AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
HISTORICAL SURVEY OF THE STUDY OF THE QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE NATURE OF SHALE OIL

In looking over the agenda for this workshop, I decided that I had the easiest assignment of all of the eight assigned speakers. This is the historical survey of the analysis of shale oil. The thing that seemed to make  this the easiest of the assignments is the word "Historical".  In my historical coverage of the analytical methods used to characterize shale oil, I will not go into any great detail concerning the methods but will touch primarily on the type of analyses used. Most importantly I will cover  the item or portion of the shale oil that is determined by each analysis. The analytical subjects that I will cover in this talk are: (1) assay of oil shale. (2) routine analysis of crude shale oils, (3) analysis of distillate fractions and residues, (4) nitrogen and sulfur analyses, and (5) changes in crude composition with location of shale and with retorting method. To start my historical survey, I will go back to the year 1921. I chose this year for three reasons. First, in that year a proposal was made for a  "standard" oil-shale assay retort. Second, also in that year there appeared a Bureau of Mines proposal for a "standard" method for analysis of crude oils; this method was not only for petroleum crudes but also for shale-oil crudes. The third reason for choosing the year 1921 is that this is the year in which I was born and as far as I am personally concerned it is when history began.

Tags: kmd
RETORTING INDEXES FOR OIL SHALE PYROLYSES FROM ETHYLENE/ETHANE RATIOS OF PRODUCT GASES

Shale oil production by thermal decomposition or the organic material in the shale has been described as a pseudo first order process.  In a practical process the shale is heated to the maximum temperature over a  finite period or time. The products or retorting remain in a heated zone for varying periods of time. The nature of the product depends on both the temperature range over which thermal decomposition takes place and on the residence time of the products in a hot zone.  Temperature measurements in a retort are not readily related to the product even if coupled with flow rates through the retort. This chapter develops a parameter that combines the elements or temperature and residence time into a single number that can be used to indicate instantaneous retorting conditions or to compare various thermal processing techniques for oil shale.  The parameter developed for comparison or control or the retorting process has the dimension of temperature. It could be defined as an "effective temperature" or a "Retorting Index." In the laboratory, this index was developed by relating the ethylene/ethane ratio in the product gases from retorting or shale to a measured temperature in the retorting zone. Residence times of the products in the hot zone were nearly constant. In a commercial-size retort , residence times could vary over wide ranges. Residence time variation causes a change in the observed ratio. The calculated parameter also  changes and so reflects the changing retorting conditions. Application of the parameter to Fischer assay retorts,  gas combustion retorts, and to entrained solids retorts is illustrated with examples. The easily calculable Retorting Index is applicable to in situ retorting as well as those retorts used as examples.

Tags: kmd
TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF THE "USE IT ALL" OIL SHALE RETORTING PROCESS CONCEPT

This report provides a preliminary technical and economic evaluation  of a novel process concept for the  aboveground oil shale retorting technology. The original concept is that disclosed by A. E. Harcak in the U.S. Patent No. 4,340,463) assigned to the U.S. Department of Energy, Laramie Energy Technology Center. In brief description, the "Use It All Retorting Process (UIARP)  makes use of hot flue gas to pyrolyze pulverized raw oil shale in the entrained flow reactor. The flue gas is generated by burning spent shale together with coal in a slagging cyclonic combustor. The heat contained in the excess flue gas is recovered. From the technical  standpoint , the concept appears quite feasible. The main focus of technical concern was centered on the slagging  combustor, CIS burning of spent shale under slagging conditions has not been practiced commercially (with the possible exception of installations in Estonia, USSR). The closest commercial analog is found not in the power boiler field, as was originally stipulated, but in the flash-smelting of copper concentrates. Both the heat of combustion and inorganic fusible content are quite similar between the spent shale and copper concentrates . The success of the flash smelting technology (Outokumpu, Inco , Kivcet and Noranda gives rise to expectation that burning of the retorted shale under slagging conditions can be done on a commercial scale.

