Oil shale mining and material handling: Considerations for future research and development

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5659567

Smith, R. P.; Knutson, C. F. ^[1]

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1. EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (USA)

In order to replace present United States oil imports by the production of shale oil, 15 million tons/day of oil shale would have to be mined and processed. Design of mining systems, capable of very large production rates and high resource recovery, should be the foremost concern. At present, open pit, block caving, and various stopping systems appear promising. Existing mechanical mining machines are capable of high drivage rates in oil shale; underground mines should be designed to take advantage of their development speed. The strength of some oil shales is such that present day mining machines using dragbits (e.g., roadheaders) are severely taxed, and therefore, may see only limited use in mine development. Research has been done in revolutionary rock fragmentation techniques (e.g., electric, electromagnetic, particle beam, and plasma fragmentation), but their application to practical, large volume mining systems is presently constrained by high cost and operational complexity. Research aimed at other aspects of the mining systems (roof support, transport, blasting efficiency, ventilation, backfill, and reclamation) is more likely to produce significant near term benefits. 11 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/FE
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 5659567
• Report Number(s): EGG-M-88230; CONF-881128--2; ON: DE90002054
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040300* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Drilling
Fracturing & Mining
EQUIPMENT
FRAGMENTATION
IMPORTS
MATERIALS HANDLING
MINING
OIL SHALE MINING
PRODUCTION