Assessment and control of water contamination associated with shale oil extraction and processing. Progress report, October 1, 1979-September 30, 1980

Technical Report · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5298938· OSTI ID:5298938

Peterson, E J; Henicksman, A V; Fox, J P; O'Rourke, J A; Wagner, P

The Los Alamos National Laboratory's research on assessment and control of water contamination associated with oil shale operations is directed toward the identification of potential water contamination problems and the evaluation of alternative control strategies for controlling contaminants released into the surface and underground water systems from oil-shale-related sources. Laboratory assessment activities have focused on the mineralogy, trace element concentrations in solids, and leaching characteristics of raw and spent shales from field operations and laboratory-generated spent shales. This report details the chemical, mineralogic, and solution behavior of major, minor, and trace elements in a variety of shale materials (spent shales from Occidental retort 3E at Logan Wash, raw shale from the Colony mine, and laboratory heat-treated shales generated from Colony mine raw shale). Control technology research activities have focused on the definition of control technology requirements based on assessment activities and the laboratory evaluation of alternative control strategies for mitigation of identified problems. Based on results obtained with Logan Wash materials, it appears that the overall impact of in situ processing on groundwater quality (leaching and aquifer bridging) may be less significant than previously believed. Most elements leached from MIS spent shales are already elevated in most groundwaters. Analysis indicates that solubility controls by major cations and anions will aid in mitigating water quality impacts. The exceptions include the trace elements vanadium, lead, and selenium. With respect to in situ retort leaching, process control and multistaged counterflow leaching are evaluated as alternative control strategies for mitigation of quality impacts. The results of these analyses are presented in this report.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5298938
• Report Number(s): LA-9084-PR; ON: DE82019186
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
041000* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Environmental Aspects
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALKALI METALS
ARSENIC
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BORON
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTAMINATION
CONTROL
DECOMPOSITION
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GROUND WATER
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
LASL
LEACHATES
LEAD
LITHIUM
MATERIALS
METALS
MINERALOGY
MIXTURES
MODIFIED IN-SITU PROCESSES
MOLYBDENUM
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NICKEL
OIL SHALES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION CONTROL
POTASSIUM
PROCESSING
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RETORTING
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
SOLUTIONS
SPENT SHALES
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VANADIUM
WATER
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL