Oil Shale Technology By Justin Borchardt What is
Oil Shale Technology By: Justin Borchardt
What is oil shale? u Oil shale does not contain oil or made of shale u Instead, it is deposits of kerogen within sedimentary rock u Kerogen is the product of the first stage of organic matter’s transformation to petroleum
U. S. Reserves u ~75% of World’s recoverable oil shale resources u Green River Basin alone contains an estimated 1. 8 trillion bbls of recoverable oil u 5 -50 gals of oil per ton of shale 3
Oil Shale History u u Boom 1915 – Rumors of petroleum sources running dry 1940 s – Increase of petroleum demand from WWII 1970 s – Energy Crisis’ 2000 s – Increase in oil prices u u Bust 1920 s – West Texas oil fields discovered 1940 s and 50 s – Middle East oil discoveries 1980 s – OPEC dropped prices ?
Shell In-Situ Retorting 3 Holes Drilled u Water Removed u Shale is heated and Oil and Gas recovered u Water is replaced u
Crude Shale Oil to Synthetic Crude Shale Petroleum Oil C/H Ratio 1. 6 ~1. 25 Nitrogen 2% <. 5% Sulfur 10% 1 -3% u u Sulfur and Nitrogen must be removed Hydrotreating, hydrocracking, and delayed coking
Improved In-Situ Technologies: Shell Holes Drilled around perimeter u Coolant Pumped and “Freeze Wall” created u Prevents Leaching u Increased Costs? u 2
Improved In-Situ Technologies: EGL Resources u Horizontal Drilling beneath the shale u Super-Heated Steam or High Temperature Heat Transfer Liquid u Coiled Tubing increases recovery to 2/3 to 3/4 oil 1
Environmental Concerns u Heavy Energy use and production of more greenhouse gases u Groundwater u Production Contamination of SOx and NOx u Socioeconomic Strains
Economics u Heating Costs: $12 -$15/bbl u Upgrading Costs: $6 -$15/bbl u Competitive $40/bbl with oil at prices of $30 -
Outlook u Relatively underdeveloped technology u Current Pilot Plants are being run u Full production is still 15 -20 years away u Oil Prices must remain higher than $40/bbl
References 1. E. G. L. Resources, Inc: Oil Shale Division. 11 Nov. 2006 <http: //www. eoilshale. com/>. 2. “Freeze Wall Test. ” Shell Mahogany Research Project. Feb. 2006. 11 Nov. 2006 <http: //www. shell. com/static/usen/downloads/shell_for_businesses/exploration_ production/FWT_Handout_4. 3. 06. pdf>. 3. Bartis, James T, et al. Oil Shale Development in the United States. RAND. 11 Nov. 2006 <http: //www. rand. org/pubs/monographs/2005/ RAND_MG 414. pdf>.
Questions?
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