Tags: kmd
DIELECTRIC MODELING OF OIL SHALES I-2ND ANNUAL REPORT (9/21/82-9/21/83)

"The available dielectric data on oil shale materials in the  frequency range (0-1GHz) is analyzed in tens of several empirical dielectric functions proposed earlier in the literature for other materials. The empirical functions involving a distribution of relaxation times represent the data satisfactorily. The implications of these relaxation times with respect to the properties of oil shales are  discussed. Fits of the Lichtenieker's formula to the dielectric data are used to extract the average dielectric constants of Kerogen and the inorganic parts."

Tags: kmd
HYDROLOGIC CHARACTERIZATION FOR HANNA III

"While the technical feasibility of UCG has been studied, the environmental impacts have not. The Hanna III test is designed to study two of these impacts: subsidence  and effects on groundwater quality. The water quality analyses, both pre- and postburn, are described, as are the hydrological tests of both the seam and the one overlying aquifer. Results to date indicate that both the seam and aquifer possess both low and directional flow properties."

Tags: kmd
EXTRACTION OF HYDROCARBONS FROM ANTRIM OIL SHALE

"The Dow Chemical Company has performed a variety of in situ experiments on the Antrim oil shale which underlies Michigan. These experiments have ranged from in situ  combustion in a quarry to attempted extraction at a depth of 2,600 feet (780 m). Currently, Dow is continuing its efforts to obtain hydrocarbons from this resource  on a four-year contract (Contract No. EX-76-C-01-2346) in cooperation with the Department of Energy. A site, prepared through explosive fracturing, is being tested.  Extensive permeability tests have been performed and attempts have been made at initiating partial combustion within the formation. Extensive laboratory experiments have been coupled with Dow's efforts to recover hydrocarbons in situ. These tests have been carried out under a variety of different atmospheres, pressures, and temperatures and in various types of apparatus. In general, results show that hydrocarbons can be extracted  in many ways and the products produced and yields obtained will vary accordingly."

Tags: kmd
EASTERN OIL SHALE

Oil shale occurs throughout much of the United States.  The best known is the Eocene Green River formation of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah.  The Green River oil shales are not our only national oil shales option.  Some oil shales exist in Montana, California and Alaska.  Of great interest  are the very extensive oil shale deposits existing tin the Eastern and Midwestern parts of the U.S.  These black Devonian shales contain some organic matter deposited as dead vegetation along with mud and silts in a large marine sea.  Over the millions of years, the mud was compacted and transformed into shale; and, the vegetation was coalified into a high molecular weight material (kerogen).  Like all oil shales when heated, the kerogen breaks down into oils and gases, which can be recovered for fuel or refined for petrochemical feed stocks.

Tags: kmd
THERMAL DECOMPOSITION STUDY OF COLORADO OIL SHALE

A study of the specific reaction rates for the thermal decomposition of the kerogen portion of the organic matter in Colorado oil shale was made at temperatures ranging from 350 to 525 C. (662 to 377 F).  The decomposition products obtained were gas , oil , bitumen, and organic residue.  A better understanding of this reaction would aid materially in the design and operation of commercial retorts for retorting oil from oil shale. This study was made as a pert of the Synthetic Liquid Fuels program, which is being conducted at the Petroleum and Oil-Shale Experiment Station at Laramie, Wyoming.  It was found that the thermal decomposition products of kerogen were formed over the entire range of temperatures studied and that the rate of decompositions increased as the temperature increased, becoming very rapid at 450 C. (842 F.) and above.  In general, the decomposition rate and the decomposition products were the same for all sampled under the same conditions.

Tags: kmd
THERMAL DECOMPOSITON STUDY OF COLORADO OIL SHALE

A study of the specific reaction rates for the thermal decomposition of the kerogen portion of the organic matter in Colorado oil shale was made at temperatures ranging from 350 to 525 C. (662 to 377 F).  The decomposition products obtained were gas , oil , bitumen, and organic residue.  A better understanding of this reaction would aid materially in the design and operation of commercial retorts for retorting oil from oil shale. This study was made as a pert of the Synthetic Liquid Fuels program, which is being conducted at the Petroleum and Oil-Shale Experiment Station at Laramie, Wyoming.  It was found that the thermal decomposition products of kerogen were formed over the entire range of temperatures studied and that the rate of decompositions increased as the temperature increased, becoming very rapid at 450 C. (842 F.) and above.  In general, the decomposition rate and the decomposition products were the same for all sampled under the same conditions.

