Coarse beneficiation of Green River oil shale
Extensive oil shale deposits occur in the Green River Formation. Though the oil content of these shales is rather constant along a certain horizon, there are wide variations with depth. The result is the presence of rich and lean zones. Selective mining of the richer zones is practiced so as to provide a retort feed. However, another option is to mine the whole stratum and use physical beneficiation to obtain a product tailored to the retort feed requirements. Gulf Research and Development Company has been studying oil shale beneficiation for some time. This paper examines the beneficiation potential of a 20 GPT oil content C-a tract oil shale. Large lots (approx. =20 tons) were reduced to various top sizes--3'', 1-1/2'', 3/4'', and 3/8''. These materials were then screened to various size fractions. The run-of-mine material and above-sized fractions were subjected to sink and float tests. Complete washability curves were derived for all size fractions. These washability data were used to make conceptual flow sheets and evaluate individual separation devices. The paper shows that because of the very large amounts of near-gravity material in the crushed shale, only the most efficient devices, i.e., with low Ep. values, can be utilized. Flowsheets (along with grade and recovery curves) to make products of 23 to 30 gallons per ton oil content have been presented. The data show that very high recoveries of the above products can be achieved while rejecting a large quantity of low grade shale.
- Research Organization:
- Gulf Research and Development Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- OSTI ID:
- 5286776
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-830434-
- Journal Information:
- Oil Shale Symp. Proc.; (United States), Conference: 16. oil shale symposium, Golden, CO, USA, 13 Apr 1983
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
OIL SHALES
CRUSHING
SORTING
PULVERIZERS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
DEPTH
FLOWSHEETS
GREEN RIVER FORMATION
MATERIALS TESTING
OIL SHALE DEPOSITS
OIL SHALE MINING
OIL YIELDS
PARTICLE SIZE
QUALITY CONTROL
SHALE OIL
WASHING
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CLEANING
COMMINUTION
CONTROL
DIAGRAMS
DIMENSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MATERIALS
MINERAL OILS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINING
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RESOURCES
SIZE
TESTING
YIELDS
040300* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Drilling
Fracturing & Mining