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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Spent oil shale disposal R and D: EPA's efforts

Conference · · AIChE Symp. Ser.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5944870
Disposal of massive amounts of spent shale will be required if an oil shale industry using surface retorting is developed. Field studies to model both low elevation (dry) and high elevation (moist) disposal sites were initiated in 1973 on 2 types of spent oil shale; coarse textured-US Bureau of Mines (USBM) and fine-textured-the Oil Shale Corporation (TOSCO). A similar study was initiated in 1975 on Paraho direct-heated spent oil shale. These studies investigated surface stability and salt movement in spent shales and spent shales covered with soil after vegetation had been established by intensive treatment and then left under natural precipitation conditions. The Paraho study also provided for trace element analysis of the leachate water and for comparison of water movement through compacted and uncompacted spent shale. Data are now being collected on trace element concentrations in spent shale leachate. Future plans call for continued observations on the established spent oil shale plots and initiation of a study to monitor water quality impacts of spent shale from modified in situ retorting.
OSTI ID:
5944870
Report Number(s):
CONF-781110-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: AIChE Symp. Ser.; (United States) Journal Volume: 40C
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English