Oil shale mining studies and analyses of some potential unconventional uses for oil shale

Technical Report · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7173109· OSTI ID:7173109

McCarthy, H. E.; Clayson, R. L.

Engineering studies and literature review performed under this contract have resulted in improved understanding of oil shale mining costs, spent shale disposal costs, and potential unconventional uses for oil shale. Topics discussed include: costs of conventional mining of oil shale; a mining scenario in which a minimal-scale mine, consistent with a niche market industry, was incorporated into a mine design; a discussion on the benefits of mine opening on an accelerated schedule and quantified through discounted cash flow return on investment (DCFROI) modelling; an estimate of the costs of disposal of spent shale underground and on the surface; tabulation of potential increases in resource recovery in conjunction with underground spent shale disposal; the potential uses of oil shale as a sulfur absorbent in electric power generation; the possible use of spent shale as a soil stabilizer for road bases, quantified and evaluated for potential economic impact upon representative oil shale projects; and the feasibility of co-production of electricity and the effect of project-owned and utility-owned power generation facilities were evaluated. 24 refs., 5 figs., 19 tabs.

• Research Organization: Western Research Inst., Laramie, WY (USA); Synfuels Engineering and Development, Inc., Rifle, CO (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/FE
• DOE Contract Number: FC21-86MC11076
• OSTI ID: 7173109
• Report Number(s): DOE/MC/11076-2767; ON: DE90000417
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040300* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Drilling
Fracturing & Mining
040800 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Economics
Industrial
& Business Aspects
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COGENERATION
COST
DEUS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
MINING
OIL SHALE MINING
OIL SHALES
POWER GENERATION
SOILS
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SPENT SHALES
STEAM GENERATION
SURFACE PROPERTIES
USES