AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
ECONOMIC STUDY OF ANVIL POINTS FACILITY GARFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO

"On 14 September 1983 the Omaha District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers received a Department of Energy assignment to prepare an economic study relating  to the Oil Shale Equipment Station located at Anvil Points, Colorado. This assignment included the real property improvements and significant related personal property, but excluded the land which is owned by the Navy.  On 19 September 1983 we made our initial investigation and inspection of the Anvil Points facility. On 20  September 23 met with Mr. Thomas Kim, Realty Specialist from the Oakland office of the Department of Energy. We coordinated all activities throughout the week with Mr. Kirn. The data secured in the report was obtained from the Grand Junction, Rifle, and Parachute area. Our report addresses the result of this data collection and analysis. As a result of this study, we are recommending that the Anvil Points facility be dismantled and that Request for Proposals be sent to local salvage  contractors inviting them to bid on the salvage contract."

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MANUFACTURE OF PARAFFIN WAX FROM SCOTTISH SHALE OIL

The various steps in the process of extracting and refining wax from Scottish shale oil-distillation of crude oil, filter pressing of waxy distillate, chemical treatment of crude scales, sweating of treated scales, and decolonization of sweated waxes-are described.  Details of the plants used at present and methods of operation are given, together with results of experimental work to determine best conditions of operation and the effect  of different factors on the processed involved.  The gradual improvement in methods used in the industry prior to the installation of the present equipment is outlined.

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EVALUATION OF THE ALTERATIONS MADE ON THE GAS-COMBUSTION NO. 1 RETORT Report of Experiment No. 14

"The purpose of this program was to evaluate several changes which were made in the Gas-Combustion Retort No. 1 to improve its operability and the reliability of the data from it. The specific objectives were as follows:  1. Determine the heat losses from the new retorting vessel.  2. Determine the best of two methods of controlling the  shale rate.  3. Develop a new startup technique."

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SPENT SHALE COMPACTION FOR VOID VOLUME GENERATION IN IN SITU OIL SHALE PROCESSING

Explosive compaction of spent shale in an in situ retort has been suggested as a means of obtaining the void volume required for the successful generation of subsequent retorts.  Static compaction experiments  and explicit finite difference calculations have been used to provide a preliminary evaluation of the spent shale compaction concept.  These experiments have provided basic compaction data on fragmented and reconstituted samples of oil shale from the Tipton Member of the Green River Formation in Wyoming.   Data were obtained on samples initially at room temperature and on samples heated to retort temperatures as high as 600 C.  The initial fracture void volume, before retorting, varied from 25 percent to 50 percent.  The data demonstrate that the energy required for compaction decreases substantially as the retorting  temperature increases.  The grade of oil shale was also a factor, as richer shales appear to offer less resistance to compaction for the same retorting history.  One-dimensional finite-difference calculations, representative of simplified field geometries, were used to evaluate the sensitivity of compaction behavior to explosive characteristics, seismic coupling and compacting properties.  These calculations indicate that for compaction at elevated temperatures, no more than a few pounds of explosive per ton should be sufficient to provide adequate compaction for a continuous in situ process.  That is, all the void volume required for a new retort module may be economically obtained by explosively compacting the adjacent spent module.  Further studies, including dynamic compaction experiments and two-dimensional finite-difference calculations, are required to refine the design of specific in situ operations.

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MICROMECHANICS OF OIL SHALE DEFORMATION--NEEDS AND POSSIBILITIES

"A review of the literature and data available on the deformational properties of oil shale shows that a surprisingly small quantity of useful information exists. The data which is available is restricted almost entirely to compressive loading and specific rock samples. There is at present no solid basis for understanding the explosive  fracturing and fragmentation of oil shale nor for extrapolating that data which is available to the varieties of rock type and loading conditions of practical interest. A strong need exists for a quantitative description of oil shale failure and deformation which can be correlated  with measurable lithologic variations in the rock and which can be applied to large strain failure under a variety of loading conditions. The success realized by micromechanical approaches to rock deformation in recent years indicates that a comparable approach could be viable for oil shale. Once the applicability of a micromechanical approach is demonstrated for both tensile and compressive failure of raw oil shale, additional research efforts should be initiated to develop large strain constitutive equations as needed for numerical modeling,  to study the effects of thermal degradation upon mechanical properties and to develop logging tools capable of resolving the controlling lithographic features. Only if such a fundamental and integrated approach  is taken can the understanding of oil shale mechanical properties be developed to the degree necessary to properly support the many and varied efforts at oil shale production."

