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Unveiling Oil Shale Technology: A Comprehensive Guide

Explore the world of oil shale, its history, extraction methods, environmental concerns, and economic outlook. Learn about the vast U.S. reserves, extraction processes, and the challenges and opportunities in this evolving industry.

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Unveiling Oil Shale Technology: A Comprehensive Guide

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  1. Oil Shale Technology By: Justin Borchardt

  2. What is oil shale? • Oil shale does not contain oil or made of shale • Instead, it is deposits of kerogen within sedimentary rock • Kerogen is the product of the first stage of organic matter’s transformation to petroleum

  3. U.S. Reserves • ~75% of World’s recoverable oil shale resources • Green River Basin alone contains an estimated 1.8 trillion bbls of recoverable oil • 5-50 gals of oil per ton of shale 3

  4. Boom 1915 – Rumors of petroleum sources running dry 1940s – Increase of petroleum demand from WWII 1970s – Energy Crisis’ 2000s – Increase in oil prices Bust 1920s – West Texas oil fields discovered 1940s and 50s – Middle East oil discoveries 1980s – OPEC dropped prices ? Oil Shale History

  5. Shell In-Situ Retorting 3 • Holes Drilled • Water Removed • Shale is heated and Oil and Gas recovered • Water is replaced

  6. Crude Shale Oil to Synthetic Crude • Sulfur and Nitrogen must be removed • Hydrotreating, hydrocracking, and delayed coking

  7. Improved In-Situ Technologies: Shell • Holes Drilled around perimeter • Coolant Pumped and “Freeze Wall” created • Prevents Leaching • Increased Costs? 2

  8. Improved In-Situ Technologies: EGL Resources • Horizontal Drilling beneath the shale • Super-Heated Steam or High Temperature Heat Transfer Liquid • Coiled Tubing increases recovery to 2/3 to 3/4 oil 1

  9. Environmental Concerns • Heavy Energy use and production of more greenhouse gases • Groundwater Contamination • Production of SOx and NOx • Socioeconomic Strains

  10. Economics • Heating Costs: $12-$15/bbl • Upgrading Costs: $6-$15/bbl • Competitive with oil at prices of $30-$40/bbl

  11. Outlook • Relatively underdeveloped technology • Current Pilot Plants are being run • Full production is still 15-20 years away • Oil Prices must remain higher than $40/bbl

  12. References • E.G.L. Resources, Inc: Oil Shale Division. 11 Nov. 2006 <http://www.eoilshale.com/>. • “Freeze Wall Test.” Shell Mahogany Research Project. Feb. 2006. 11 Nov. 2006 <http://www.shell.com/‌static/‌us-en/‌downloads/‌shell_for_businesses/‌exploration_production/‌FWT_Handout_4.3.06.pdf>. • Bartis, James T, et al. Oil Shale Development in the United States. RAND. 11 Nov. 2006 <http://www.rand.org/‌pubs/‌monographs/‌2005/‌RAND_MG414.pdf>.

  13. Questions?

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