AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Clay minerals in a Utah tar sand and their potential effects on processing

Because demand for petroleum is ever increasing, all petroleum resources including tar sand should be considered for development. The PR Spring tar sand deposit contains 4.4 billion barrels of oil within an area of 185,000 acres. The bitumen impregnation at the PR Spring tar sand locality occurs mainly in the Douglas Creek Member of the Green River Formation. Clay minerals pose problems in tar sand processing and can potentially increase the viscosity of aqueous solutions used in the separation of bitumen from tar sand materials. In order to more fully determine the effects of clay minerals in the tar sand resource, a program was initiated to characterize the mineralogy (bulk and clay) of a major US tar sand deposit. The specific goals of this research were to identify and quantify the clay minerals (if present) in the tar sand deposit, compare these data to known occurrences and deposits affected by clay minerals, and apply this information towards a more complete understanding of the tar sand resource. Mineralogical determinations of 47 samples from seven core holes were performed to determine the clay mineral quantity and species for the deposit. Five clay mineral species (illite, kaolinite, chlorite, smectite, and mixed-layer structures) were identified, representing both detrital and diagenetic formation. Comparing the clay minerals identified in the PR Spring deposit with those from the Canadian Athabasca deposit revealed similarities and differences. Iron analyses were performed to investigate any correlations with mineralogy, but results showed poor statistical correlation except for a high carbonate to low iron and pyrite relationship. Mineralogical evidence suggests multiple phases of diagenesis as a possible mechanism for porosity enhancement, mineral dissolution, and clay mineral precipitation at the PR Spring tar sand deposit. 24 refs., 15 figs., 5 tabs.

Tags: kmd
Explosively produced fracture of oil shale. Progress report, October-December 1980

A major technological limit on the in situ retorting of oil shale is the effective rubbling of the rock. Consequently, efficient and economical recovery of oil from shale is dependent directly on developing a more sophisticated blasting technology. Crucial to this technology is understanding the behavior of the explosive. Calculations of pressures and shock-front positions are developed and compared graphically to the aquarium-test experimental data for two different diameter explosive configurations for ammonium nitrate/fuel oil (ANFO). Once the explosive reaction is understood, analytical and computational methods can be developed to simulate the blasting of the rock. Such computer modeling will allow the phenomenology of blasting to be studied and will eliminate the need for many expensive field tests. The basis for using predictive modeling and its application to predict rock fracturing is explained, and comparisons of calculations to field experimental data are presented. Also discussed is the theory of effective-elastic-moduli reduction in a transversely isotropic material containing penny-shaped cracks. It is applied to the bedded crack model in which all cracks are in the horizontal (bedding) plane of the material, as they are in oil shale. The technique equates the total body strain to the sum of the straining of the material matrix and the additional strain caused by the opening and shearing of cracks. Finally, the permeability of explosively fractured oil shale is related to the statistical distribution of cracks in the rock and their instability as stress levels increase. An expression for the specific permeability of oil shale under high stresses is derived. 22 figures.

Tags: kmd
The effect of metalloporphyrins on asphalt oxidation. The effect of vanadyl chelates found in petroleum

Four selected asphalts were blended with zero to five wt. percent of fractions rich in vanadyl chelates prepared from two crude oils. The mixture was coated on a teflon support, and the whole was heated in an oven at 130   or - 2/sup 0/C for 24 hours. The mixture then was analyzed for increases in ketone, acid, and anhydride functions. In general, fractions rich in vanadyl porphyrins tended to promote asphalt oxidation, particularly as measured by increase in ketones. Correlation of vanadyl porphyrin concentration with asphalt oxidation is observed to be direct only if asphalts are mixed with varying amounts of the same fraction derived from the same crude. Possible reasons for this phenomenon are discussed in terms of oxidation susceptibility of asphalts, the importance of molecular associations, and the relative catalytic activities of metalloporphyrins and other metal chelates. Nonporphyrin vanadium chelates appear to be ineffective promoters of asphalt oxidation compared with vanadyl porphyrins. This may be due to the manner in which nonporphyrin vanadium complexes are associated in asphalt molecular agglomerations, or to inherent inactivity.

