AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Description and operation of the N-T-U retort on Colorado oil shale

Because of the importance of oil-shale reserves the Bureau of Mines resumed research investigations in this field beginning in 1944.  The Bureau early decided to build a large scale demonstration plant to accomplish the dual purpose of obtaining design data and to produce crude shale oil for refining studies.  Two 40-ton-capacity batch N-T-U (Nevada-Texas-Utah) retorts were completed for this purpose in 1947.  After a preliminary operation, the plant was used to investigate process variables of air rate, recycle gas rate, and shale particle size and grade. Correlations obtained from these variables are presented in this report.  Researchers concluded that recycle gas was not necessary for efficient operation of the process.  Shortcomings of the batch method of processing the oil shale are pointed out in the report.  Several periods of prolonged production operations were carried out.  During these periods, the retorts were operated to produce as much crude oil per day as possible.

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In-situ permeability analysis using barometric pressure fluctuations

Methods of inferring in situ permeability from measurements of barometric pressure fluctuations are reviewed. The technique has been used in air saturated porous media at the Nevade Test Site. Possible application is discussed for a water saturated coal ourcrop. The underlying differential equation is derived and the requirements for linearity are shown, along with the conditions where the effect of gravity may be neglected. The analogy between pressure wave propogation and signal propagation on an electrical transmission line is discussed. Transmission line methods are used to investigate reflections from the end of a finite path, leakage to the surroundings from permeable sidewalls, and the signal pertubations introduced by a sampling probe. A computer program is described to evaluate the response in radial flow to a step change in pressure. A comparison is made between pressure waves in radial and linear flow geometry.

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In-situ coal gasification

"Two approaches to in situ coal gasification are reviewed. The first is improvement of existing Russian technology, and the second is development of a new method based on explosive fracturing.  The Russian techniques developed as early as 1935, generally involved gasification of coal between boreholes by use of hydraulic or air fracturing. These installations made a combustible gas of the order of 100 Btu/scf, and the gas was primarily used for electrical power generation. However, the product gas flow rate fluctuated and the heating value generally decreased with time. This made for inefficient power production, and the process was not competitive with the oil and gas discoveries made in Russia during the late 1950's. American experiments using Russian techniques, were conducted by the US Bureau of Mines during the 50's in Gorgas, Alabama. They confirmed the Russian results. However, recent US experiments, using modifications of the Russian methods, are more encouraging and are discussed."

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GLASS FILTER PAPER SUSPENSION OF PRECIPITATES FOR LIQUID SCINTILLATION COUNTING

"Glass filter paper suspension of radioactive precipitates was found to    provide a simple, direct preparation method for scintillation counting.  The    technique minimizes problems stemming from tedious precipitate handling and    promotes high counting efficiencies.  It yields satisfactory assays on samples of    low specific activity where hyamine nd BaC/sup 14/O/sup 2/ were successfully    prepared and counted by the method.  (P.C.H.)"

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Energy from in situ processing of antrim oil shale. Quarterly technical progress report, October-December 1979

The objective of this contract is to test the technical feasibility of the in situ processing of the Antrim oil shale within the Mississippian-devonian black shale sequence of the Michigan Basin to produce energy values. The field investigations will involve well development, fracturin, underreaming, fracture assessment, in situ ingnition, and extraction of hydrocarbons. Supporting contributions will be made by subcontractors in the areas of shale characterization, environmental measurement, fracture assessment, and public policy.

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Western coal planning assistance project:  Phase I. Final report

Phase I of the Western Coal Planning Assistance Project (WCPAP) was initiated by the Missouri River Basin Commission (MRBC) and the United States Geological Survey's Resource and Land Investigations (RALI) Program in September 1977. The project encompasses the major coal areas of Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming. Three objectives of phase I were: (1) to meet with State and local planners and decisionmakers to determine their technical and informational needs for assessing coal development alternatives; (2) to develop the analytical tools and methods needed to respond to legislative, societal, economic, and physical constraints; and (3) to conduct planning assistance workshops involving State, regional, and local planners and decisionmakers. The purpose of this Final Report is to describe how these objectives were addressed and to present conclusions and recommendations resulting from this effort.

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Oil shale project. Quarterly report, October-December 1983

The amount and rate of nitric oxide release from the combustion of three retorted Green River oil shale were measured. A study was also made of the rate of SO/sub 2/ scrubbing by oxidized oil shale as a function of temperature. A mathematical model was developed for pyrolysis of Green River oil shale from previous experiments on oil, water, and gas evolution and oil cracking. Calculated and experimental oil yields were compared.

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Oil shale quarterly report, January-March 1986

Accomplishments for this quarter are presented for the following projects: (1) ammonia evolution during retorting of oil shales; (2) development of the use of Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (TQMS) as an on-line ammonia monitor; (3) biomarker identification by TQMS improved by artificial intelligence tuning; and (4) products from contact of oil shale with reactive gases.

