AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Final environmental statement: proposed superior oil company land exchange and oil shale resource development

The Superior Oil Company requested an exchange of public land for private land. With the exchange, an economical mining unit would be formed and oil shale resources developed. Major federal actions would be the revoking of the oil shale withdrawal by the Secretary of the Interior and the exchange of land by the Bureau of Land Management. Following the exchange, Superior would construct an underground mine and a processing plant. The mine would produce an average of about 26,000 tons of oil shale daily. From the oil shale, the plant would produce about 4800 tons of nahcolite, 11,500 barrels of shale oil, 580 tons of alumina, and 1000 tons of soda ash daily. Production would continue for about 20 years. Above-ground facilities would occupy about 380 acres. Approximately 920 people would be employed during operation of the project. Products would be hauled from the plant by truck.

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INVESTIGATION OF "SPENT " OIL SHALE FOR POSSIBLE USE IN CONCRETE

At the request of the Bureau of Mines Oil Shale Demonstration Plant, Rifle, Colorado, the Denver Laboratories made a few tests on the possibilities of using "spent" oil shale as an aggregate in concrete.  "Spent" oil shale is the byproduct remaining after the extraction of the kerogen from the oil shale. The heat in the extraction process expands the shale, giving it a vesicular structure similar to some of the lightweight aggregates used in concrete. Commercial development of the oil shale will result in enormous quantities of the "spent" oil shale which must be disposed of in some manner. One possible use for this material is in concrete as a lightweight aggregate.

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OCCIDENTAL VERTICAL MODIFIED IN SITU PROCESS FOR THE RECOVERY OF OIL FORM OIL SHALE PAHSE I  ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD NOVEMBER 1, 1977 TO OCTOBER 31, 1978  VOL I, VOL II, AND VOL III

Annual report spanning Nov 1977 through Oct 1978 collecting all quarterly reports along with graphs and charts. Volume I, II, III

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OCCIDENTAL VERTICAL MODIFIED IN SITU PROCESS FOR THE RECOVERY OF OIL FROM OIL SHALE PHASE 1  QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT FOR THE PERIOD MAY 1, 1978 THROUGH JULY 31, 1978

Work at Logan Wash during May, June, and July involved post-rubblization construction of Retort 6, flow and traced testing of the retort, and running a small scale start-up field test to verify the start-up procedure proposed for Retort 6. Ignition is planned for late August 1978. At the C-b tract, the shaft collaring for the production, service and ventilation/escape shafts, the consolidation grouting around the service and production shafts, and excavation of the vertical segment of the service shaft air inlet were completed. Various building and concrete batch plant construction activities continued.

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A STUDY OF THE DOW SHALE OIL RECOVERY PROCESS

Consideration has been given to the process proposed by Dow and analyzes the Midland field experiment in light of the understanding developed by the writers. Technical considerations were reviewed with the belief that such topics hold the key to a full understanding of the proposed process. Some material of this nature and parts of the progress reports are included in the Appendix. The most likely method of economically recovering shale oil by in situ processes is presented. A two-pronged research program is recommended, one on field fracturing of shale and shattering by explosives and the other on laboratory retorting of various sized shale pieces under in situ pressures.

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IN SITU RETORTING OF OIL SHALE USING RF HEATING A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

Field test work in Utah during 1980 proved that application of radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic heating will raise Green River Formation oil shale to retorting temperatures. Laboratory results indicate substantial permeability are induced at in situ retorting conditions and high oil recoveries are anticipated. Subsequently, a preliminary conceptual design for a commercial scale integrated RF retorting plant was developed. Significant advantages for in situ oil production through RF retorting are suggested by this work. Potentially attractive economic incentives and the prospect of achieving greater resource recovery warrant additional field test work. The key issue to be demonstrated is the creation of adequate permeability to accommodate induced fluid flow and achieve high oil recoveries under autogenous pressure drives at commercial operating conditions. A plan for a $20 million proof-of-concept field test program was created and is described.

