AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Process train evaluation for treatment of tar sands wastewaters. Final report

Activated carbon, ozone and reverse osmosis were evaluated in treating two tar sand wastewaters generated by steam flooding (1S) and reverse combustion (2C) procedures. Substrates for these studies included untreated and pretreated (filtration, foam fractionation, chemical treatment with ferric chloride) 1S and 2C wastewaters. Activated carbon, at a dose of 1000 mg/L, reduced the TOC of 1S wastewater after treatment by 350 mg/L of ferric chloride to 2.262 mg/L TOC, a reduction of 91.64%. At the same adsorbent dose, activated carbon reduced the TOC in 2C wastewater from 678.0 mg/L to 548.8 mg/L or by 19 percent. A study of the six commercially available adsorbents yielded little difference in adsorption capability for either wastewater. Ozonation of 1S wastewater after pretreatment by either foam fractionation or chemical treatment with ferric chloride then activated carbon yielded TOC levels of less than 1.2 mg/L. The use of ozone on 2C wastewater was not effective. Only 8.7% of the total TOC had been removed after 1.0 hours of ozonation at a rate of 56.9 mg/L/hr. An ozone optimization study was performed on chemically treated 1S (350 mg/L ferric chloride) wastewater with inlet ozone gas phase concentration and initial solution pH at each of the three levels investigated. The optimum operating conditions were when the initial solution pH was 10.5 and the inlet ozone concentration 2.0 weight percent. Reverse osmosis studies included investigation of four membrane types (cellulose acetate, poly-ether amide, poly-ether urea and a noncellulosic on a poly-sulfane base), three applied pressure levels (250, 400 and 550 psig) and two solution pH levels (5.5 and 7.8) with 5.0 ..mu..m filtered 2C wastewater as the substrate. Organic rejections as measured by TOC ranged from 67.1% to 98.1% while inorganic rejections as conductivity, spanned from 80.0% to 98.7%.

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Feasibility of using oil shale wastewater for waterfowl wetlands

This ecological, engineering, and institutional research study evaluated the use of selected wastewaters from oil shale development to establish wetland habitats for waterfowl. It also evaluated the capability of the wetlands as an innovative wastewater treatment system. The first phase of this two-phase study included inventorying the physical and chemical properties of the potential wastewater sources, evaluating the wastewater capacity of wetlands, and determining the availability of each wastewater source. Critical waterfowl habitat requirements and effects of wastewater on wetlands were used, along with wastewater chemical characterizations, to establish minimum environmental standards for water quality and quantity. The second phase involved selecting candidate sites suitable for possible demonstration projects, including comparing the cost and effectiveness of wetland wastewater treatment with conventional treatment technologies.

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Pyrolysis of asphalt ridge tar sand

Isothermal and nonisothermal pyrolysis experiments have been conducted on Asphalt Ridge tar sand. Oil produced from the isothermal experiments has a molecular weight of approximately 250 and has a hydrogen to carbon ratio between 1.7 and 1.9. Product oil composition varies slightly with reaction time. Results of thin layer chromatographic separation of the residual bitumen show that the concentrations of saturates and aromatics in this bitumen decrease rapidly with increasing reaction time, while the concentrations of aromatics and polars in this bitumen increase. Polars and polynuclear aromatics are the dominant species in this bitumen. Nonisothermal data have been analyzed using a distributed activation energy technique. These tests show a distinct bimodal weight loss curve. The low temperature weight loss peak has a maximum about 275/sup 0/C (527/sup 0/F) and a first order apparent activation energy below 10 kcal/mol. The high temperature peak has a maximum above 400/sup 0/C (752/sup 0/F) and an apparent activation energy of about 60 kcal/mol. 12 refs., 11 figs., 8 tabs.

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Effect of internally generated bulk flow on the rates of gas-solid reactions. II. Multiple gas-solid reactions during the gasification in an oil shale block

The approximate solution method for correcting for the effect of internally generated bulk flow developed in part 1 is applied to the gasification of oil shale char which involves a number of gas-solid reactions. The method was developed based on a rather simple gas-solid reaction system, but it is shown to work quite well for a complex system. A method for extending the application to an even more involved system is discussed. 15 references, 6 figures, 1 table.

