Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Reaction kinetics for modeling oil shale retorting

Journal Article · · In Situ; (United States)
OSTI ID:6993910

Lawrence Livermore Laboratory performed nonisothermal kinetic studies on the pyrolysis, gasification, and mineral reactions of oil shale, summarizing the resulting data in a set of rate equations suitable for the numerical modeling of oil-shale retorting. The rate equations are general enough for modeling both in situ and surface retorting processes. The specific pyrolysis reactions investigated included the decomposition of kerogen and the corresponding evolution of oil, H/sub 2/, CH/sub 2/, and C/sub 2/ and C/sub 3/ hydrocarbons and the secondary pyrolysis of the carbonaceous residue and the evolution of H/sub 2/ and CH/sub 4/. The mineral-reaction kinetics relate to the decomposition and reaction of calcite, dolomite, dawsonite, and nahcolite and the effects of CO/sub 2/ and steam on the reactions of calcite and dolomite. The kinetic study also examined the gasification of the carbonaceous residue by CO/sub 2/ and H/sub 2/O.

OSTI ID:
6993910
Journal Information:
In Situ; (United States), Journal Name: In Situ; (United States) Vol. 4:1; ISSN ISOMD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English