Eastern oil shale retorting: Gas evolution during pyrolysis of northeastern Kentucky shales

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Energy Sources (N.Y.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00908318308908080· OSTI ID:6800386

Coburn, T T

Gases that are evolved, as eastern oil shale is heated from 150/sup 0/C to 900/sup 0/C, have been monitored by mass spectrometry. Profiles of gas evolution as a function of retort temperature are reported for CO/sub 2/, CO, Ch/sub 4/, H/sub 2/, C/sub 3/H/sub 8/, and H/sub 2/S. Over the temperature range associated with oil production, less H/sub 2/ is produced at increased heating rates. The Sunbury Shale (Mississippian age) and the Cleveland Member of the Ohio Shale (Devonian age) have very similar gas evolution profiles over this temperature range to within the experimental precision of + or - 5 percent. Hydrogen and methane evolution profiles of eastern oil shales are qualitatively intermediate between those of coal and western oil shale. The low carbonate content of eastern shales makes it possible to observe char gasification by the water liberated from mineral matter. In the case of western shales, the reaction is masked by mineral carbonate decomposition. The comparison of the rate that specific gases are evolved from eastern shale, western shale, and western Kentucky coal gives some additional insight into the similarities and differences that these fuel resources exhibit.

• Research Organization: Institute for Mining and Minerals Research University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky
• OSTI ID: 6800386
• Journal Information: Energy Sources (N.Y.); (United States), Journal Name: Energy Sources (N.Y.); (United States) Vol. 7:2; ISSN EGYSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040403* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Refining
040500 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Properties & Composition
ALKANES
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BLACK SHALES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CARBONATES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHATTANOOGA FORMATION
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
COAL GAS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION IV
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GAS YIELDS
GASES
GASIFICATION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN
KENTUCKY
KINETICS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MATERIALS
METHANE
MINERAL RESOURCES
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OIL SHALE DEPOSITS
OIL SHALES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRODUCTION
PROPANE
PYROLYSIS
REACTION KINETICS
RESOURCES
RETORTING
SHALE GAS
SPECTROSCOPY
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
USA
YIELDS