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System to evaluate the performance of insulated tubulars in steam injection wells

The efficiency of a thermal enhanced oil recovery project with surface steam generation can be significantly increased by using insulated tubing in the injection wells. In order to evaluate the performance of various insulated tubulars it is necessary to obtain detailed temperature measurements and accurate heat loss data under actual in-field conditions. A system to provide this information has been developed and is in operation at the Aberfeldy steam pilot near Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Canada. Temperature measurements are made using thermocouples inside and on the outer wall of the injection string; on the outside of the casing, and in a set of three 25 mm (1 in.) ID thermowells attached to the casing. In addition, thin film heat flux sensors are bonded directly to the wall of the injection string. A probe system was designed to measure circumferential temperature variations in the thermowells at depths down to 100 m. This makes it possible to obtain detailed axial temperature profiles. Anticipated hot sports on an insulated joint will be detected in this manner. All of the data is recorded on a datalogger and detailed analysis is performed on a computer system. To date a short test has been carried out using bare 60 mm (2-3/8 in.) injection string tubing. This bare string provides data for comparison with insulated strings. High resolution radial temperature profiles were obtained during this test. Variations in heat loss from the string as functions of time and operating conditions have also been successfully monitored. Heat losses from the string during initial start up on the order of 1.0 Kw/m (1050 Btu/hr-ft) were observed with the heat flux sensors. This is in good agreement with the expected heat loss. The heat flux sensors make it possible to both simplify and improve the determination of insulated tubular thermal performance.

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Retort water-treatment alternatives

Some of the alternative methods for treatment and disposal of shale oil retort water are reviewed: land treatment and disposal, underground injection, suspended solids removal, steam stripping, biological treatment, adsorption of organics. Effluents from various treatment steps in the bench-scale studies were analyzed for heavy metals and boron. Preliminary cost estimates are given for physical-chemical and biological treatment processes. Average compositions of bench-scale evaporator inputs and outputs are given; bench-scale studies on biological and activated carbon treatment were also conducted. 1 figure, 3 tables. (DLC)

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Removal of contaminative constituents from retort water:  difficulties with biotreatment and potential applicability of raw and processed shales

Traditional and novel methods for the treatment of water from in-site retorting are discussed. The use of microorganisms for upgrading wastewater is described. Also discussed is the feasibility of using low or spent shales to effect inorganic and organic constituent removal. Problems in developing suitable methods for the treatment of retort wastewater are described. (DMC)

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Air-quality impacts and issues of energy development in the Western United States

Expanded energy development in the Western states, including coal, oil shale, uranium, oil, and gas, will be required if the United States is to reduce its dependence on imported oil. However, such development will increase emissions of air pollutants, which could threaten the air quality of the region. The paper summarizes some of the key air quality findings from a multiyear assessment of Western energy development covering the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, and Montana. Hypothetical energy development activities at six sites and region-wide are examined to determine the magnitude of the air quality impacts. The analysis identifies key factors affecting air quality, including coal characteristics, pollution control levels, terrain features, meteorological conditions, and summarizes the most important regulatory issues involved with siting such facilities. The paper then identifies and briefly discusses several policy options for dealing with these issues. It is concluded that to a considerable extent the regulatory system is in place to minimize serious air quality impacts from energy development, but that further work is needed to simplify the procedural requirements of air quality regulations.

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Steamflooding of preheated tar sand

Steamflooding was evaluated as a thermal oil recovery process for a Utah tar sand. A series of one-dimensional steamflood experiments were conducted to study the effects of the processing conditions on oil recovery efficiency and product oil quality. Processing variables included (1) injected steam fluxes ranging from 200 to 670 scfh/ft/sup 2/, (2) tar sand preheat temperatures ranging from 215/sup 0/ to 500/sup 0/F (102 to 260/sup 0/C), and (3) initial bitumen saturations of 47% and 62% of pore volume. Oil recoveries ranged from 50% original oil in place (OOIP) for the highly saturated tar sand to 35% OOIP for the leaner tar sand. The oil yields improved with increasing initial oil saturations mainly because the steamflood residual oil saturation was independent of the initial bitumen saturation. Residual oil saturations, which decreased with increased steam temperature, averaged 30% of the pore volume regardless of the preheat temperature or the steam injection flux. Increased preheat temperatures reduced the bitumen viscosity and increased the steam zone velocity. This resulted in increased oil production rates and improved product oil quality. However, as preheat temperatures increased, improvements in oil quality and production rate became less significant. Based on the conventional measure for steamflood performance (steam-oil ratio), steamflooding Asphalt Ridge tar sand does not appear to have economic potential as an oil recovery process. At least six pore volumes of steam were injected to produce 35% OOIP from the preheated, highly saturated tar sand. This resulted in a steam-oil ratio of 30 while a ratio of 4 to 6 is typical for commercially operated heavy oil steamfloods which recover 30% to 60% OOIP. 13 refs., 14 figs., 3 tabs.

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Ambient monitoring guidelines for prevention of significant deterioration (PSD)

Ambient air monitoring guidelines are described for sources that may be required to monitor the air quality under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) regulations. Some step-by-step discussion is presented for a source to determine if monitoring will be necessary. Situations where existing air quality and meteorological data, modeling, and use of assumed background concentrations for certain areas may be used in lieu of monitoring, are shown. If a source must undertake a monitoring program, general guidance is given for pollutants to be monitored, number and location of monitoring sites, equipment, frequency and duration of sampling, and data reporting. More detailed guidance is discussed for air quality monitoring probe citing criteria for various pollutants, meteorological monitoring, and quality assurance procedures.