Tags: kmd
DIELECTRIC HEATING OF COLORADO OIL SHALE

Some preliminary tests made for the Bureau by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation indicated that the dielectric heating of oil shale was probably not commercially feasible due to high power requirements. The work reported herein was undertaken to study further the commercial feasibility and to determine whether dielectric heating might be a useful laboratory means for the very rapid heating of oil shale samples to retorting temperatures. A method whereby a small quantity of oil shale can be heated uniformly to temperatures in the range of 700 to 900 degrees F within one or two minutes is desired in the further study of the mechanism of kerogon conversion.

Tags: kmd
MATERIAL BALANCE FISCHER ASSAY ANALYSIS OF COLORADO OIL SHALE (SEVERAL REPORTS)

"The following is our response your questions concerning : (1) gas measurement, collection, and analysis and (2) oil weight percent and oil yield value reported for Samples 18991 and F8987, respectively. Our present method for quantifying gas yield is by weight difference between feed shale weight and the sum of retort product weights  (i.e., oil, water, and spent shale). We understand from discussion with experienced oil shale research groups that this technique is acceptable for use in mass balance calculations. For almost all samples, all gas generated during the Fischer assay is collected in one gas cylinder. However, a small number of samples were found to generate a relatively large amount of gas products. In  these cases, the retort gas was sampled at intervals so as to capture, in one cylinder , products which represented an average of the total gas yield. Collected gases are analyzed using a Carle Model l-ll-H Refinery  Gas Analyzer coupled to a Hewlett-Packard 3390A recorder integrator. C4 and Cs hydrocarbons species, if present, are resolved as individual peaks; however calculation are expedited by combining individual  peaks and reporting the sum. If desired, the individual peaks could be identified and quantified. However, this would involve a substantial cost increase and effort requiring rerunning of samples and employing a  mass spectrograph along with the gas chromatograph."

Tags: kmd
THERMAL BEHAVIOR OF DAWSONITE AS RELATED TO EXTRACTION OF ALUMINA FROM OIL SHALE (FINAL REPORT, 8/21/78-12/31/80)

The aluminum-containing mineral dawsonite  [NaAl(OH)2C03] occurs in vast amounts in association with Green River Formation oil shale of Colorado's  Piceance Creek Basin. 1 ,2,3 The dawsonite is  accompanied by smaller amounts of an aluminum hydroxide mineral tentatively identified as nordstrandite.  These minerals could provide a source of extractable alumina in excess of six billion tons, enough to supply the total United States alumina requirements for "hundreds of years and to free this country from its current almost total  dependence on foreign sources. Piceance Creek dawsonite occurs almost exclusively" in microcrystalline  form in intimate mixture with the other components of oil shale rather than as discrete beds. It is believed that recovery of the aluminum content can best be accomplished by base extraction of the porous spent shale remaining after production of the shale oil by retorting.  At retorting temperatures dawsonite undergoes thermal decomposition and so the success of the extraction will depend on the solubility of the aluminum containing product formed on heating. Smith and Young tentatively identified the aluminum compound produced at 3S0°C as chi alumina and concluded that at higher temperatures gamma alumina, a less soluble form, was produced Furthermore, they believed that gamma alumina formation occurred below the temperature at which reaction of the dawsonite products with other oil shale minerals would take place. However sufficient data was not acquired to firmly establish this interpretation.  In view of the above, the initial thrust of the research reported on herein was focused on identifying the aluminum containing products obtained on heating pure dawsonite at temperatures from 300 to 800°C, the range  encountered in oil shale retorting. The tentative  conclusions of Smith and Young including the formation of a less soluble alumina form at higher temperatures proved to be incorrect. This finding dictated a change in the direction of the research toward a study of the reactions of dawsonite with other oil shale minerals in dawsonitic oil shale. The details of the research carried out on this project are described in the following sections on the synthesis of dawsonite, the thermal decomposition  of pure dawsonite , the solubility of alumina obtained by heating pure dawsonite, the solubility of alumina from heated dawsonitic oil shale and the solid state reactions which occur on heating dawsonitic oil shale.