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SEISMIC METHODS FOR MONITORING STRUCTURAL STABILITY DURING IN- SITU RETORTING OF OIL SHALE

Modifies in-situ methods of synfuel production from oil shale consists of (a)conventional mining to develop access and open up expansion slots, (b)brecciation or 'rubbilizing'a chimney of rock to form a retort column. Fragmentation is by blasting with void space controlled by location of the expansion slots. (c) In situ combustion by pumping air into the top of the retort and extracting oil vapor and liquid from the bottom.  Combustion is sustained by burning of residual char behind the volatilization front.

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ON SOLAR THERMAL PROCESSING AND RETORTING OF OIL SHALE

The general concept and a recent paper on solar oil shale retorting are critically reviewed. It is concluded that a recent paper by Berber and Fletcher contains erroneously high oil yields and provides no new valid information related to solar oil shale process design or economic evaluation. A brief examination of solar retorting indicates that it makes little sense. A few guidelines are presented concerning what kind of research might be useful to make a more rigorous evaluation.

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KINETICS OF COLORADO OIL SHALE PYROLYSIS IN A FLUIDIZED-BED REACTOR

"The hydrocarbon evolution data of Richardson et al. (1982) is reanalyzed to determine improved rate expressions for oil generation from Colorado oil shale under rapid pyrolysis conditions. Contributions from low molecular weight gases are subtracted from flame ionization detector data to obtain the rate of oil generation alone. Equally good fits to the data were obtained using two parallel first-order reactions or a single reaction with an effective reaction order of 1.51.  The latter expression is easier to incorporate into global process models. The rate expressions are independent of shale source (Anvil Points or Tract C-a) and particle size (0.5 to 2.4 mm). The kinetic data are consistent with the previous  conclusion that the small incremental oil yield possible for fluidized-bed pyrolysis requires a longer residence time than that estimated by kinetic expressions derived from  slow heating rate data."

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EFFECTS OF GAS ENVIRONMENT ON MINERAL REACTION IN COLORADO OIL SHALE

The effects of various sweep gases on the decomposition and reaction of calcite and dolomite in Colorado oil shale is reported. The disappearance of reactants and formation of products in the temperature range of 600 to 900C is monitored using powder X-ray diffraction.  The results show that over this temperature range, the effect of gas environment on the rate of silicate formation follows the order H2O>CO2>N2.  The final silicate product phases are observed to be a mixture of melilite, dippdide and merwinite.  Global  reaction kinetics are developed that describe the rate of CO2 evolution during decomposition of dolomite and calcite in the presence of various partial pressures of steam.  Such data are useful in numerical models of oil shale retorting.  Finally, the implications of these results on processing and on environmental aspects of oil shale retorting are discussed.

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IN SITU COAL GASIFICATION AND OIL SHALE RECOVERY BIBLIOGRAPHY

"The need for alternate fuels to supplement declining oil and gas supplies has long been recognized. Today more than ever in situ (in place) recovery of our energy resources is needed in meeting our nations energy  requirements. The ultimate goal of the 4th Annual In Situ Energy Recovery Technology course is to present an up to date account of the current status of In Situ Recovery Technology and its prospects for the underground  gasification of coal and in situ shale processing. The development and transfer of this important technology to new energy resources and to new potential users is a key step in helping to meet our energy challenge. This literature survey helps to meet these objectives by providing users with the most up to date references on underground coal gasification and in situ oil shale retorting. The material is arranged chronologically by source with a total of 861 abstracts covering underground coal gasification, and 603 abstracts under the heading of oil shale. Also included in the bibliography is an up to date account of coal and oil shale resources within the Southwest region. The appendix contains references to mar localities of coal and shale reserves."

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NEW SOURCE OF COMBINED ENERGY AND GLASS RAW MATERIALS AVAILABLE - 1980

The world’s largest, most valuable mineral deposit—in Colorado—will produce an impure soda ash for use in the glass industry and impure sodium bicarbonate for dry process SO2 control by 1980. The deposit can also yield aluminum, sodium aluminate, pure soda ash, petrochemicals, oil and a silica deficient glass cullet without needs for outside energy sources.

