperature."

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Extraction and refining of shale oil. [Review article; description of USBM gas-flow, Union Oil and Standard Oil processes]

The purpose of this paper is to tell briefly the nature and characteristics of oil shale, to explain how oil is obtained from the rock, to describe the crude shale oil thus obtained, and to describe the crude shale oil thus obtained, and to describe the method and equipment being used at Rifle to refine this oil.

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Influence of site-specific geology on oil shale fragmentation experiments at the Colony Mine, Garfield County, Colorado

The Los Alamos National Laboratory executed 19 intermediate scale cratering experiments in oil shale at the Colony Mine in Garfield County, Colorado. These experiments have led to a better understanding of fracture characteristics and fragmentation of in situ oil shale by use of a conventional high explosive. Geologic site characterization included detailed mapping, coring, and sample analyses. Site-specific geology was observed to be a major influence on the resulting crater geometry. The joint patterns at the experimental site frequently defined the final crater symmetry. Secondary influences included vugs, lithology changes, and grade fluctuations in the local stratigraphy. Most experiments, in both the rib and floor, were conducted to obtain data to investigate the fragmentation results within the craters. The rubble was screened for fragment-size distributions. Geologic features in proximity to the explosive charge had minimal effect on the rubble due to the overpowering effect of the detonation. However, these same features became more influential on the fracture and rubble characteristics with greater distances from the shothole. Postshot cores revealed a direct relationship between the grade of the oil shale and its susceptibility to fracturing. The Colony Mine experiments have demonstrated the significant role of geology in high explosive/oil shale interaction. It is probable that this role will have to be considered for larger applications to blast patterns and potential problems in retort stability in the future of oil shale development.

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