Tags: kmd
Median residence and dispersion times for fluidization of crushed oil shale

Median residence times and dispersions for crushed oil shale flowing downward through a fluidized bed were measured as a function of particle size, nominal residence time, and fluidizing gas velocity. For fluidized beds containing narrow particle-size distribution, it was found that median residence time and dispersion increase with nominal residence time, decrease with increasing gas velocity, and show mixed results with change in particle size. The results for fluidized beds of broad particle-size distribution were different. Increasing the nominal residence time increased the median residence time but had no regular effect upon dispersion. The gas velocity was observed to have a strong effect upon dispersion but little effect upon median residence time. When particle-size effects in this broad particle-size bed were investigated, it was found that the finer particles had a longer median residence time and were more widely dispersed than the coarser particles. 10 figures.

Tags: kmd
The hydraulic transportation of oil shale. Research report

A program to investigate pipeline behavior of raw and spent oil shale slurries was performed for the Federal Bureau of Mines. Slurries were recirculated in pipeline loops with 150- and 200-mm-wide horizontal test sections and 150-mm-wide vertical test section. Slurry concentrations from 10 to 60 wt % were investigated. Critical and deposition velocities were observed. Head losses were measured at various velocities. Rheology measurements were made on representative homogeneous samples from the pipeline. From these data, pipeline energy requirements were predicted by computer and compared with pipeline data. Computer programs were also used to analyze pipeline data for two flow models. The economics of slurry transport of raw and spent shale were examined. Cost estimates encompassed a range of pipe widths to transport a wide range of throughputs of both raw and spent shale. Similar estimates were made for conveyor belt systems to provide a valid cost comparison.

Tags: kmd
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Oil-Shale Project. Quarterly report, April-June 1981

The one-dimensional packed-bed retort model was used to study the effect of dawsonite decomposition during hot, inert-gas in-situ retorting. A process simulation code has been written for a Staged Turbulent Bed Retorting Process. Pyrolysis of oil shale in material-balanced Fischer assays was carried out on a large number of shale samples. Fluidization of oil shale particles has been measured at room temperature. (DLC)

Tags: kmd
Quantitation of oil shale wastewater quality. A manual of analytical methods. [Lead Abstract]

This manual is a compendium of analytical methods for the quantitation of various water quality parameters. Each method is specifically adapted for application to the highly complex sample matrices of the aqueous wastes that are generated by the pyrolytic production of shale oil. These methods have evolved from specific needs of the LBL-SEEHRL Oil Shale Waste Treatment Program.

Tags: kmd
Vertical pneumatic conveying of mixed-particle-sized oil shale

Solid flow characteristics of mixed-sized oil shale in vertical pneumatic conveyers were investigated using a 47.6-mm-diameter lift-pipe. The shale was in a crushed and spent condition with a particle size range of 0.074 to 3.36 mm. Components of the pressure gradient in established flow were measured over a range of gas velocities and solid fluxes. Size-dependent particle velocities were also indirectly measured and shown to depend on solid flow rates. Particle velocity dependence is described by experimentally generated expressions for the range of particle sizes studied. In this system for conveying mixed-sized shale, particle velocities were found not to be predictable from terminal or free-fall velocities which were also measured. The aggregate solids velocity, which is computed from the single-sized particle-velocity relations, permits a reasonably accurate prediction of solids pressure drop. Use of a solids friction factor, estimation of choking velocity, and characteristics of the acceleration length are also discussed. 18 figures, 4 tables.