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HYDROCARBON TYPE ANALYSIS OF JET FUELS BY NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE AND MASS SPECTROMETRY

A set of equations applicable to NMR data were derived for calculating the total mole percent of paraffins and aromatics as well as the mole percent of mono- and diaromatics on whole liquid hydrocarbon fuels without resorting to fractionation procedures. The total paraffinic and aromatic contents of jet fuels calculated from NMR data correlated with mass spectral data. Monoaromatic content determined from NMR data was also found to correlate with mass spectral data, but the idiomatic content determined by NMR and MS did not correlate well when the diaromatic content was less than four mole percent. This lack of correlation was attributed to the inherent errors of the two techniques when the absolute concentration is low. Hydrogen and carbon aromaticity values for jet fuels determined by NMR at two different laboratories under different sets of conditions agree quite well.

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A NOTE ON THE FORMULATION OF SATURATED-UNSATURATED FLUID FLOW THROUGH DEFORMABLE POROUS MEDIA

"Biot’s fundamental relationships in the general theory of here-dimensional consolidation have provided a basis for the coupled stress-fluid flow analysis of saturated deformable porous media. Extension of such analysis to the entire flow regime (saturated-unsaturated) has recently been attempted by Safai and Pinder. In their development, similar to the saturated case, the contribution to change in storage in the unsaturated state is derived from the skeletal deformation and the fluid compressibility effects corrected for the effect of degree of saturation of the latter term only. However, the major contribution to the storage change in unsaturated state is from the actual dewatering of pores which does not appear in their governing equation. Ignoring the desaturation of pores, in view of its significance as compared to the skeletal deformation and the fluid compressibility effects, may lead to erroneous results.  In this paper, along the lines of Biot’s development, a general formulation consisting of constitutive and governing relations for saturated-unsaturated flow in deformable porous media is presented."

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REFINING OF MILITARY JET FUELS FROM SHALE OIL - PART II, VOL III: ABOVE GROUND SHALE OIL PROCESS DATA - INTERIM REPORT

Phase II work performed was directed toward the completion of two primary tasks. Task I under this phase was directed at evaluating the effect of operating conditions on material quality, energy balances, product composition and economics. Task II was directed at obtaining scale-up data for those unit operations of the Phase I process requiring laboratory data to confirm preliminary estimates. This volume presents the data generated on the above-ground crude shale oil, retorted at the Paraho Anvil Points facility.

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QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR ANALYTICAL MEASUREMENTS

The objectives of a quality assurance and control program are to monitor and control analytical measurements to ensure that the limitations of the resulting analytical data are known. Data are continuously monitored by control charts to determine the degree of precision and accuracy. This approach immediately detects outlying data points or other problems in analytical procedures. Assessment on the degree of control of a procedure is then made. When greater confidence is required, the analytical procedure is evaluated in order to make changes to obtain the desired region of statistical control.

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CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF CATALYSTS I - POISONING OF CRACKING CATALYSTS BY NITROGEN COMPOUNDS AND POTASSIUM ION

"The research work on catalysts carried out at this laboratory is guided by the point of view that chemical rather than physical properties are more fundamentally determinative in catalytic phenomena. This paper, therefore, describes a portion of the results of fundamental chemical work undertaken to establish the essential ingredients or active principles of a number of metal oxide catalysts. More specifically, it deals with the effect of nitrogen compounds and potassium ion on the activity of silica-containing cracking catalysts.  For many years it has been known that certain clays and synthetic mixed oxides containing silica act as catalysts for various chemical reactions. With the advent of catalytic cracking in the petroleum industry, research work on siliceous catalyst has been intensified to a great degree. For the most part the vast amount of research on cracking catalysts has been of the empirical type. This approach was necessary because no one possessed any insight into what critical properties were desired in a catalyst. A large portion of the published research on cracking catalysts has been concerned with the physical properties of these catalysts, particularly such properties as surface area and pore volume and distribution. It is not to be denied that much information about the physical nature of these catalysts has resulted from these physical methods. However, the real insight into the manner in which these catalysts act which has resulted from this type of research has proved to be disappointingly small. In going over the catalyst literature one is struck with the lack of specific information on the significant chemical attributes of the silica-metal oxide type of catalysts and how these attributes are related to the activity of the catalysts. It is not impossible that the lack of specific information on the chemistry of these catalysts has resulted from a lack of appreciation of the importance of the chemical properties of the catalyst. The great specificity of catalysts can only mean that specific chemical properties of the catalyst are involved in catalytic action. Proceeding from this viewpoint considerable new insight into the manner of catalytic action has been obtained."

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DEVELOPMENT OF A WATER JET ASSISTED DRAG BIT CUTTING HEAD FOR COAL MEASURE ROCKS

An ongoing research program at the Colorado School of Mines is investigating the application of low to moderate pressure water jets to assist the cutting performance of drag type cutter bits commonly used on coal mine cutting machinery. The results to date indicate that a water jet directed to impinge the rock in the immediate vicinity of cuter tip can provide significant benefits in terms of reduced cutting forces, prolonged bit life and less airborne dust, as well as reduced tendency of sparking during cutting. This paper describes the findings of this research effort designed to fully evaluate and optimize the parameters affecting the performance of a combined water jet assisted drag bit cutting system for coal mine applications.

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SULPHUR ISOTOPIC STUDY OF UINTA BASIN HYDROCARBONS

Sulfur isotope analyses of tars from bituminous sand, crude oils, and solid hydrocarbons from the Uinta Basin (Tertiary) Utah show wide variations, but all are heavier than the troilite sulfur isotopic standard. The data range from  2.7 to 30.3% and sulfur contents are low, usually less than one percent. Crude oils and tars from rocks of Mesozoic and Paleozoic age show S34S values within plus or minus 5% of the meteorite standard and exhibit sulfur contents in excess of one percent. The positive (enriched in S-34) S34S values reflect the progressive enrichment of sulfur-34 in waters and sediments of Tertiary Lake Uinta that arose from bacterial reduction of sulfate and loss of hydrogen sulfide that had been enriched in sulfur-32.

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COPPER-MANGAMESE-BASE SILVERLESS BRAZING SYSTEMS

The Bureau of Mines conducted research on substitute brazing filler alloys with properties similar to those of silver filler alloys in an effort to conserve silver and reduce hazards from cadmium emissions. Experimental work was conducted first on the commercial silver brazing alloys Bag-l, Bag-la, Bag-2, and Bag-3 to establish criteria for evaluating the substitute alloys. Properties investigated included the wettability of copper, brass, and steel substrates, and the strength of joints made with the filler alloys. A series of experimental alloys containing 50 to 60 pct Cu, 20 to 28 pct Mn, and 17 to 30 pct Zn was prepared and evaluated, together with Cu-Mn-Zn alloys with 5 pct Pb or 2 pct Ni. Wetting properties and joint strengths were not as good as those for silver filler alloys, and the high application temperatures reduced the copper and brass base metal strengths. However, experimental alloys containing 70 pct Cu, 15 to 20 pct Mn, and 10 to 16 pct Sn had wetting and strength properties approaching those of the silver filler alloys. The application temperatures for these alloys were higher than those for silver fillers, but not as high as those for the Cu-Mn-Zn alloys. With the Cu-Mn-Sn  alloy fillers, copper alloy joint members are less deteriorated by recrystallization than when applying Cu-Mn-Zn alloys. The Cu-Mn-Sn system has potential for further development as a substitute brazing alloy system, particularly if the melting temperature can be reduced by the addition of other elements without decreasing the ductility and wetting.

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DETERMINING VAPOR DENSITY AND GASEOUS DIFFUSION COEFFICIENTS OF SB2S3 USING A MODIFIED TRANSPIRATION APPARATUS

"A modified transpiration apparatus was devised by the Bureau of Mines to permit rapid and accurate measure of the vapor transport and vapor diffusion coefficients of antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) and other compounds at temperatures to 1,045 K. The apparatus was equipped with dual condensers and valves to switch the flow of vapor in a fraction of a second from one condenser to the other, thus allowing short-interval sampling under equilibrium conditions. Reliability of the technique was established by measuring the vapor pressure of ZnCl2 as a function of temperature and comparing the results with published data.  As a part of an investigation of the vapor concentrations and species of accessory element sulfides associated with copper and zinc smelting, the apparatus was used to measure the rate of vapor transport and diffusion coefficients of vapor over liquid Sb2S3 as a function of temperature between 870 and 1,045 K. The calculated vapor density was combined with published direct measurements of vapor pressure to calculate the average molecular weight of the gaseous species. Average molecular weight of the vapor in equilibrium with Sb2S3 ranged from 286 to 112 g/mol over the temperature range studied."

