Occidental vertical modified in situ process for the recovery of oil from oil shale: Phase I. Annual report, November 1, 1977-October 31, 1978. [Retort design evaluation]

Technical Report · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5840845· OSTI ID:5840845

Progress of the Phase I work performed is reported. This phase of the project is the engineering development of the OXY modified in situ process for recovery of shale oil being performed at the D.A. Shale site northeast of DeBeque, Colorado. This phase covers the processing of Retort 5, the formation and processing of Retort 6, and the preparation of a definitive engineering design and cost estimate for the technical feasibility demonstration plant. The primary objective of Phase I is to evaluate two alternative retort designs considered for commercial application. The first, Retort 5, used a single vertical slot to provide the void volume and free face necessary for rubblization; and the second, Retort 6, used a series of horizontal rooms, separated by solid sections of oil shale. The purpose of the evaluation is to select the retort design to be used in the Phase II technical feasibility demonstration. More specifically, the purpose is to compare such factors as gas flow patterns, void and particle size distribution, and pressure drop across the retort in a rubble pile formed by blasting into horizontal rooms as opposed to blasting into vertical slots. In addition, the effect of air/steam mixtures on oil yield, process water requirements, and off-gas composition and heating value is being studied. Topics covered include the completion of Retort 5 processing; Retort 6 rubblization, construction, testing, ignition, and retorting; the environmental support at Logan Wash; the design progress for the Phase II demonstration facility; C-b commercial facility activities and environmental support; the status of marketing studies; and the schedule status and plans for the coming year. Appendices included are: measurements of blasting for Retort 6, instrumentation of Retort No. 6, and flow/tracer test data of Retort No. 6.

• Research Organization: Occidental Oil Shale, Inc., Grand Junction, CO (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5840845
• Report Number(s): SAN-1848-T2(Vol.1)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040401* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
AIR
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COLORADO
COMMINUTION
COST
DESIGN
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FUELS
GAS FLOW
GASES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
MARKETING RESEARCH
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MINERAL OILS
MODIFIED IN-SITU PROCESSES
NORTH AMERICA
OIL YIELDS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXY MODIFIED IN-SITU PROCESS
PRESSURE DROP
PRODUCTION
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RETORTING
RETORTS
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
SHALE OIL
STEAM
SYNTHETIC FUELS
SYNTHETIC PETROLEUM
TRACER TECHNIQUES
USA
WATER REQUIREMENTS
YIELDS