Tags: kmd
Sample size required for analysis of oil shale of widely varying grade and particle size

Almost all the interesting properties of oil shale vary with its kerogen content, which usually shows a wide range of variation in any lot of mine-run shale, sometimes even in a single large block. Even when approved procedures of sampling and subdivision are followed, misleading analytical results may be obtained if the sample size is inadequate for the range of properties in the lot and the particle sizes involved. A statistical rationale is developed in this paper that leads to an equation and graphical procedure for finding the minimum representative size of a sample of oil shale. This is applied to several types of analyses commonly done on oil shale. We then look into the case of a retorting experiment in which the oil yield exceeded the Fischer assay.

Tags: kmd
CHATTANOOGA SHALE AND RELATED ROCKS OF CENTRAL TENNESSEE AND NEARBY AREAS

"The Chattanooga shale crops out on the steep slope between the Nashville    basin and the surrounding Righland Rim, and on many high hills within the basin    in Tennessee.  Outside the basin the black shale sequence is exposed in several    river valleys and around tbe large Lexington Basin of Kentucky, Ohio, and lndiana.     It also crops out along the ridges and valleys of the folded Appalachians in    Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. lnformation is presented on the stratigraphy,    composition, structure, paleography, and origin of the Chattanooga shale.  Its    relationship to the underlying and overlying formations is discussed.  (C.H.)"

Tags: kmd
Combustion calorimetry of oil shales

Samples of raw oil shale and spent shale from combustion-retorting experiments are burned in a calorimeter to determine their heats of combustion. The shales are mixed with an equal amount of benzoic acid to achieve complete combustion. A platinum crucible with a basket is used to allow minimal contact of sample with platinum. This design reduces quenching effects by permitting oxygen to completely surround the sample. The heats of combustion, -..delta..H/sub c/, for raw shale range from 1150 to 1250 cal/g while those for spent shale range from -65 to -15 cal/g. The precision of the analysis gives a standard deviation of approximately 5 cal/g. Uncertainties in the sulfur correction and the gas correction, ..delta..n, have the largest effect on the accuracy of the analysis.

Tags: kmd
Material properties of Green River oil shale

A compilation of material property data on Green River (Piceance Basin) oil shale is presented. While this report is not intended to be a comprehensive review of the literature, it is intended to provide a baseline of data to support various thermomechanical modeling efforts in progress at Sandia National Laboratories. The data, presented in tabular form, are divided into three categories: elastic properties, failure properties and thermal properties. Within each category, the data are listed by kerogen content and test condition (confining pressure, temperature, etc.). Summaries of some of the important features of the elastic and failure properties of oil shale are presented in graphical form.

Tags: kmd
Oil shale 1982:  a technology and policy primer

An updated policy primer and technology assessment of the oil shale industry is presented for the benefit of policy makers and the general public. Methods for the development, management, and use of energy are discussed. The biological, economic, social, and political impacts and controversies surrounding current and future energy related activities are considered. Mining methods, retort processing, and methods for disposing of the shale are also discussed.

Tags: kmd
Simulated in situ retorting of Michigan antrim oil shale

The Laramie Energy Technology Center (formerly the Laramie Energy Research Center) has been engaged in oil shale technology research for many years. As part of a continuing in situ research effort, retorting characteristics of mine-run Antrim oil shale and crushed, sieved, Antrim oil shale(-0.127 m, -0.0032 m) have been examined in the 10-ton (9000-kg) retort (TTR) and the controlled state retort (CSR), respectively.

Tags: kmd
Thermal and electrical conductivities of Green River oil shales

Oil- shale retorting is a thermal process. Yet the thermal conductivity of oil shale is incompletely knows. A detailed knowledge of the thermal conductivity is necessary before the temperature distributions in oil-shale rocks, in oil-shale beds, and in the rock surrounding in situ oil-shale retorts may be accurately determined. The limited experimental data and limited theoretical understanding of the thermal conductivity of oil shale to date hinders control of in situ retorting processes and limits the accuracy or mathematical simulations of oil-shale retorting.