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BLASTING RESEARCH AT THE BUREAU OF MINES OIL-SHALE MINE

This paper describes research at the Bureau of Mines experimental oil-shale mine at Rifle, Colorado to improve blasting techniques and reduce breaking costs.  Many of the conclusions are applicable to any mining operation.  Experiments were conducted on many phases of blasting.  The effectiveness of various grades of explosives was compared and several different drill-hole patterns were tried in heading rounds.  An experiment was conducted to determine the maximum effective burden for  various diameter blast holes.  High-speed motion-picture studies were made of blasts and the time for initial movement of rock after detonation of the explosive was measured.  Experiments with millisecond-delay detonators in heading rounds proved that when used properly, these detonators result in improved fragmentation, economical use of explosive and compact, easily loaded muck piles.

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ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF COMMERCIAL FEASIBILITY OF THE HORIZONTAL IN-SITU OIL SHALE RETORTING PROCESS

Geokinetics, Inc . (GKI) is currently developing, an a cost-sharing basis with the U.S. Department of Energy, a horizontal modified in-situ process for the production of shale oil from shallow oil shale deposits. A development program at a site south of Vernal, Utah, was initiated  as a result of the 1977 Oil Shale Program Opportunity Notice and a number of field demonstration tests have been completed. Based on the data and the experience gathered during this series of field operations by GKI, a preliminary process design was completed by Harris & Associates, Engineers, Inc., for the Laramie Energy Technology Center (LETC) under Job No. 80-124. The preliminary design was published May 18,1981, in report for LETC entitled "Preliminary Process Design for Commercial Production of Shale Oil by the Geokinetics  Horizontal In-Situ Retorting Process." This report forms the basis for the economic analyses performed under this contract. No significant design changes based on more recent field operations by GKI have been incorporated into this report.

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NITROGEN COMPOUNDS IN SHALE OIL: A LITERATURE SURVEY

The pyrolysis of kerogen, which occurs in retorting and in related extraction processes, such as thermal solution, breaks down the complex kerogen structures into singular molecules, a number of which have been identified. Among these are a limited number of nitrogen-containing compounds of the substituted-pyridine class. Many authors report that qualitative tests show the presence of memberd of other classes of nitrogen, but positive identification of individual members is lacking. The conclusion that comparatively little is known concerning the nature of the nitrogen compounds of shale oil is inescapable.

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COMBUSTION APPARATUS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF OIL SHALE AND ITS PRODUCTS OF RETORTING

This paper describes the laboratory equipment, procedure, and precautions used in this study for the guidance of others making similar analyses of oil shales, shale oils, and related materials. Data so obtained have proved useful in evaluating some oil shales, the efficiency of retorting these shales and in obtaining some of the characteristics of the oils produced from retorting.

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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, 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 expants the shale, giving it a vesticular 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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ENHANCEMENT OF OIL YIELDS AND RESIDUAL CARBON OXIDATION IN IN-SITU RETORTING OF OIL SHALE (QUARTERLY REPORTS--3/77 THROUGH 6/78)

The effects of diffusivity and the kinetic rate constant on the rate of oxidation of the residual carbonaceous material in spent oil shale have been separated by employing an analytical model for oxidation. Data have been taken on the overall rate of oxidation which have permitted the kinetic rate constant to be evaluated at temperatures between 300 and 400 degrees C. The specific surface area has not yet been measured independently, but was constant for the runs completed. The product of specific surface and the kinetic rate constant fits the following Arrhenius type equation.

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UTAH'S PRINCIPAL OIL SHALE RESOURCES IN THE UINTA BASIN

Oil yield data from 80 coreholes sampling oil shales of the Green River Formation in the eastern Uinta Basin were complied and correlated to produce a comprehensive evaluation of Utah's principal oil shale resources. Seven time stratigraphic resource units previously defined for the Piceance Creek Basin were identified and evaluated. Evaluation of contour maps showing oil shale thickness, richness, and in place oil shale resources indicates a resource of 154 billion parrels of shale oil in the 950 sq mi area represented by core data. More than one third of this resource occurs in the Mahogany zone in sections exceeding 100,00 barrels per acre. Additional rich resource of 12 billion barrels are probably present adjacent to the cored area.

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STRATIGRAPHIC FRAMEWORK OF GREEN RIVER FORMATION OIL SHALES IN THE PICEANCE CREEK BASIN, COLORADO

A previously reported time-stratigraphic framework suitable for evaluating stratigraphic changes in the deeply buried oil shales of the Piceance Creek basin was developed by correlating lithologic and oil yield data. This Bureau of Mines report summarized the major features of the framework and explains some of the terminology applied to the Green River Formation. In cores from the central part of the basin, 3 major lithologic zones are recognizable: (1) a basal freshwater shale unit equivalent to the Garden Gulch and Douglas Creek Members; (2) a middle unit, the Parachute Creek Member, composed of dolomitic oil shales; and (3) an upper clastic unit, the Evacuation Creek Member. The Parachute Creek Member contains the major part of the oil shale resource. In the north central part of the basin the lower part of the Parachute Creek Member includes an evaporite sequence characterized by a unique suite of saline minerals. The time-stratigraphic framework is essential for understanding the vertical and lateral variability of the oil shale resource and the distribution of the saline minerals.

