Oil Shale, Tar Sands, and Related Materials - ACS Publications

1 The Department of Energy's Oil Shale R, D, & D Program: An Overview ARTHUR M. HARTSTEIN and BRIAN M. HARNEY

Downloaded by 178.77.171.151 on August 13, 2015 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: September 3, 1981 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1981-0163.ch001

Office of Oil Shale, Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. 20545

The largest untapped fossil fuel resource in the United States is the o i l bearing shales in the western part of the country and the black shales in the east. The o i l shale resource concentrated in three western states is estimated to be equivalent to more than two trillion barrels of crude o i l . An additional two trillion barrels of oil exists in the lean deposits of the Eastern U.S. Since the earliest commercial interest more than 100 years ago, the history of o i l shale has been one of ups-and-downs. In almost cyclical fashion, the shale industry has appeared to be on the verge of expanding rapidly, economics have appeared potentially viable, and the problems have seemed minimal. But then, a combination of factors, such as jumps in construction costs or the discovery of new conventional oil resources, have led to delays and in some cases, decisions to drop shale oil development. Recent events, however, have reversed this trend. The everrising price of imported petroleum, the continuing volatile situation in the middle east and the passage by the Congress of a variety of significant financial incentive programs for synthetic fuels has stimulated a new interest in moving previously dormant o i l shale projects ahead. The Department of Energy (DOE) has established a research, development, and demonstration (R,D&D) program for encouraging the development of the country's o i l shale resource to help in the mitigation of the present and future energy demands. The aim of the Oil Shale R,D&D Program is to stimulate the commercial production of shale o i l by eliminating technical and environmental barriers. This paper provides an overview of the DOE Oil Shale R,D&D Program, addressing its essential elements. It should be noted that budget constraints do not permit a l l portions of the program plan to be supported as yet. Moreover, in many cases, the program areas are addressed jointly with industry. Oil shale program funding for the plan is $31.3 million in Fiscal Year 1981. This chapter not subject to U.S. copyright. Published 1981 American Chemical Society

In Oil Shale, Tar Sands, and Related Materials; Stauffer, H.; ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1981.

2

OIL

SHALE,

T A R SANDS,

AND

RELATED

MATERIALS

Program Goal and Objectives


The Department o f Energy's R,D&D o i l shale goal i s t o permit the e n t i r e o i l shale resource, both east and west, t o c o n t r i b u t e to domestic energy proportionate to the resource and with a r e c o g n i t i o n o f the unique environmental character o f the o i l shale areas. In concert with t h i s g o a l , the o b j e c t i v e s o f the R,D&D program are: o

To overcome t e c h n o l o g i c a l b a r r i e r s to o i l shale commercialization

o

To f o s t e r development o f innovative processes shales that reduce environmental impact

o

To obtain accurate environmental data and demonstrate or develop adequate environmental c o n t r o l systems

for a l l

The a n a l y s i s o f commercialization i n c e n t i v e s and m i t i g a t i o n of i n s t i t u t i o n a l b a r r i e r s i s the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f the A s s i s t a n t Secretary for Resource A p p l i c a t i o n s . R,D&D a c t i v i t i e s are the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f the A s s i s t a n t Secretary for F o s s i l Energy, although the lead f o r environmental planning r e s t s with the A s s i s t a n t Secretary for Environment. The R,D&D program, however, i n t e g r a t e s the a c t i v i t i e s under the A s s i s t a n t Secretary for F o s s i l Energy and the A s s i s t a n t Secretary for Environment. Program Strategy In essence, the DOE program goal i s t o develop the technology necessary for the production o f o i l shale on a commercial basis and i n an environmentally acceptable manner. The DOE strategy to accomplish t h i s end i s comprised o f two major a c t i v i t y elements: o

Research and Development

o

Development and Demonstration Support

Through the existence o f these p a r a l l e l a c t i v i t i e s , the DOE O i l Shale R,D&D Program focuses near term research and development (R&D) on supporting i n d u s t r i a l development while maint a i n i n g an adequate l e v e l o f more advanced R&D attuned to future needs. The technology developments that w i l l r e s u l t by achieving the program's o b j e c t i v e s w i l l be made a v a i l a b l e to the o i l shale i n d u s t r i a l community. I n d u s t r i a l p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n DOE sponsored demonstrations i s encouraged as means o f maintaining the techn o l o g i c a l alignment o f the R,D&D Program with the needs o f i n dustry. These demonstration a c t i v i t i e s involve the DOE Program



1.