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PERCOLATION LEACHING OF A CHALCOPYRITE-BEARING ORE AT AMBIENT AND ELEVATED TEMPERATURES WITH BACTERIA

"The Bureau of Mines conducted a large-scale (6.4 t), long-term (2,165 days) test to gain a better understanding of the leaching characteristics of chalcopyritic ores. An ore sample containing 0.77 pct Cu was leached in a fiberglass column by downward percolation of acidified ferric sulfate solutions. Three sets of leaching conditions were investigated: (1) ambient temperature leaching, (2) elevated temperature (50 degrees to 60 degrees C) leaching, and (3) elevated temperature leaching after inoculation with thermophilic bacteria.  Leaching at ambient temperature resulted in a copper extraction rate of 0.44 pct per 100 days. Increasing the temperature to 50 degrees to 60 degrees C resulted in decreased activity of natural mesophilic bacteria, and the leaching rate decreased to 0.22 pct per 100 days. The pH was lowered from 2.0 to 1.6, and nutrient solutions that contained thermophilic bacteria were added. This procedure resulted in an increase in the ferric-to-ferrous iron ratio and an increase in the copper leaching rate. However, the increased leaching rate was not sustained, and 120 days after inoculation the bacterial activity declined, the ferrous iron content increased, and the copper leaching rate decreased."

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SURFACE WATER HYROLOGY OF THE PIECEANCE CREEK BASIN AND BX IN SITU OIL SHALE PROJECT, RIO BLANCO COUNTY COLORADO

This report was prepared as part of the overall environmental research plan for the BX In Situ Oil Shale Project. The environmental research plan is designed to determine the surface and subsurface effects of project operations in order to allow estimates of the environmental impacts of commercial oil shale development. To allow determination of project impacts, basic surface water hydrologic conditions were determined.

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REPORT ON A PALEONTOLOGICAL SURVEY FOR THE PARAHO I PROJECT UNITAH COUNTY, UTAH

"A paleontological investigation was conducted under Federal Antiquities permit Number 80-UT-115 and State of Utah Paleontological Permit Number 0041 (Appendices 1 &2) in August of 1980 by the Paleontology Branch of the Antiquities Section, Utah Division of State History (UDSH). The study area included: (1) a utility corridor 500’ wide by 2.4 miles in length, (2) a utility corridor 200’ wide by 2.0 miles in length, (3) an access road 100’ wide by 2.0 miles in length, and (4) the greater part (more than 600 acres) of Section 32, I95, R25E, S.L.B.&M. (Figure 1 and Appendix 5).  The work was done for the Paraho Oil Shale Demonstration Module, Phase I, at the request of VTN Consolidated, Inc., 2301 Campus Drive, Irvine, California 92715."

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MIXED MODE FRACTURE MECHANICS WITH EMPHASIS ON TRANSVERSELY ISOTROPIC ROCKS

A numerical method to derive approximate solutions for stress intensity factors for rectilinearly anisotropic bodies without resolving to complex variable approach is presented. The method is based on the assumption that the crack opening profile can be simulated by a simple curve such as an elliptic function and a relationship is found for the stress intensity factor in terms of near tip displacements. An example solution is derived for a transversely isotropic body and the results are verified with Westergaard’s stress function approach. The proposed model has a great potential for the applications to fracture mechanics of anisotropic rock materials.

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DRILLING UCG/SDB MODULE TWO PROCESS WELLS - A TOPICAL REPORT ON THE FIELD OPERATIONS AT RAWLINS DURING THE FALL, 1980 PROGRAM

This report presents the topical highlights of the Module 2 UCG/SDB Process Well Drilling Program performed between August and November, 1980 at Rawlins, Wyoming. Gulf Research and Development Company is implementing a DOE sponsored Underground Coal Gasification project in Steeply Dipping Coal Beds in order to assess the economic and technical viability of UCG and SDB and to project estimated costs for a pilot plant.

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