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OIL SHALE SAMPLES IN PLOWSHARE GNOME EXPERIMENT

Eleven Green River oil shale core samples were exposed to shock of a nuclear blast at the Gnome experiment. From effects on the mine samples recovered oil shale is a tough, fracture resistant rock which largely remained intact. Grouting concrete and the stainless steel cases both failed before the oil shale. Fractures produced were primarily influenced by core shale and cannot be considered an exclusive property of the oil shale. Results were somewhat obscured by apparent motion of some of the capsules through space during the blast. Primary results of this experiment was learning how to conduct a more meaningful test.

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COUPLED GAS PRESSURIZATION EXPLICIT FRACTURE MODEL FOR OIL SHALE FRAGMENTATION

This paper presents a general explosive fragmentation model incorporating oil shale properties specific to the Geokinetics site. Modeling their blasting program using mechanical properties of the oil shale deposit as primary input can provide an inexpensive tool for optimizing blast results. Although an actual field experiment may involve the timed detonation of hundreds of explosive boreholes, understanding the mechanics and implications of a single shot hole is important as much of the phenomenology of single hole breakage is involved in multihole fragmentation. Also, the overall environmental impact and program cost may be significantly reduced due to more efficient rubblization.

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Dissolved Organic Carbon Degradation in Oil Shale Retort Waters by Indigenous Bacteria

Bacteria which proliferate in aqueous oil shale waste effluent were studied in an attempt to determine how these waste waters were affected by their growth. Bacteriological analysis of the retort water initially required development of a culture medium for isolation and selection of microorganisms. The medium, retort water agar, incorporated retort water to fulfill carbon and energy requirements of bacteria. It was supplemented with nitrogen and phosphorus and sterilized by a membrane filtration procedure.

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PHENOLS FROM THERMALLY-CRACKED SHALE OIL NAPHTHA

Phenols of industrial importance will be available from the processing of oil shale to produce liquid fuels, The organic oxygenated compounds present in the thermally created shale-oil naphtha were predominantly phenols and these constituents were removed from the naphtha as a secondary product in the refining operations. The crude phenol can be purified essentially according to established methods used for the separation and purification of phenols derived from coal carbonation processes.

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CATALYTIC CRACKING CHARACTERISTICS OF DIESEL FRACTION FROM SHALE OIL COKER DISTILLATE

This investigation was undertaken to study the product distribution upon catalytic cracking the coker distillate from crude Colorado shale oil. The crude shale oil processed was produced in a 150-300 ton per day experimental Gas-Combustion retort by the Bureau of Mines Oil Shale Mine and Engineering Experimental Station, Rifle, Colorado. The crude shale oil was coked for the production of distillates having 650, 750 850 degrees F. end points and sent to Tide Water Associated for catalytic cracking tests. Letter on the above over Mr. R. J. Cameron's signature was dated December 9, 1953.

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OIL SHALE- SOURCE OF LIQUID FUELS AND CHEMICALS

Oil shale is a rock of sedimentary origin which contains a large quantity of organic material. Contrary to the connotation of the name, it does not contain oil but "kerogen," which may be partly converted to oil by heating. Kerogen is a complex organic material, of unknown structure, insoluble in ordinary solvents, but it is decomposed by heat to yield shale oil. The generally accepted theory of the origin of oil shale is that it was deposited during several million years in lake beds, the organic material being mainly the result of algae growth and the remains of plants but containing also occasional fossil fish, insects, and leaves.

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CATALYTIC CRACKING CHARACTERISTICS OF A DIESEL FRACTION FROM REHYDROGENATED SHALE OIL COKER DISTILLATE

The diesel fraction from a hydrogenated shale oil as reported previously, proved to be a satisfactory catalytic cracking charge stock it however, gave a somewhat poorer product distribution than our typical heavy California virgin vacuum distillate. To improve the catalytic cracking characteristics of the diesel fraction, it was felt that the nitrogen content should be further lowered, so the U. S. Bureau of Mines forwarded a rehydrogenated coker distillate containing .003 weight per cent nitrogen. The hydrogenation operation was reportedly carried out at 825 degrees F., at a pressure of 100 p.s.i., a hydrogen injection rate of 3,200 cubic feet per barrel, and a liquid hourly space velocity of 1. The liquid recovery was 98 volume per cent, of which 84.1 volume percent was in the diesel fuel boiling range, and 15.0 volume percent was naphtha.

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OIL SHALE RESEARCH PROGRAM

This paper briefly indicates the thinking and initial approach to the different problems involved in oil-shale research based on the knowledge the Bureau has at the beginning of the program. There follows some of the accomplishments made since that beginning. These are not in great detail as Mr. Stanfield and Mr. Bal will discuss the accomplishments at greater length, as will Mr. Tihen and Mr. Murphey in their refining and retorting discussions.

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OIL YIELDS OF SECTIONS OF GREEN RIVER OIL SHALE IN COLORADO 1954-57

This report is one of a series presenting the oil yields of sampled oil-shale sections for use in appraising deposits as sources of liquid fuel. The reports are based on the assay to date of some 60,000 samples which were mostly provided through the cooperation of companies coring their oil-shale properties or drilling for oil and gas. Without this cooperation, the extensive information now available on Green River oil shale would not have been accumulated.

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EXAMINATION OF SPENT COLORADO OIL SHALE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF STEAM POLLUTION

This report describes a study made in accordance with the above request. Because of the limited time, and to a certain extent to the limited amount of spent shale available, it was not possible to make extensive leaching tests for extensive chemical analyses of the water-leached samples. Four spent shales were used in this study. The ignition loss, mineral carbonate content, and fixed carbon content were determined on one portion of the spent shales. A second portion of the spent shale from the Union Oil Company was successfully extracted with water to determine the rate of extraction of water-soluble material. A third portion of each of the spent shales was leached with water to determine the yield of water-soluble material. A fourth and larger portion of the spent shales was extracted with water to provide a sample of water-soluble material for chemical analysis. The chemical compositions of these water-soluble extracts were determined. A fifth portion of each of the spent shales was shaken with water by an arbitrary method to compare the tendencies of the oil shales to be suspended in water and thereby cause steam pollution.

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BUREAU OF MINES-ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION COLORADO COREHOLE NO. 1, RIO BLANCO COUNTY, COLO.

At the request of the Atomic Energy Commission the Bureau of Mines undertook a feasibility study on the application of nuclear explosives to oil-shale mining and shale-oil production. A preliminary draft of the study suggested areas, or sites, possible suitable for testing the effectiveness of nuclear explosives to fracture buried oil shales as the initial step in the recovery of oil by in situ retorting.

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ASPHALTS FROM SOME WYOMING AND OTHER ASPHALT-BEARING CRUDE OILS

This paper describes the preparation and properties of series of straight-run asphalts of different consistency from several Wyoming, Arkansas, California, and Mexico crude oils. It is divided into three parts: (1) Description of the apparatus, procedure, and crude oils employed in preparing the asphalts; (2) experimental results, including the distillation temperature and pressure obtained in preparing the asphalts, yields, and properties of the prepared asphalts, and estimated yield and properties of the 100-penetration asphalts from the different crude oils; and (3) temperature susceptibility of the asphalts.

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OIL-SHALE AND SHALE-OIL DATA BOOK

In a meeting held at the Petroleum and Oil-Shale Experiment Station in Laramie on January 10,947, attended by H.W. Thorne, K.E. Stanfield, J.S. Ball, J.D. Lankford, and Walter Murphy, it was decided to initiate the preparation of a data book on oil shale and shale oil, which will incorporate in notebook form data which are used repeatedly in processing and other calculations.  Such a compilation of graphical and tabular  data will aid in uniformity of calculations performed at Laramie, Rifle or elsewhere and will present in a single book all data that are available and indicate additional data that are needed on theses materials.

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DOE-LERC MODIFIED HORIZONTAL IN SITU  EXPERIMENT, GREENS CANYON WHITE MOUNTAIN SWEETWATER COUNTY WYOMING COREHOLES NO. 4-11

"The Laramie Energy Research Center of the Department Energy proposes to perform a modified horizontal in situ experiment at Green's Canyon in the White Mountain region of Wyoming. The experiment is planned in the  Laney Member of the Green River Formation. Three core holes were drilled in the area of interest during the latter part of October and November 1977. Core from these holes was examined and physical and chemical property tests were conducted on samples selected from the core holes. This report summarizes the rock mechanics data and Fischer assay values, and recommends the size and orientation of drifts required for the in situ experiment."

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ENTRAINED SOLIDS RETORTING OF COLORADO OIL SHALE--RUN NO. 7 - 1200

Retorting pulverized oil shale entrained in steam or other media permits close control of retorting conditions and allows the quality of the products to be varied over a wide range by varying these conditions.  At temperatures near those employed in retorts such as the N.T.U.   Gas combustion or Union Oil Company products of a composition similar to those produced by these retorts are obtainable from the entrained-solids retort.  At higher temperatures more highly aromatic oils, in lesser quantity but having some desirable characteristics in subsequent refining steps, are produced.  In addition, the retort gas contains large percentages of olefin hydrocarbons which have value as chemical raw materials or as stock from which to manufacture polymer gasoline.  Under some conditions, the retort gas contains more than enough hydrogen to refine the liquid product to  high-octane, low sulfur, low nitrogen containing gasoline.

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