HARTSTEIN A N D HARNEY

DOE's

Oil Shale

R, D, & D

Program

3

i n the i n d u s t r i a l d e c i s i o n process and f a c i l i t a t e o i l shale i n d u s t r y growth. Information and experience gained through the c o n s t r u c t i o n and o p e r a t i o n o f any f a c i l i t i e s r e s u l t i n g from these i n d u s t r y supportive a c t i v i t i e s w i l l be used d e f i n i n g future R&D requirements which may be s a t i s f i e d d i r e c t l y by the p r i v a t e sector through the program. The program i s designed i n concert with and i n support o f i n c r e a s i n g i n d u s t r y a c t i v i t y . The Program's R&D a c t i v i t y elements are s t r u c t u r e d to p a r a l l e l and complement a c t i v i t i e s that i n d u s t r i a l developers would need to perform when e s t a b l i s h i n g a commercial o i l shale o p e r a t i o n . The i n i t i a l a c t i v i t i e s o f a developer include tasks to c h a r a c t e r i z e the resource under c o n s i d e r a t i o n and s i t e planning f o r resource development. Following t h i s , the developer needs to consider the p o t e n t i a l p h y s i c a l environment and socioeconomic impacts before committing to a proposed p r o j e c t . O i l shale resource development and e x t r a c t i o n e n t a i l s i t e p r e p a r a t i o n , mining (except f o r true i n s i t u technologies) , and r u b b l i n g the i n s i t u r e t o r t i n preparation for i n place combustion or t r a n s p o r t i n g the mined o i l shale to a surface r e t o r t . R e t o r t i n g would then be undertaken, a f t e r which the shale o i l would be upgraded and r e f i n e d . At each point i n t h i s sequence, the o i l shale program w i l l develop enhanced technology to e s t a b l i s h a p o t e n t i a l developer's effectiveness . Key T e c h n i c a l and Environmental Needs i n R,D&D T e c h n i c a l . The O i l Shale R,D&D Program i s d i r e c t e d toward developing a greater understanding o f the o i l shale resource and p e r f e c t i n g an e f f e c t i v e means f o r the recovery o f shale o i l . Program a c t i v i t i e s are d i r e c t e d toward the s o l u t i o n o f key t e c h n i c a l and environmental needs r e p r e s e n t i n g s i g n i f i c a n t b a r r i e r s to commercial o i l shale development. Based on a review o f t e c h nology r e q u i r e d f o r o i l shale development, the f o l l o w i n g Key T e c h n i c a l Needs have been i d e n t i f i e d as those that should r e c e i v e the highest p r i o r i t y i n the R,D&D Program: o

E f f i c i e n t O i l Shale Rock Breakage and Retort Bed Prep a r a t i o n Techniques,

o

Development o f Retort Diagnostics and Instrumentation,

o

Development o f Retort Control Procedures,

o

Systems Engineering Methods f o r T o t a l O i l Shale Development,

o

E f f i c i e n t and E f f e c t i v e O i l Shale Mining

Process

Systems,



4

OIL

SHALE,

T A R SANDS,

AND

RELATED

MATERIALS

o

Advanced Shaft Sinking Technology,

o

Chemical K i n e t i c s o f the T o t a l P y r o l y s i s Process,

o

Understanding Retorting Mechanisms and Developing a Prediction

o

Development o f A l t e r n a t i v e R e t o r t i n g Procedures.