Tags: kmd
An evaluation of the potential end uses of a Utah tar sand bitumen. [Tar sand distillate]

To date the commercial application of tar sand deposits in the United States has been limited to their use as paving materials for county roads, parking lots, and driveways because the material, as obtained from the quarries, does not meet federal highway specifications. The bitumen in these deposits has also been the subject of upgrading and refining studies to produce transportation fuels, but the results have not been encouraging from an economic standpoint. The conversion of tar sand bitumen to transportation fuels cannot compete with crude oil refining. The purposes of this study were two-fold. The first was to produce vacuum distillation residues and determine if their properties met ASTM asphalt specifications. The second was to determine if the distillates could serve as potential feedstocks for the production of aviation turbine fuels. The bitumen used for this study was the oil produced during an in situ steamflood project at the Northwest Asphalt Ridge (Utah) tar sand deposit. Two distillation residues were produced, one at  316/sup 0/C and one at  399/sup 0/C. However, only the lower boiling residue met ASTM specifications, in this case as an AC-30 asphalt. The original oil sample met specifications as an AC-5 asphalt. These residue samples showed some unique properties in the area of aging; however, these properties need to be investigated further to determine the implications. It was also suggested that the low aging indexes and high flow properties of the asphalts may be beneficial for pavements that require good low-temperature performance. Two distillate samples were produced, one at IBP-316/sup 0/C and one at IBP-399/sup 0/C. The chemical and physical properties of these samples were determined, and it was concluded that both samples appear to be potential feedstocks for the production of aviation turbine fuels. However, hydrogenation studies need to be conducted and the properties of the finished fuels determined to verify the prediction. 14 refs., 12 tabs.

Tags: kmd
Interlaboratory, multimethod study of an in situ produced oil shale process water

The purpose of the present work was to obtain a careful chemical characterization of an oil-shale process water designated for wide use in environmental research and to determine the suitability of existing analytical methods for this characterization. The study was carried out using an interlaboratory, multimethod approach. Samples from a larger volume, homogeneous reserve of an in situ oil-shale process water were prepared and submitted to 13 laboratories for the measurement of major, minor, and trace elements and standard water quality parameters; a variety of instrumental and chemical methods was used. This paper presents the characterization of that water and discusses analytical problems specific to in situ oil-shale process waters.

Tags: kmd
Investigation of factors affecting the in-situ combustion retorting of oil shale. Final report

The objective of this research was to carry out an experimental and analytical investigation of a number of subprocesses taking place during an in situ combustion retorting of oil shale. Some of these subprocesses also occur in a surface retorting process. The specific topics of this research program include: (1) experimental determination of the intrinsic kinetics of kerogen decomposition producing oil; (2) mathematical formulation of the retorting of an oil shale block in the presence of heat transfer effects; (3) experimental determination of the intrinsic kinetics of oil shale char oxidation; (4) mathematical modeling of the oxidaton of oil shale char in a spent shale block in the presence of heat and mass transfer effects; (5) determination of ignition delay and energy requirements for the ignition of an oil shale bed; (6) determination of thermal expansion of oil shale; and (7) determination of heat capacities of oil shale and the heat of decomposition of kerogen. The results of the investigation of these topics are presented. Some of the results have been published in journals which are readily available. In such a case only a brief summary of the results are presented.

Tags: kmd
Meteorological and climatological investigation:  review of January-June 1980 investigative report

Since January 1979, a meteorological and climatological investigation for the purpose of establishing a microclimatic baseline has been continuously conducted at the Geokinetics oil shale research facility in Eastern Utah. This report, however, presents the findings for only a six month segment (January 1 - June 30, 1980) of that ongoing investigation. This appendix to the meteorological and climatological investigation contains the WestAq data printouts.

Tags: kmd
UNOCAL Parachute Creek Shale Oil Project. Monitoring review committee meeting report. Annual meeting, 1987-1988

The Energy Security Act of 1980 established a program to provide financial assistance to private industry in the construction and operation of commercial-scale synthetic fuels plants. The Parachute Creek Shale Oil Program is one of four projects awarded financial assistance. The support agreement included development of an Environmental Monitoring Plan incorporating existing compliance monitoring and twenty-two supplemental monitoring points for water, air, solid waste, worker health and safety, and socio-economic impacts during the period 1986-1993. A Monitoring Review Committee (MRC) comprised of representatives from the Project, U.S. Department of Treasury, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the state convene each year to discuss monitoring information and trends in environmental and health surveillance. This report documents the first annual MRC meeting, held at the Project.