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Oil shale quarterly report, April-June 1986. [Heat capacities of shale oil, and the mineral, bound water, and organic fractions of oil shale]

highlighs of this past quarter are summarized for the following projects: (1) enthalpy relations for oil shale; (2) chemical reaction modeling; and (3) generic pyrolysis modeling. 7 figs., 1 tab. (AT)

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Investigation of the geokinetics horizontal in situ oil shale retorting process. Quarterly report, April-June 1981

The Geokinetics In Sit Oil Shale Project is a cooperative venture between Geokinetics Inc. (GKI) and the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE). The project is governed by DOE cooperative Agreement #DE-FC20-78LC10787. The objective is to develop an in situ process for recovering shale oil using a fire front moving in a horizontal direction. The project is being conducted at a field site, Kamp Kerogen, located 70 miles south of vernal, Utah, on Section 2, Range 22 East, Township 14 South, Uintah County, Utah.

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Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Oil Shale Project: Quarterly report, July-September 1986

This quarterly report covers: (1) carbonate decomposition reaction scheme and kinetics; and (2) chemical reaction modeling. The decomposition of dolomite and calcite in oil shale at combustor temperatures (and to a lesser extent pyrolyzer temperatures) can cause large heat losses in a retorting process. Thus it is important to know accurately the decomposition rates as functions of reactor conditions. The investigators have developed an improved model for carbonate decomposition and have incorporated it into our RETORT reactor and lift-pipe models. They believe that these new relations will give more accurate model predictions under a wider range of conditions than those used previously. Chemical reaction kinetics for natural materials (e.g., fossil fuels) can often be accurately described by models using a distribution of activation energies. Following this approach, rate data were generated at various heating rates or constant temperatures for a typical reaction using an average activation energy (E/sub 0/) and Gaussian distribution of various widths (sigma/sub E/ = 0 to 16% of E/sub 0/). Then either the rate data or the integrated rate data were fit to simpler rate expressions. Simplified rate expressions are desirable because of the intense computer requirements posed by an accurate numerical solution of the distributed activation energy equations. In general, however, a single first-order reaction does not accurately simulate a reaction with nonzero sigma/sub E/. An nth-order reaction works quite well, but n must be a function of sigma/sub E/ and either heating rate or temperature. Effective kinetic parameters (n, A, and E) were determined for nonisothermal conditions (heating rates of 10/sup 0/C/min, 1/sup 0/C/h, and 10/sup -9/ /sup 0/C/h) and for isothermal conditions (400, 450, and 500/sup 0/C). 5 figs., 3 tabs.

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Investigation of the geokinetics horizontal in situ oil shale retorting process. Quarterly report, October, November, December 1983

The Geokinetics in Situ Oil Shale Project is a cooperative venture between Geokinetics Inc. (GKI) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The project is governed by DOE cooperative Agreement #DE-FC20-78LC10787. The objective is to develop an in situ process for recovering shale oil using a fire front moving in a horizontal direction. The project is being conducted at a field site, Kamp Kerogen, located 70 miles South of Vernal, Utah, on Section 2, Range 22 East, Township 14 South, Uintah County, Utah

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Oil shale quarterly report, October-December 1986

Progress reports are presented for the following studies: (1) dust; (2) pyrolysis of n-butane; and (3) ammonia from pyrolysis of Devonian oil shale. During this quarter the investigators compared the amount of dust produced by packed bed and fluidized bed processing of shales and also report on work done on the rate of dust generation by raw and processed shale in laboratory fluidized beds. One factor that contributes to oil yield losses during oil shale pyrolysis is the production of light gases. In order to better understand the fundamental chemistry leading to light gas production, the pyrolysis reaction of simple n-alkanes has been studied. N-butane was chosen as the model system because its cracking products are simple gases. Product gas distribution and selectivity as a result of n-butane cracking over various components typically associated with oil shale (minerals, elements, etc.) was monitored. Using a simple flow reactor, a base case for n-butane cracking (over sand at 540/sup 0/C) was established for comparison. Ammonia produced during oil generation has evolution kinetics similar to oil. The amount of ammonia produced from char relative to oil depends on the retort design and the experiment. With a rapid inert gas sweep, char formation is limited, but char is still the major precursor of ammonia. Iron is a good catalyst for ammonia decomposition as well as synthesis, and a stainless steel (SS) retort can act as a catalyst. The decomposition of ammonia in a SS retort is compared graphically with the case in a quartz retort. 6 figs., 3 tabs.

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Investigation of the Geokinetics Horizontal In Situ Oil Shale Retorting Process. Quarterly report, July, August, September 1981

The process is a true in situ method for extracting oil from oil shale. The oil shale is fractured by means of explosives placed in blast holes drilled from the surface. After a specific area has been fractured to create an in situ retort, air injection wells are drilled at one end and off gas recovery (air-out) wells are drilled at the other. The oil shale is ignited at the air injection wells and air is continually injected to establish an maintain a burning front. The front is moved in a horizontal direction through the fractured rock. This heats the shale, driving out the shale oil which drains to the bottom of the retort where it is recovered through oil production wells. As retorting progresses from the air-in to the air-out wells, the residual coke serves as the primary fuel source to sustain the moving burn front. The combustion gases are recovered at the off gas wells.

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Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Oil Shale Project: Quarterly report, January-March 1987

This quarterly report covers: (1) isomerization of alkenes in shale oil by kaolinite; (2) oil shale enthalpy reactions; (3) simulation of fluid-bed pyrolyzer/lift-pipe combustor retort; and (4) yields from the cross-swept, packed-bed pyrolyzer. Study on oil shale enthalpy reactions includes work on heat of pyrolysis of Green River shale at 500/sup 0/C after rapid heating, summary of enthalpy relations of Green River shale and eastern shale enthalpy relations. 6 figs., 5 tabs. (AT)

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Investigation of the geokinetics horizontal in situ oil shale retorting process. Quarterly report, January-March 1984

The Geokinetics In Situ oil Shale Project is a cooperative venture between Geokinetics Inc. (GKI) and the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE). The project is governed by DOE cooperative agreement #DE-FC20-78LC10787. The objective is to develop an in situ process for recovering shale oil using a fire front moving in a horizontal direction. The project is being conducted at a field site, Kamp Kerogen, located 70 miles south of Vernal, Utah, on Section 2, Range 22 East, Township 14 South, Uintah County, Utah.

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Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Oil Shale Project: Quarterly report, April-June 1987

In the past the disposition of sulfur into the various product streams of our recycle retort has been investigated. During this reporting period the sulfur speciation in these solid streams as a guide to spent-shale disposal has been measured. A study of gas evolution during oil shale pyrolysis is discussed and the fluidized bed retort has been utilized for the investigation of a free radical steady state involving equilibration of intermediates.

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Oil shale: Quarterly report, July-September 1987

In any rapid pyrolysis solid-recycle retorting system the degree of solid mixing necessary to accomplish full conversion of kerogen to oil is an important consideration. Using the Livermore pilot retort the extent of solid mixing was varied and the effect was observed on solid temperatures and kerogen conversion within the gravity bed retort. The results of this investigation are described. Water formation during oil shale pyrolysis has an impact on both chemistry and energy balance in a retort. A mass spectrometry method was developed and applied to the study of water evolution from batch pyrolysis of oil shale. Results of this study are also described in this report. 6 figs., 1 tab.

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Investigation of the Geokinetics horizontal in situ oil shale retorting process. Quarterly report, April, May, June 1984

The process is a true in situ method for extracting oil from oil shale. The oil shale is fractured by means of explosives placed in blast holes drilled from the surface. After a specific area has been fractured to create an in situ retort, air injection wells are drilled at one end and off gas recovery (air-out) wells are drilled at the other. The oil shale is ignited at the air injection wells and air is continually injected to establish an maintain a burning front. The front is moved in a horizontal direction through the fractured rock. This heats the shale, driving out the shale oil which drains to the bottom of the retort where it is recovered through oil production wells. As retorting progresses from the air-in to the air-out wells, the residual coke serves as the primary fuel source to sustain the moving burn front. The combustion gases are recovered at the off gas wells.

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Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory oil shale: Quarterly report, October-December 1987

A unique mass spectrometry (MS) method for the study of water formation during oil shale batch pyrolysis was recently discussed. Water evolution observations differ from what others have reported, necessitating a detailed quality assurance study. That study is discussed in this report, along with the water calibration techniques that have been used to obtain quantitative data from our Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (TQMS) - which normally provides qualitative information. The rate of pyrolysis of raw shale and the rate of combustion of retorted shale in a new apparatus which allows C and H mass balances have been measured. Thus, the fraction of the raw shale organic C that is pyrolyzed and burned can be measured. The shale sample is fluidized with an inert gas which sweeps the pyrolysis gases out of the pyrolyzer and into a tube furnace where they are burned with oxygen. The concentrations of carbon dioxide and steam produced by this oxidation are measured on-line by means of a mass spectrometer. Following pyrolysis, the organic C and H which remain in the retorted shale are burned in the same fluidized bed by adding oxygen to the fluidizing gas. An experiment has also been conducted to find out if indeed Green River shale can be retorted in half the time generally used. The LLNL pilot retort was used, and the pyrolysis appears to have been completed when pyrolysis time at 500/sup 0/ was reduced from 3 m to 1.5 m. The evidence is the fact that the combustor temperature, which is sensitive to the carbon content of the retorted shale, did not increase when pyrolysis time was reduced.

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Investigation of the Geokinetics horizontal in-situ oil-shale retorting process. Quarterly report, April-June 1983

Retort #26 was shut-on February 22, 1983 having produced 22,889 barrels of oil by that date. The oil production pumps were operated for 17 days after shut-in, producing an additional 217 barrels of oil for a total of 23,106 barrels of oil during 246 days of production. The dismantling of Retort #26 was begun during the last two weeks of March and completed during April.

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Computational method for thermoviscoelasticity with application to rock mechanics. [Ph. D. Thesis]

Large-scale numerical computations associated with rock mechanics problems have required efficient and economical models for predicting temperature, stress, failure, and deformed structural configuration under various loading conditions. To meet this requirement, the complex dependence of the properties of geological materials on the time and temperature is modified to yield a reduced time scale as a function of time and temperature under the thermorheologically simple material (TSM) postulate. The thermorheologically linear concept is adopted in the finite element formulation by uncoupling thermal and mechanical responses. The thermal responses, based on transient heat conduction or convective-diffusion, are formulated by using the two-point recurrence scheme and the upwinding scheme, respectively. An incremental solution procedure with the implicit time stepping scheme is proposed for the solution of the thermoviscoelastic response. The proposed thermoviscoelastic solution algorithm is based on the uniaxial creep experimental data and the corresponding temperature shift functions, and is intended to minimize computational efforts by allowing large time step size with stable solutions. A thermoelastic fracture formulation is also presented by introducing the degenerate quadratic isoparametric singular element for the thermally-induced line crack problems. The stress intensity factors are computed by use of the displacement method. Efficiency of the presented formulation and solution algorithm is initially demonstrated by comparison with other available solutions for a variety of problems. Subsequent field applications are made to simulate the post-burn and post-repose phases of an underground coal conversion (UCC) experiment and in-situ nuclear waste disposal management problems. 137 references, 48 figures, 6 tables.

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Basic nitrogen determined by titration with perchloric acid. [Differentiation of pyridines from pyrroles in shale oil distillates by electrometric titration]

Appreciable quantities of nitrogen bearing compound occur in shale oil and somewhat smaller amounts are found in petroleum distillates.  These compounds are mainly of pyridine accompanied by smaller amounts of pyrroles and probably traces of nitrides.  Satisfactory analytical methods for classification as to type of nitrogen compounds in such mixtures have not been available.  The described method is suggested as a means of measuring the amount of an arbitrary basic nitrogen class in the presence of others normally coexisting.

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Recovery and treatment of oil from shale from the Kimmeridge area, Dorset, England. [Properties of oils produced by hydrogenation of crushed shale at 100 atm. and 386 to 456/sup 0/; retorting at 550/sup 0/]

The Kimmeridge Clay stretches across England and outcrops in Dorset Norfolk and several other counties.  Bands of oil bearing shale occur in the Clay, and also appear in many of the outcrops.  The mining of the shale on a large scale would require deep mining and would probably be too costly to permit the economic recovery of the oil.

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Characterization of two commercial explosives. [Ammonium nitrate/fuel oil and WGE-1]

Experimental data are obtained for the performance of two commercial explosives, an ammonium-nitrate/fuel-oil mixture (ANFO) and a water-gel explosive (WGE-1), using the water-tank, or aquarium, technique. Plexiglas and clay tubes (10- and 20-cm-dia) containing the explosive are submerged in a large transparent water tank. The explosive system is detonated from the top and an image intensifier camera records the shock wave in water as well as the dynamic expansion of the confining cylinder. The experimental data are compared with two-dimensional Lagrangian hydrodynamic calculations based on various assumptions regarding nonideal explosive behavior. The results show that substantial fractions (30 to 50%) of the constituents do not participate in the chemical reaction at the detonation front. For ANFO, complete reaction takes place within a few microseconds behind the detonation front. For WGE-1, detectable additional reaction does not occur within experimental recording time (>200 ..mu..s). These results have important applications in effective rock breakage with commercial explosives.

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Effect of heating rate on the pyrolysis of oil shale. [Effects on oil, gas, and char yields; results point to autocatalysis during early stages of decomposition]

Studies were made on the effect of heating rate on the yield of oil plus organic gases and the char yield during the pyrolysis or lean, medium and rich oil shale samples those origin was the Piceance Creek Basin in Colorado. Increasing the heating rate in the range of 4 to 40 degrees C/min effected a decrease in the yield of oil and gaseous organic products by 23% and promoted the formation of higher boiling constituents in the shale oil produced. In addition, activation energies and reaction orders for three shale's were determined as a function of conversion using the kinetic analysis of Friedman. The results obtained tend to confirm the hypothesis that the early stages of the decomposition involve autocatalysis.

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