Tags: kmd
COMPARISON OF OILS DERIVED FROM COAL AND FROM OIL SHALE

This report presents the results of an investigation by the US Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the State of Colorado, on the yields and properties of oils produced from oil shale, lignite, and subbituminous coal using the standard assay method developed by the Bureau for oil shale testing. The purpose of this work, which is part of the general study of oil shales being conducted by the Bureau of Mines and cooperating agencies, was to obtain information on the amount and character of the yield of crude oil or tar from different typical oil shales, the yield of light oil or naphtha that might be suitable for use in motor fuels, and other products of shale oil.

Tags: kmd
NITROGEN DISTRIBUTION IN SHALE OIL: COMPARISON OF BENCH-SCALE AND COMMERCIAL-SCALE HYDRPROCESSING

A comparison of the nitrogen distributions in two hydrotreated whole shale oils, one from a bench scale hydroprocess and the other from a commercial scale hydroprocess, is presented. The characterization data are interpreted in terms of hydrodenitrogenation processes. The distribution of nitrogen base types in hydrotreated shale oil was seemingly independent of the conditions and scale of hydroprocessing.

Tags: kmd
NITROGEN COMPOUND DISTRIBUTION IN SHALE OIL: COMPARISON OF BENCH-SCALE AND COMMERCIAL HYDROPROCESSING

Hydroprocessing conditions optimized on the bench scale are used to help design commercial hydroprocesses. To effect a greater yield of lighter products from the feedstock, the bottoms or residuum is fractionated from a hydrotreated oil and recycled with fresh feed through a hydrocracker. Often the equipment necessary to recycle the residuum is not available in bench scale hydroprocessing. Therefore, the components of an oil processed by bench scale equipment are likely to be different from the components of an oil processed by commercial scale equipment which includes recycle. Hydroprocessing conditions such as catalyst activity and hydrogen consumption will be effected by differences in oils.

Tags: kmd
HOT GAS STRIPPING OF OIL RETORT WATERS

Hot gas stripping of ammonia and carbon dioxide from three different types of oil shale retort waters was investigated in a packed column. The stripping operation was carried out by countercurrent liquid gas contact over a temperature range of 82.2 to 104.4C in a glass column packed with Intalox Saddles. The stripping rates were determined by measuring the liquid concentration of ammonia and carbon dioxide at three different column heights and three different stripping temperatures for three inlet gas flow rates.

Tags: kmd
PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL TREATMENT OF SELECT OIL SHALE RETORT WATERS

Oil shale retort waters contain a large variety of substances which singly or in combination serve to make them very difficult to treat. The subject research evaluates the treatability of four oil shale retort waters using various physical chemical unit processes. The main emphasis in this effort is placed upon evaluating the efficacy of coagulation-flocculation. Low dosage levels for removal of true suspended solids are determined for each of the retort waters. Treatment efficiencies and optimum process variables are developed and compared.

Tags: kmd
COAGULATION OF OIL SHALE RETORT WATERS WITH SPENT SHALE AND METAL SALTS

Oil shale is seen as a potential replacement for our rapidly declining petroleum reserves. Oil shale is neither oil nor shale, but is rather a solid organic material tied up in marle, a form of limestone or siltstone. An oil is produced by retorting the shale to volatize the oil. Shale is either retorted in situ or mined and retorted above ground. Water is produced during retorting and liberating from the shale and as a product of combustion. In situ retort water production can be considerably increased by groundwater inflow.

Tags: kmd
Report on the Organic Microstructure Mapping of Oil Shale by Laser Pyrolysis

The immediate project is to endeavor to establish how small a laser spot we can use, so as to enhance the resolution of the instrumentation. We are hoping to increase it by a factor of two, and trying to make it a factor of ten. If we can achieve the latter, we should be close to the resolution given by a photographic densitometer scan, and hence improve the correlation between the two methods dramatically.

