Evaluation of control technology for modified in situ oil shale retorts

Conference · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Oil Shale Symp. Proc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5285983

Persoff, P; Fox, J P

Experiments were conducted to evaluate two technologies to control groundwater pollution due to leaching of abandoned modified in-situ (MIS) retorts, retort grouting and intentional leaching. Retort grouting to reduce permeability was evaluated by measuring the permeability of grouts containing only raw or refined waste materials (Lurgi spent shale, fly ash, gypsum tailings, and lignosulfonate fluidizers). The principal factor controlling grout formulation was the requirement for adequate fluidity without bleeding. This was achieved by inclusion of 0.25% lignosulfonate fluidizer in the grout. Permeability of the cured grouts decreased with increasing confining pressure; at 200 psi confining pressure, permeabilities as low as 5x10/sup -7/ cm/sec were measured. Electrical conductivity measurements on the permeate produced during permeability measurements suggest that grouting abandoned MIS retorts would increase the TDS of leachate by a factor of approximately 3; benefit of the proposed grouting operation would depend upon the flow rate through retorts being reduced by a greater factor to reduce the total mass (concentration x flow) of solute released. Comparison of the measured grout permeabilities to the permeability of surrounding rock suggest that this would be the case.

• Research Organization: Energy and Environment Division, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 5285983
• Report Number(s): CONF-830434-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Oil Shale Symp. Proc.; (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
041000* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Environmental Aspects
ABANDONED SITES
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
CONTROL
DECOMPOSITION
DISPERSIONS
DISSOLUTION
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GROUND WATER
GROUTING
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
LEACHATES
LEACHING
MATERIALS
MIXTURES
MODIFIED IN-SITU PROCESSES
OIL SHALES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERMEABILITY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLLUTION CONTROL
PROCESSING
RETORTING
RETORTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUTIONS
WATER
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
WATER REQUIREMENTS