Pyrolysis of oil shale: the effects of thermal history on oil yield

Conference · Tue Apr 27 04:00:00 EDT 1976

OSTI ID:7365787

Stout, N D; Koskinas, G J; Raley, J H; Santor, S D; Opila, R J; Rothman, A J

The effect of thermal history on the oil yield of a powdered, 22-gallon-per-ton Colorado shale was studied by heating to test temperature at Fischer assay rate (12/sup 0/C/min), holding a test temperature for varying times up to 33 d, and finally heating to 500/sup 0/C at 12/sup 0/C/min. Test temperatures covered the range of 150 to 450/sup 0/C. Both autogenous (self-generated) and inert sweep gas atmospheres were used. Under autogenous atmospheres at test temperatures of 250/sup 0/C or below, yields obtained were 100 percent of Fischer assay. Heating at 300 to 425/sup 0/C resulted in yield losses, maximizing at 19 percent after a 33-d exposure at 350/sup 0/C. Yield losses are accompanied by increased char in the retorted shale and by production of oil that is lower in density and nitrogen content, and higher in hydrogen. In the inert gas sweep experiments, increasing flow rates gave increased oil yields, approaching 100 percent assay. This is attributed to reduced thermal degradation of oil in the retort. The total yield appears to be determined by the temperature-time exposure of the liberated oil and is not affected by the thermal history of the kerogen. The results indicate that the high gas sweep rates planned for in-situ retorting will be advantageous to oil yield. (auth)

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 7365787
• Report Number(s): UCRL-77831; CONF-760443-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040400* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Oil Production
Recovery
& Refining
040500 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Properties & Composition
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHARS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DENSITY
DIAGRAMS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
INERT ATMOSPHERE
INFORMATION
LOSSES
MINERAL OILS
OIL SHALES
OIL YIELDS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POWDERS
PRODUCTION
PYROLYSIS
SHALE OIL
SYNTHETIC FUELS
SYNTHETIC PETROLEUM
TABLES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TIME DEPENDENCE
YIELDS