Tags: kmd
RETORTING OIL SHALE AT HIGH TEMPERATURES. 3. BENCH-SCALE ENTRAINED-SOLIDS RETORT

The main purpose of the entrained-solids bench scale study was to determine the workability of the process as a whole, that is, whether or not conditions which allow the organic matter in the shale to be compressed rapidly and at sufficiently high temperature to produce the desired products, could be obtained in this type of retort, which process variables are important, and the general limitations which must be placed on those conditions.

Tags: kmd
HYDROGEN SULFIDE AND SULFUR DIOXIDE ADSORPTION ON SHALE PRODUCED IN A DIRECT HEATED RETORT

The adsorption of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide on retorted oil shale is investigated for two different grades of oil shale that were retorted in a combustion retort. The adsorption studies were carried out in a packed bed arrangement at three different temperatures and consisted of six different concentrations of either hydrogen sulfide or sulfur dioxide in pure nitrogen. Equilibrium data were fitted to the Langmuir and Freundlich equations and a generalized three parameter equation proposed by Radke and Prausnitz. The isoteric heat of adsorption were calculated and compared to the heat of condensation for each of the adsorbents separately.

Tags: kmd
ENGINEERING SUPPORT: RETORTING OF MIXTURES OF COAL AND OIL SHALE (FINAL REPORT)

A bench scale retort assembly was designed and fabricated, and semi-batch experiments were conducted at LETC on co-retorting of coal and oil shale. Experimental results obtained in this study indicated that, although some liquid oil product is obtained from coal, yield is not significantly greater than would be expected from separate retorting of oil shale and pyrolysis of coal. Some properties of the oil from coal.oil shale mixtures changed, as compared to oil from shale alone.

Tags: kmd
STUDY TO ESTABLISH BASES FOR AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE COMMERCIAL FEASIBILITY OF THE GEOKINETICS HORIZONTAL IN SITU OIL SHALE RETORTING PROCESS

Geokinetics, Inc. is currently developing, on a cost sharing basis with the US Department of Energy, a horizontal modified in situ process for production of oil from oil shale. This program was initiated as a result of the 1977 Oil Shale Program Opportunity Notice, and development has proceeded through a number of field demonstration tests. This technology appears to be a potential candidate for early commercialization. Consequently, Harris & Associates, Engineers, was engaged by LETC to conduct an independent study to establish the bases for an economic analysis of production of shale oil by the Geokinetics horizontal in situ oil shale retorting process.

Tags: kmd
PARTICULATE MEASUREMENT ON OIL SHALE OFF-GAS GENERATED AT THE LETC NORTH SITE QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT (APRIL 1, 1983-AUGUST 1, 1983)

The purpose of this project is to study characteristics of the oil mist which is produced during the retorting of oil shale. Specific areas being examined include: 1) measuring the drop size distribution of the oil mist; 2) estimating the total flux of oil in the form of mist; 3) studying factors which effect the production and growth of the oil drop size distribution.

Tags: kmd
PRELIMINARY PROCESS DESIGN FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF SHALE OIL BY THE GEOKINETICS HORIZONTAL IN SITU RETORTING PROCESS

In this report a preliminary overall process layout and engineering design has been developed for the Geokinetics horizontal in situ retorting process. In addition, available technology for disposal of process waste streams was reviewed, and the best available control technology was selected for the preliminary process design.

Tags: kmd
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR A HORIZONTAL MODIFIED IN SITU RETORTING EXPERIMENT IN UTAH (SECOND REVISION)

The oil shale deposits of Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah are an important energy resource for the US, and a possible significant contributor to future national energy independence. Because some 80 percent of these shale deposits are on federal lands, the federal government has a prime responsibility to ensure their efficient and environmentally sound utilization.

Tags: kmd
MINING COLORADO OIL SHALE-RIFLE MINE

Public Law 290 of the 78th Congress, enacted April 5, 1944 and commonly referred to as the Synthetic Liquid Fuels Act is the basic law under which the Oil Shale Program was carried on, up until July of 1955. This law instructed the Bureau of Mines, among other things, to develop and demonstrate processes and techniques and secure the know how to produce at the lowest possible cost, liquid fuels from such resources as oil shale.

Tags: kmd