Oil Shale (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Oil Shale 4
Copyright Page 5
CONTENTS 10
FOREWORD 8
CONTRIBUTORS 9
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION TO OIL SHALES 14
Definition 14
Origin of oil shale 17
Types of oil shales 17
Potential resources 18
Recovery methods 19
Biochemical recovery method 22
Acknowledgment 24
References 24
CHAPTER 2. GEOLOGICAL SETTING OF OIL-SHALE DEPOSITS AND WORLD PROSPECTS 26
Introduction 26
Lithology 26
Environment of deposition 28
Age and world distribution 30
Geologic settings favorable for prospecting 37
Conclusions 38
References 38
CHAPTER 3. THE ORIGIN AND FORMATION OF OIL SHALE 40
Introduction 40
Likely source materials in kerogen formation 43
The formation of oil shale 54
Torbanites: their nature and origin 59
Tasmanite 66
Envoi 69
References 70
CHAPTER 4. ORIGIN AND CHARACTERISTICS OF GREEN RIVER OIL SHALE 74
Introduction 74
Characteristics of Green River oil shale 75
Origin of Green River oil shale 85
Conclusions 89
References 89
CHAPTER 5. MINERALOGY OF OIL SHALE 94
Introduction 94
General characteristics of oil shales 94
Green River Formation 97
Authigenic minerals 101
Conclusions 112
References 113
CHAPTER 6. CHEMICAL SEPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF KEROGEN FROM OIL SHALE 116
Introduction 116
Isolation of kerogen 116
Comparison of selected Australian kerogens 120
Characterization of kerogen 125
Conclusion 133
References 135
CHAPTER 7. STRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF ORGANIC COMPONENTS IN OIL SHALES 142
Introduction 142
Kerogen of Green River Formation 145
Structural models of complex organic molecules 146
Conclusions 156
References 160
CHAPTER 8. BIOLOGICAL FOSSIL HYDROCARBONS IN SHALES 162
Introduction 162
Branched and normal alkanes 163
Cyclic isoprenoids 170
Partially aromatized isoprenoids 179
Polycyclic isoprenoids 184
Kerogen 186
Conclusions 189
Acknowledgements 189
References 190
CHAPTER 9. RETORTING TECHNOLOGY OF OIL SHALE 194
Introduction 194
Developments in the United States 195
Developments in Brazil 206
Developments in U.S.S.R. 207
Conclusions 210
References 210
CHAPTER 10. EVALUATION OF OIL SHALES USING GEOPHYSICAL WELL- LOGGING TECHNIQUES 212
Introduction to geophysical well-logging 212
Geophysical well logs for oil-shale evaluation 213
Oil-yield determinations using geophysical well logs 216
References and bibliography 224
CHAPTER 11. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF AN OIL-SHALE INDUSTRY IN THE UPPER COLORADO REGION 228
Introduction 228
Industry development 228
Characteristics of the region 229
Incremental changes 234
Regional system 240
Acknowledgements 247
References 247
CHAPTER 12. SURVEY OF OIL-SHALE RESEARCH IN THE LAST THREE DE- CADES 248
Introduction 248
Major shale industries 248
Overall status of oil-shale research 251
Oil-shale characteristics, classification, and constitution 252
Oil-shale technology 255
Summary 278
References 279
REFERENCES INDEX 282
SUBJECT INDEX 290