Numerical modeling of oil shale fragmentation experiments

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:6228492

Kuszmaul, J S

The economic development of modified in situ oil shale retorting will benefit from the ability to design a blasting scheme that creates a rubble bed of uniform permeability. Preparing such a design depends upon successfully predicting how a given explosive will break rock. Numerical models are used to make predictions of the extent of damage caused by an explosion. Recent single borehole cratering tests provide experimental measurements of the extent of damage induced by an explosion. Measuring rock damage involved crater excavation, rubble screening, crater elevation surveys, and post-test collection of rock cores. These measurements are compared to the damage calculated by the numerical model. Analysis of the core showed that damage varied greatly from layer to layer. The numerical results also show this effect, indicating that rock damage is highly dependent on oil shale grade. The computer simulation also calculated particle velocities and dynamic stress levels in the rock. These agree with experimental measurements of shock wave properties. Calculated rock fragmentation is compared to fragmentation measured by crater excavation and by core analysis. Because coring provides direct inspection of rock fragmentation, it is recommended that post-test coring be used in future experiments. 13 references, 12 figures, 3 tables.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6228492
• Report Number(s): SAND-84-2656C; CONF-850143-1; ON: DE85005487
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040300* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Drilling
Fracturing & Mining
040401 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BOREHOLES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CAVITIES
COMMINUTION
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DAMAGE
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FRAGMENTATION
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MODIFIED IN-SITU PROCESSES
OIL SHALE DEPOSITS
OIL SHALES
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SIMULATION