Tags: kmd
Mineralogic characterization of a Chattanooga Shale core from central Tennessee

The Chattanooga Shale was deposited over much of present Tennessee when Devonian seas transgressed, leaving a thick deposit of organic rich black mud. The Chattanooga Shale ranges in thickness from less than 35 feet in central Tennessee to more than 720 feet in the eastern portion of the state. Although much thinner, the central Tennessee section of the shale appears much richer in extractable organic material, averaging 13% carbon (approximately 9.3 gallons per ton by Fischer assay) with a maximum of 20% carbon (15 gallons per ton). In central Tennessee, the Chattanooga Shale has two members, the Dowelltown and the Gassaway and is underlain by the Leipers Limestone and overlain by the Ft. Payne Chert and Maury Formation, a phosphatic claystone. Detailed mineralogy from a corehole taken in DeKalb County is presented. The abundance of kaolinite (5 to 29% of total clay fraction) differs significantly from data of other investigators, possibly suggesting a proximity to an ancient shoreline. Additionally, the samples from this corehole were higher in quartz and feldspars, and lower in overall clay mineral percentages than samples of the Chattanooga Shale reported in other areas.

Tags: kmd
Analysis of organic material difficult to recover from oil shale

Green River oil shale was supercritically treated with methanol and water and then extracted with benzene and methanol to recover approximately 85% of the organic matter in the shale. The spent shale was then extracted with pyridine to recover an additional 2-3% of the organic matter that remained on the shale. The liquid organic material extracted with pyridine contained some of the compound types most difficult to recover from shale. These materials were characterized. High-molecular nitrogen compounds of the pyridine type were found to be a predominant compound class in the pyridine extract. The pyridine-extracted material contained a higher percentage of nitrogen than a Fischer assay oil and a lower percentage of hydrogen than a Fischer assay oil indicating that more aromatic nitrogen compounds were present in the pyridine extract than in Fischer assay oil. Bonding mechanisms between organic and inorganic components of the shale were studied as were spectroscopic data showing the nature of the organic material remaining on spent shale after extraction with pyridine. 22 references, 5 figures, 3 tables.

Tags: kmd
Review of toxicity studies performed on an underground coal gasification condensate water

Three studies related to the toxicity of underground coal gasification (UCG) waters have bee conducted: (1) toxicity study of UCG water and its fractions as determined by the Microtox test, (2) toxicity study of biotreated UCG water as determined by the Microtox test, and (3) toxicity study of UCG water to macroinvertebrates. The results of these studies are summarized herein. The gas condensate water from the UCG process is extremely toxic as determined by assays with photoluminescent bacteria (Microtox), benthic (bottom-dwelling) macroinvertebrates (mayflies), and Daphnia magna (water flea). Microtox bioassays reveal that the toxic components of the water reside in both the organophilic and hydrophilic fractions, although the organophilic fraction is notably more toxic. A sequential treatment process reduced the toxicity of the UCG water, as measured by the Microtox test. Solvent extraction (to remove phenols) followed by ammonia stripping yielded a less toxic water. Additional treatment by activated sludge further reduced toxicity. Finally, the addition of powdered activated carbon to the activated sludge yielded the least toxic water. A bioassay technique was developed for lotic (running water) macroinvertebrates (Drunella doddsi and Iron longimanus). The toxicity results were compared with results from the traditional test animal, Daphnia magna. Short-term exposures to the UCG waters were more toxic to Daphnia magna than to Drunella doddsi or Iron longimanus, although the toxicity values begin to merge with longer test exposure. The greater toxicity seems to be related to a thinner exoskeleton. 26 refs., 2 figs., 6 tabs.

Tags: kmd