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Retorted oil shale effects on soil microbiological characteristics

The effects of retorted oil shale additions on the microbiological characteristics of surface soils were investigated in a laboratory study to evaluate possible effects of mixing of soils and retorted shales which might occur as a part of revegetation programs in areas disturbed by oil shale processing. Soils were mixed with retorted oil shale at 5, 10, and 25% addition levels, and compared with normal soil and retorted shale over a 2.5-mo period, with evaluation of microbiological parameters carried out at 2-week intervals. With retorted shale present at up to 10% by weight, no negative effects on oxygen uptake or on actinomycete and bacterial populations were noted, while significant reductions of nitrogen fixation rates, as measured by acetylene reduction, and of dehydrogenase activity, fungal populations, radioactive glucose mineralization, and ATP concentrations occurred, with nitrogen fixation being most affected by shale material. These studies suggest that nonsymbiotic nitrogen fixation in surface soils may be especially sensitive to the presence of retorted oil shale. It would appear necessary to assure that sufficient surface soil is used to cover retorted oil shales to allow development and functioning of a diverse vegetation-microbiological community in such a way that physical mixing or movement of water-soluble retorted oil shale constituents into this surface soil layer would be minimized.

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Effects of complexometric compounds found in liquid and solid oil shale waste products on release of chemical elements from retorted shale

Complexometric compounds found in oil shale wastes may have the ability to increase the release of trace elements from retorted oil shale when the solid and liquid wastes are codisposed. A laboratory investigation was conducted on the effects of various complexing agents found in liquid and solid oil shale wastes on the leachability of retorted shales. In batch experiments retorted shale samples were contacted with deionized-distilled water (DDW) and 10 different aqueous solutions of complexing agents. These agents included sodium-oxalate, ammonium-carbonate, sodium-thiosulfate, 2-pyridone, 2-hydroxy-6-methylpyridine, potassium-thiocyanate, acetonitrile, sodium-acetate, acetamide, and nicotinic acid. DDW leachate results were used as a baseline to compare with the results for aqueous complexometric leachates. Some of these agents aided in higher release of arsenic, boron, selenium, lead, and vanadium from the solids. The same complexing agents had different effects on different retorted shales, indicating that the results for one retorted shale may or may not be representative of other retorted shales. This is due to differences in mineralogical residence of elements in various retorted shales and differences in leachate chemical systems of various retorted shales. Concentration of cadium and cobalt did not exceed the quantitation limits of these elements in any of the leachates in this study. 10 refs., 15 tabs.

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Statistical planning and analysis for treatments of tar sand wastewater. Final report

The first part of this report discusses the overall statistical planning, coordination and design for several tar sand wastewater treatment projects contracted by the Laramie Energy Technology Center (LETC) of the Department of Energy. A general discussion of the benefits of consistent statistical design and analysis for data-oriented projects is included, with recommendations for implementation. A detailed outline of the principles of general linear models design is followed by an introduction to recent developments in general linear models by ranks (GLMR) analysis and a comparison to standard analysis using Gaussian or normal theory (GLMN). A listing of routines contained in the VPI Nonparametric Statistics Package (NPSP), installed on the Cyber computer system at the University of Wyoming is included. Part 2 describes in detail the design and analysis for treatments by Gas Flotation, Foam Separation, Coagulation, and Ozonation, with comparisons among the first three methods. Rank methods are used for most analyses, and several detailed examples are included. For optimization studies, the powerful tools of response surface analysis (RSA) are employed, and several sections contain discussion on the benefits of RSA. All four treatment methods proved to be effective for removal of TOC and suspended solids from the wastewater. Because the processes and equipment designs were new, optimum removals were not achieved by these initial studies and reasons for that are discussed. Pollutant levels were nevertheless reduced to levels appropriate for recycling within the process, and for such reuses as steam generation, according to the DOE/LETC project officer. 12 refs., 8 figs., 21 tabs.

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Environmental chemistry of oil shale development. Technical progress report, January 1-November 30, 1983

Topics covered include: pollutant release mechanisms, the interaction of oil shale-related leachates, microbial trace metal mobilization in plant-soil-spent shale systems, effects of retort water and co-disposal on air and water quality, trace elements in plant materials from the CSU intensive study site as interpreted by analysis of variance and pattern recognition techniques, and analytical methods development and pattern recognition research.

