Mechanization potential in oil shale mining

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1966 · Q. Colo. Sch. Mines; (United States)

OSTI ID:6759399

Bredthauer, R O; Williamson, T N

Current proposals for acquiring oil from oil shale basically are directed toward 2 general techniques. One would use in-situ combustion or retorting after having increased the permeability of the oil shale by nuclear blasting of other fracturing means. The other technique would physically remove the oil shale by room-and-pillar mining and transport it to retorts located on the surface. Both methods pose problems for which there are no current satisfactory solutions. For example, in the extraction and surface retorting method, disposal of the spent shale takes on formidable proportions. In the case of in-situ retorting, spent shale disposal problems are minimized and increased utilization of reserves are sited, but the problem of providing permeability in the oil shale is formidable. Current state-of-the-art is given for related areas such as tunneling, mechanical mining, shaft sinking, and open pit excavation. The evaluation of current systems in terms of oil shale and mining utility are made relating a system's capability to serve a 100,000 ton per day retorting operation, judged to be a minimum economical production rate.

• Research Organization: Hughes Tool Co; Hughes Tool Co
• OSTI ID: 6759399
• Journal Information: Q. Colo. Sch. Mines; (United States), Journal Name: Q. Colo. Sch. Mines; (United States) Vol. 61:3; ISSN QCSMA
• 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
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
DECOMPOSITION
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EVALUATION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MINING
OIL SHALE MINING
OIL SHALES
OXIDATION
PERMEABILITY
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
RETORTING
ROOM AND PILLAR MINING
SHAFT EXCAVATIONS
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TUNNELING
UNDERGROUND MINING
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT