Oil shale project run summary large retort Run L-2. [Oil shale blocks in shale nibble matrix]

Technical Report · Mon Aug 10 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:6138342

Raley, J H; Sandholtz, W A; Mallon, R G

The object of the L-2 Run was to determine the retorting behavior of individual oil shale blocks in a shale rubble matrix during simulated modified in-situ (MIS) combustion retorting. Conclusions are as follows: The interiors of large particles are delayed in retorting (compared to a surrounding matrix of small particles) by the greater lengths of the heat transports paths in the larger particles and their lower surface/mass ratio. In Run L-2 these delays were determined for six cylindrical blocks of three sizes surrounded by two different matrices. The delays resulted in oil being released from the blocks into an oil degrading environment in the rubble matrix. The combination of high interior block and matrix temperatures and oxygen presence at block surfaces during oil release caused the oil produced in block interiors to be degraded either in transport from the block interiors or in the rubble matrix. For three of the blocks, the fraction of generated oil that was degraded to light (C/sub 1/-C/sub 4/) hydrocarbons was determined from analysis of retort offgas produced during block retorting. The offgas ethene/ethane ratio was a sensitive indicator of oil degradation for all the blocks. High ethene/ethane ratios of intra of intra-retort gas sampled near the blocks the correlated with oxygen presence. The ethene/ethane ratios increased with both block size and matrix heating rate. This last factor was influenced by matrix size distribution, the bulk heating rate tending to be lower for the broader size range material.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6138342
• Report Number(s): UCID-19168; ON: DE81028447
• 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
ALKANES
ALKENES
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DATA
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ETHANE
ETHYLENE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
MATERIALS
MODIFIED IN-SITU PROCESSES
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OIL SHALES
OIL YIELDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN
RETORTING
YIELDS