Laboratory level autoclave pyrolysis experiments of Chinese Liushuhe oil shale have been conducted at different heating temperatures and pressures to simulate underground in-situ thermal conversion. Effects of water and metallic ions on oil shale pyrolysis have been investigated. In the presence of water, pyrolysis of oil shale generates thermal bitumen as an intermediate product at first, then pyrolysis of bitumen produces shale oil and gas takes place. With increasing temperature, the yields of shale oil and gas increase gradually, while the yield of bitumen initially increases (max. at 300 °C) and then decreases. Compared with the modified Fisher Assay, autoclave pyrolysis temperature of simulated experiment was 100 °C lower when reaching the same conversion level of oil shale. Analysis of the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that main chemical compounds of the light fraction in shale oil are phenols and benzenes. The analyses of gas chromatography showed high percentage of carbon dioxide and low percentage of hydrocarbons. The research results could provide theoretical information for underground in-situ thermal conversion of oil shale.
1. Dyni, J. R. Geology and resources of some world oil shale deposits. Oil Shale, 2003, 20(3), 193–252.
2. Qian, J. L., Yin, L. Oil Shale-Petroleum Alternative. China Petrochemical Press, Beijing, 2010, 49–60.
3. Altun, N. E., Hiçyilmaz, C., Hwang, J.-Y., Suat Bağci, A., Kök, M. V. Oil shales in the world and Turkey; reserves, current situation and future prospects: a review. Oil Shale, 2006, 23(3), 211–227.
4. Arbabi, S., Lin, M., Deeg, W. Simulation model for ground freezing process: Application to Shell’s freeze wall containment system. 30th Oil Shale Symposium, Oct. 2010, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, USA, Paper No. 07.2.
5. Hoda, N., Fang, C., Lin, M. Numerical modeling of ExxonMobil’s Electrofrac field experiments at Colony Mine. 30th Oil Shale Symposium, Oct. 2010, Colorado School of Miines, Golden, Colorado, USA, Paper No. 07.3.
6. Huang, H., Xu, Z. Modeling of mechanical interactions of proppant and hydraulic fractures for in-situ oil shale retorting. 30th Oil shale Symposium, Oct. 2010, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, USA, Paper No. 07.4.
7. Johannes, I., Tiikma, L., Zaidentsal, A. A comparison of thermobituminization kinetics of Baltic oil shale in open retorts and autoclaves. Oil Shale, 2010, 27(1), 17–25.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3176/oil.2010.1.03
8. Li, S., Ling, S., Gao, S. Effect of minerals on the hydrocarbon generation from kerogen. Journal of China University of Petroleum, 2002, 26(1), 69–74 (in Chinese).
9. Xia, J. Modeling study on the heat transfer of in-situ oil shale retorting. MS Thesis of Taiyuan University of Technology, 2007 (in Chinese).