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Leach potential of codisposed spent oil shale and retort water using two extraction methods

A comparison of the inorganic leachate quality from spent shale samples compacted by coproduced retort water is presented. Leachates were generated by two extraction methods, the ASTM Method D3987 and the EPA/RCRA Extraction Procedure (EPA-EP). Samples were analyzed for arsenic, selenium, cadmium, lead, boron, chromium, molybdenum, sulfates and chlorides. Comparison of all the leachates quality with the maximum allowable limits defined by RCRA indicate that arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and selenium concentration are well within these limits. Retort water compacted spent shales extracted by the ASTM method produced leachates containing chromium, lead, selenium and sulfate concentration in excess of drinking water standards. Concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, selenium and sulfate in EPA-EP leachates of spent shales compacted with retort water also exceeded drinking water standards. 30 refs., 13 figs., 10 tabs.

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Fundamental investigations of underground coal gasification. Annual report Mar 82-Mar 83

Coal deposits in the Appalachian and Midwest Coal Regions consist primarily of thin relatively deep seams of swelling bituminous coal, but little scientific effort in the United States has been directed toward underground coal gasification in these important industrial areas. In Europe, however, major work is under way on underground coal gasification in thin, deep seams of swelling coal. The principal investigator and a graduate student are participating in field tests in Belgium and supporting laboratory experiments in Germany. Mathematical models are being developed to interpret these experimental data, and a better understanding of the underground coal gasification process is emerging. This understanding is essential for evaluating potential problems, for devising solutions to such problems and for designing field tests.

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Investigation of mechanisms of ash deposit formation from low-rank coal combustion: Final report

This project was undertaken to determine the chemical behavior of alkali metal and other species implicated in the ash fouling which can occur during the combustion of low rank coals. The coal combustion was studied in unaugmented premixed pulverized coal flames. Vapor species were measured by molecular beam mass spectrometry. Temperatures were also measured, and time-resolved coal/ash particulate samples were collected and analyzed. A major part of the research on this project was devoted to: (1) the development and refinement of techniques for the MBMS analysis of trace quantities of unstable and reactive high temperature vapor species from the pulverized coal flames; and (2) the time-resolved sampling and collection of particulates. The equipment is now operating very satisfactorily. Inorganic species, some of which were present at parts-per-million levels, were quantitatively sampled and measured in the pulverized coal flames. Time-resolved particulate samples which were free of vapor deposited contaminants were collected without the use of an interfering substrate. Profiles of the alkali metal species in Beulah lignite and Decker subbituminous coal flames were obtained. It was found in both flames that sodium is volatilized as the atomic species early (milliseconds) in the combustion process. The gaseous Na reacts, also in milliseconds, to form an unknown species which is probably an oxide fume, but which is not NaOH or Na/sub 2/SO/sub 4/. This is probably the mechanism for the formation of the alkali ''fumes''observed in other systems. Measurements were also made of a number of other gaseous species, and time-resolved coal/ash samples were obtained and analyzed. 27 refs., 23 figs., 8 tabs.

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Biological treatment of tar sands wastewater. Final report

Waste water from the combustion processing of tar sands was subjected to experimental facultative and anaerobic biological waste treatment systems. The waste was mixed with varying ratios of supplemental sewage nutrient and repeatedly cycled within each of a series of submerged filters flowing horizontally or vertically. The various systems contained from 3 to 5 filter modules utilizing either facultative or anaerobic metabolism or combinations of both. Facultative systems achieved a total of 60 to 70 percent COD reduction at a rate of 10% per day. Anaerobic systems produced similar total reductions at rates of 1.5 to 2.3% per day. 11 figs., 22 tabs.

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Economic sensitivity study of UCG based on field performance, theory, and operational experience

This paper provides the results of an economic analysis in which uncertainty has been minimized through the use of the following three types of information: (1) theoretical and experimental correlations of underground coal gasification (UCG) operating parameters; (2) detailed process design based on operational experience; and (3) sensitivity variables. Independent variables cannot be fixed with certainty - for example, gas heating values are known for short-term field tests but remain uncertain for a long-term commercial operation. Such variables are designated sensitivity variables and are over their entire probable range. Other sensitivity variables are percent gas loss, well spacing, and the volumetric combustion sweep efficiency (VCSE). Depth and thickness of the coal seam are also designated sensitivity variables because they are strictly site-specific. A total of 1,296 cases have been considered in order to cover a full range of all sensitivity variables. Only-dirty gas selling prices are calculated in order to avoid assumptions concerning unproven methods of gas cleanup. Results show that the seam depth/thickness ratio is the most important variable affecting the economics of UCG. Low BTU gas from a thick coal seam of moderate depth (30 ft. seam at 600 ft.) can compete with current natural gas prices on a BTU basis even under poor operating conditions such as high leakage and low heating value. Well spacing and gas heating value also have notable impacts on the economics of UCG. The gas leakage rate and VCSE affect the economic results to a lesser extent for the range of values considered. Further research is needed in optimum well spacing, methods for control of the gas heating value, gas cleanup and utilization, environmental impact, and subsidence.

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