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U.S. Department of Energy
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CIRCA Fall 1973: an economic analysis of an oil shale nahcolite, dawsonite complex in Colorado, Option II. [Design and cost evaluation of hypothetical industry-scale complex for mining and processing oil shales, nahcolite, and dawsonite]

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7322760

This report is one of three which presents the results of studies entailing preliminary design, costing, and financial evaluation of hypothetical industry-scale complexes for mining and processing of oil shale and/or associated sodium minerals occurring in a certain area of the Piceance Creek basin, Colo. Option II of the 3-part study is concerned with an integrated operation involving a so-called ''white nahcolite bed,'' containing a high concentration of sodium bicarbonate and occurring at a depth of about 1,900 feet, plus an underlying measure of oil shale-nahcolite-dawsonite material at a nominal depth of 2,400 feet. This latter material is characterized as containing 25.2 wt percent nahcolite and 9.2 wt percent dawsonite, and yielding 23.0 gallons of shale oil by Fischer assay. The sales products in this option include soda ash derived both from the white nahcolite bed and from the nahcolite and dawsonite contained in the underlying measure, alumina stemming from the dawsonite, a pipeline-quality shale oil, and oil-related byproducts of coke, sulfur, and ammonia. A total capital investment of $688,350,000 based on 1973 values is required. The complex is designed to process 8,000 tons per calendar day of a selected white nahcolite ore and 60,000 tons per calendar day of a nahcolite-dawsonite-oil shale material. The sale of products will yield an annual income of $228,802,600. To produce this income an annual expenditure of $172,420,100 is required. (JGB)

Research Organization:
Bureau of Mines, Morgantown, W.Va. (USA)
OSTI ID:
7322760
Report Number(s):
NP-21177
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English