Rock Breakage and Retort Bed P r e p a r a t i o n . Efficient recovery o f o i l from shale depends c r i t i c a l l y upon having a bed o f o i l shale rubble that i s r e l a t i v e l y uniform, both i n p a r t i c l e s i z e and v o i d f r a c t i o n . Mining and r u b b l i n g methods must be developed to assure optimal u n i f o r m i t y . Otherwise sweep e f f i c i e n c y w i l l be poor, and s i g n i f i c a n t amounts o f o i l shale rubble w i l l not be r e t o r t e d . It i s expected that the R,D&D e f f o r t w i l l r e s u l t i n the development o f technology f o r breaking o i l shale f o r mining and preparing rubble beds such that e f f i c i e n t and productive shale e x t r a c t i o n and modified i n s i t u r e t o r t i n g can be accomp l i s h e d . Retorts w i l l be designed and constructed which meet the processing requirements f o r p a r t i c l e s i z e d i s t r i b u t i o n , uniform p e r m e a b i l i t y , uniform void d i s t r i b u t i o n , and bounding of the f r a c t u r e d r e g i o n . Retort Diagnosis and Instrumentation. The development o f c o n t r o l instrumentation and methods f o r i n s i t u r e t o r t i n g i s important f o r determining r e t o r t performance and y i e l d e f f i c i e n c y . The e f f o r t o f the RD&D program w i l l r e s u l t i n the design o f thermal sensors, gas sampling devices, pressure probes, remote sensing d e v i c e s , s t r a i n and displacement gauges, and h e a l t h and s a f e t y monitoring equipment. This equipment w i l l be designed and then tested and modified through use i n s e v e r a l f i e l d t e s t s . Retort C o n t r o l Procedures. The development o f r e t o r t cont r o l and operating procedures i s c r u c i a l to the success o f both i n s i t u and modified i n s i t u r e t o r t i n g o f o i l s h a l e . The R,D&D e f f o r t w i l l e s t a b l i s h a set o f b a s e l i n e operating plans from data c o l l e c t e d from l a b o r a t o r y experiments, f i e l d t e s t s and the outputs o f p r e d i c t i v e models. From the data c o l l e c t e d , an e v a l u a t i o n w i l l be made on the e f f e c t s o f i n t e r m i t t e n t a i r flows, l i q u i d water a d d i t i o n s , and other c o n t r o l parameters. The r e s u l t o f t h i s e f f o r t w i l l be a r e t o r t operating plan that maximizes r e t o r t i n g rate and y i e l d while c o n t r o l l i n g temperature and burn front symmetry. Systems Engineering.

A systematic

procedure f o r resource


1.


DOE's

OH Shale

R, D, & D

Program

5


i d e n t i f i c a t i o n and c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n and for determination o f appropriate recovery processes i s needed to assure e f f i c i e n t and e f f e c t i v e use o f a l l domestic o i l shale r e s o u r c e s . The need r e l a t e d o b j e c t i v e s o f the R,D&D program are: (1) to develop and u t i l i z e methods f o r the planning o f o i l shale development by matching o i l shale resources with appropriate recovery processes; (2) to develop planning t o o l s (e.g., equipment s e l e c t i o n c r i t e r i a , production models, economic models) which w i l l a i d i n the design and a n a l y s i s o f e f f i c i e n t shale o i l production f a c i l i t i e s ; and (3) t o determine the o v e r a l l economics f o r the recovery o f energy products from o i l shale by the a l t e r n a t i v e processes . O i l Shale Mining Systems. Equipment and methods now used for c o a l and hard rock mining are w e l l developed but are not always a p p l i c a b l e to the demands o f o i l shale mining. Research and development i s needed t o meet the p a r t i c u l a r requirements of the o i l shale i n d u s t r y . The o b j e c t i v e o f the R,D&D program i s t o develop technology and equipment f o r high volume, cost e f f e c t i v e , underground and surface mining methods f o r e x t r a c t i n g o i l shale f o r subsequent surface and modified i n s i t u p r o c e s s i n g . Shaft Sinking Technology. The development o f shafe s i n k i n g systems i s c r u c i a l f o r the l a r g e s c a l e commercial u t i l i z a t i o n of o i l s h a l e . The R,D&D e f f o r t w i l l c a r e f u l l y examine the current state o f the a r t i n s h a f t / s l o p e development. A comprehensive research and development plan w i l l be e s t a b l i s h e d that attacks a l l the major d e f i c i e n c i e s i n the current s t a t e o f the art f o r accessing o i l shale r e s o u r c e s . Access development system concepts w i l l be defined a f t e r a s e r i e s o f tasks which examine c u t t i n g and d r i l l i n g methods, water/ground c o n t r o l , and l a r g e s c a l e d r i l l i n g . The expected r e s u l t o f t h i s e f f o r t w i l l be the development o f techniques f o r e f f i c i e n t , s a f e , and environmenta l l y acceptable shaft s i n k i n g . Chemical K i n e t i c s . Several models have been developed which simulate the p h y s i c a l p r o p e r t i e s o f o i l shale r e t o r t i n g (e.g., shale composition, r e t o r t i n g r a t e s , p a r t i c l e s i z e s , porosity d i s t r i b u t i o n , e t c . ) . For the models to a c c u r a t e l y simulate r e t o r t i n g , they should i n c l u d e the d e t a i l s o f the major chemical r e a c t i o n s i n the system. The R,D&D program w i l l develop the b a s i c data on chemical k i n e t i c s needed to model the complex r e a c t i o n s taking place i n r e t o r t i n g . Among these r e a c t i o n s are mineral decomposition, e s p e c i a l l y that o f carbonates, which are l a r g e consumers o f energy; r e a c t i o n s char with steam and carbonate to produce v a l u a b l e CO and hydrogen; degradation ( l o s s ) r e a c t i o n s o f o i l ; gas phase r e a c t i o n s producing hydrogen and CO2; gaseous s u l f u r e v o l u -


6

OIL

S H A L E , T A R SANDS,

AND

RELATED

MATERIALS


t i o n ; e t c . More work i s needed on gas phase r e a c t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y on water gas and water gas s h i f t r e a c t i o n s , o i l cracking stoichiometry o f hydrocarbon combustion, and s u l fur r e a c t i o n s i n s h a l e . R e t o r t i n g Mechanisms. R e t o r t i n g i s only c r u d e l y understood i n lab and f i e l d r e t o r t s . Important o p e r a t i o n a l problems i n c l u d e c o n t r o l o f burn f r o n t , s t a r t u p and sweep e f f i c i e n c y , e f f e c t o f p a r t i c l e s i z e d i s t r i b u t i o n , i n l e t gas composition, e s p e c i a l l y steam and a i r mixtures, bed i r r e g u l a r i t i e s , flow r a t e , p e r m e a b i l i t y changes during r e t o r t i n g , and temperature c o n t r o l . Program research w i l l address key questions i n the area o f r e t o r t i n g mechanisms. A knowledge of the mechanisms t a k i n g place during r e t o r t i n g i s r e q u i r e d to i n t e r p r e t r e s u l t s o f experiments i n p i l o t and f i e l d r e t o r t s to develop p r e d i c t i v e models, and f i n a l l y t o suggest process m o d i f i c a t i o n s i n order to optimize r e t o r t performance, e s p e c i a l l y o i l y i e l d s , and production r a t e s . The development of r e t o r t i n g models w i l l a l s o be pursued as a means o f understanding and p r e d i c t i n g r e t o r t behavior. A l t e r n a t i v e R e t o r t i n g Procedures. O i l shale r e t o r t i n g i s approaching commercially v i a b l e l e v e l s o f development. However, the technology i s not s u f f i c i e n t l y advanced to assure that o p t i m a l l y e f f i c i e n t and cost e f f e c t i v e r e t o r t i n g methods are employed. The R,D&D program w i l l examine a l t e r n a t i v e r e t o r t ing processes with the o b j e c t i v e o f improving e x t r a c t i o n e f f i c i e n c y and economics. Studies w i l l i n c l u d e : (1) the use o f oxygen ( i n s t e a d o f a i r ) plus steam to o b t a i n high BTU o u t l e t gas and reduce e x i t gas handling and cleanup; (2) the s u b s t i t u t i o n of water mist f o r steam to improve heat balance; (3) determining r e t o r t i n g c o n d i t i o n s to produce v a r i o u s optimum product mixes, e.g., maximum naphtha, minimum r e s i d u a l s , e t c . ; and (4) d e t e r mining r e t o r t i n g c o n d i t i o n s to produce minimum environmental e f f e c t s (e.g., lowest s u l f u r i n o u t l e t gas, l e a s t s o l u b l e spent shale, e t c . ) ; (5) use o f f l u i d beds to increase throughput, improve y i e l d and lead to more favorable economics. Environmental R&D Needs. The environmental research i n the R,D&D Program represents a s i g n i f i c a n t p o r t i o n o f the DOE s Environmental Development Plan. The o v e r a l l o b j e c t i v e o f the Program's Environmental A c t i v i t y i s t o develop s o l u t i o n s t o environmental problems a s s o c i a t e d with the process technologies involved i n o i l shale production. To achieve t h i s o b j e c t i v e , a s e r i e s of Key Environmental Needs have a l s o been e s t a b l i s h e d : 1

