Energy and dollar requirements in an oil shale industry based on the Paraho process
The Paraho Oil Shale Demonstration is a privately financed project to prove the Paraho retorting process and hardware on oil shale. Two new Paraho retorts, a pilot plant and a semi-works size unit, were installed and put into operation during 1974. The pilot plant is used to explore operating parameters in order to define conditions for demonstration in the larger semi-works size retort. These stationary, vertical cylinders are 4 1/2 and 10 1/2 feet in outside diameter. The results of the Paraho operations to date have been encouraging. They demonstrate that the process works, that the equipment is durable and that the operation is environmentally acceptable on a pilot and a semi-works plant scale. The objective of an oil shale industry is to produce an alternate source of energy. This energy would help alleviate US dependency on imported hydrocarbons. During the process of mining, crushing, retorting and refining the industry must consume energy to operate the facility. The purpose of this paper is to: (a) identify the source and amount and the net energy balance of an oil shale industry; (b) present preliminary costs of retorting only. The operating costs do not take any credit for the value of low Btu gas or electricity generated from low Btu gas. The above costs do not include the cost of mining the oil shale and upgrading the shale oil. The operating cost does, however, include the cost of energy (such as electricity at 2 cents/KW), other utilities, labor maintenance and royalties. In converting to liquid fuels the oil shale industry is expected to utilize 25 to 35% of the energy it produces. As the technology progresses and experience is gained there is a good probability of improving these overall thermal efficiencies and economics. There are already some designs on the drawing board (such as steam and oxygen injection) which have a potential of cutting down costs and the energy requirements in retorting oil shale.
- Research Organization:
- Paraho Oil Shale Demonstration, Inc., Grand Junction, CO
- OSTI ID:
- 5763019
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-760458-P1
- Journal Information:
- Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Prepr.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Prepr.; (United States) Vol. 21:1; ISSN ACPCA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
040400* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Oil Production
Recovery
& Refining
040800 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Economics
Industrial
& Business Aspects
ANVIL POINTS RESEARCH FACILITY
BY-PRODUCTS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY
ENERGY ANALYSIS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EQUIPMENT
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INDUSTRY
MANAGEMENT
NET ENERGY
OIL SHALE INDUSTRY
OIL SHALE PROCESSING PLANTS
PARAHO PROCESS
PILOT PLANTS
RETORTS
SPENT SHALES
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT