Analysis of horizontal and vertical in-situ oil-shale retorting: comparison of field experiments

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6795459

Tyner, C E; Bickel, T C; Stevens, A L; Lekas, J M

Currently two different processing techniques are utilized for in situ oil shale retorting. Horizontal In Situ (HIS), in which the retort front moves parallel to the shale bedding planes, is being utilized on relatively thin, near-surface oil shale. Vertical Modified In Situ (VMIS), in which the retort front moves perpendicular to the shale bedding planes, is being utilized for thicker deposits of shale at greater depths. While chemical effects in the two processes should be similar, physical phenomena (such as fluid product flow and heat transfer) can be substantially different due to gravity and anisotropic shale properties associated with the shale bedding planes. To illustrate both similarities between the processes and some striking differences, we present thermal data (detailing movement of the steam and retorting fronts) and offgas and oil analysis data (allowing material and energy balance closures) from two recent field experiments, Sandia/Geokinetics Retort 23 (HIS) and Occidental Retort 8 (VMIS). These data show, for example, a broader combustion front in the horizontal process, resulting in a lower thermal efficiency. However, because of a lower shale grade in the VMIS experiment, local oil yield (50 to 60% of Fischer Assay) was similar in the two experiments, with roughly two-thirds of the loss to oil combustion and one-third to oil coking and cracking reactions.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA); Occidental Research Corp., Irvine, CA (USA); Geokinetics, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6795459
• Report Number(s): SAND-82-0972C; CONF-830301-3; ON: DE83001345
• 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
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA
DECOMPOSITION
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FISCHER ASSAY
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
INFORMATION
MATERIALS
MODIFIED IN-SITU PROCESSES
NUMERICAL DATA
OIL SHALES
OIL YIELDS
PROCESSING
RETORTING
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
THERMODYNAMICS
YIELDS