o

Development o f Environmentally Acceptable Retort Abandonment Strategy,



1.


DOE's

Oil

Shale

R,

D,

& D

Program

o

Guidelines to Ensure Health and and General P u b l i c ,

Safety o f Workers

o

Development of S o l i d Waste Management Systems,

o

Development of Water Treatment Systems,

o

Development of an Emission C o n t r o l Strategy,

o

M i t i g a t i o n of E c o l o g i c a l Impacts,

o

M i t i g a t i o n of S o c i a l and

o

Development of Compliance Plans, and

o

Development of Subsidence Control

Economic Impacts,

Procedures.

Development of Environmentally Acceptable Retort Abandonment Strategy. The spent shale remaining i n underground r e t o r t s a f t e r product recovery contains s a l t s and carbonaceous residues that can be leached by groundwater and thereby contaminate a q u i f e r s . In a d d i t i o n , some caving i n from the weight of the overburden may occur r e s u l t i n g i n subsidence at the surface . The research r e l a t e d to t h i s need w i l l determine (1) the p o t e n t i a l f o r groundwater i n t r u s i o n , what m a t e r i a l s are l i k e l y to be d i s s o l v e d i n groundwater, the p e r m e a b i l i t y of the geologic media to the s o l u b l e components, the t o x i c p r o p e r t i e s o f these components, and the p e r s i s t e n c e of any t o x i c l e a c h i n g and subsidence. The more general problem o f subsidence i n underground mines, the s a f e t y and e c o l o g i c a l aspects, are d e a l t with i n a separate area. Guidelines to Ensure Health and Safety of Workers and General P u b l i c . Operations o f an o i l shale i n d u s t r y w i l l i n t r o duce a new set o f i n d u s t r i a l working c o n d i t i o n s and p o s s i b l e p u b l i c h e a l t h r i s k s as a r e s u l t of plant operations or product distribution. The research d i r e c t e d toward t h i s need w i l l examine the p o t e n t i a l h e a l t h and s a f e t y r i s k s to workers and the general p u b l i c . A l l aspects o f the f u e l c y c l e w i l l be examined from the mine and r e t o r t to the r e f i n e r y and end use of the shale o i l products. P r o t e c t i v e measures, whether they be through c o n t r o l s , process m o d i f i c a t i o n s , or i s o l a t i o n o f high r i s k areas, w i l l be evaluated and e f f e c t i v e measures w i l l be applied. Development of S o l i d Waste Management Systems. Surface processes produce extremely high volumes o f s o l i d waste i n


7

8

OIL

SHALE, TAR

SANDS,

AND

RELATED

MATERIALS


the form of spent s h a l e . This research w i l l evaluate methods of compacting and s t a b l i z i n g spent shale and other s o l i d wastes such as sludges and spent c a t a l y s t s . The research w i l l lead to the e v a l u a t i o n o f a l t e r n a t i v e s for s t a b l i z i n g and achieving s e l f - s u s t a i n i n g ecosystems on the s o l i d waste p i l e s with minimum p o t e n t i a l for water and wind e r o s i o n o f t o x i c m a t e r i a l s . Development of Water Treatment Systems. In s i t u processes produce approximately one b a r r e l o f r e t o r t water contaminated with carbonaceous residues f o r each b a r r e l o f shale o i l recovered. Surface processes also produce r e t o r t water but i n lower q u a n t i t i e s . Although current plans do not c a l l f o r discharge of wastewater, i t much be cleaned for reuse i n the process and other uses, such as dust c o n t r o l and s o l i d waste management. An o b j e c t i v e o f t h i s research i s to i d e n t i f y components i n the wastewater that present e i t h e r a h e a l t h or environmental hazard with respect to the intended use o f the water and to develop systems to remove these components. Another o b j e c t i v e i s to determine the consumptive water requirements o f d i f f e r e n t o i l shale processes. Development of an Emissions C o n t r o l Strategy. There are two major components to the emissions c o n t r o l need. One i s d i r e c t e d toward determination o f the emission c o n t r o l r e q u i r e ments based on the projected emission r a t e s and composition o f the emission streams. In the case o f c r i t e r i a or regulated p o l l u t a n t s , systems must be engineered to maintain ambient a i r q u a l i t y w i t h i n the r e g i o n . In a d d i t i o n , m o d i f i c a t i o n o f a v a i l able technology and development o f new systems may be r e q u i r e d i f r i s k a n a l y s i s i n d i c a t e s that unique substances i n the emission stream r e q u i r e d removal. The other component i s d i r e c t e d toward e s t i m a t i o n o f the c a p a c i t y o f the r e g i o n to accept i n d u s t r i a l development—the r e g i o n a l c a r r y i n g c a p a c i t y — b a s e d on the m e t e o r o l o g i c a l charact e r i s t i c s o f the r e g i o n . More s p e c i f i c needs are (1) more accurate atmospheric models to p r e d i c t the t r a n s p o r t and d i s p e r s i o n o f atmospheric p o l l u t a n t s , (2) determining r a t e s at which p o l l u t a n t s are removed from the atmosphere, and (3) q u a n t i t a t i v e information on the e f f e c t s o f a i r p o l l u t a n t s on c r i t i c a l atmospheric processes r e l a t e d to u n d e s i r a b l e e f f e c t s , e.g., p r e c i p i t a t i o n q u a l i t y , decreased v i s i b i l i t y , and l o c a l c l i m a t e m o d i f i cation . The research tasks that compose t h i s segment o f the plan lead to the development o f workable emission c o n t r o l s and estimates o f e f f e c t s o f i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n on r e g i o n a l a i r quality.


1.


DOEs

Oil Shale

R, D, & D

Program

9


M i t i g a t i o n o f E c o l o g i c a l Impacts. O i l shale operations w i l l cause much d i s r u p t i o n o f the surface environment through normal c o n s t r u c t i o n and operation a c t i v i t i e s — l a r g e amounts o f s o l i d waste s t o c k p i l e s on the s u r f a c e , water treatment operat i o n s , steam generation, mining, m a t e r i a l handling, e t c . The o b j e c t i v e s o f the e c o l o g i c a l research, i n a d d i t i o n to that which i s an i n t e g r a l part o f other a c t i v i t i e s such as the s o l i d waste management system, w i l l be t o (1) evaluate o v e r a l l e f f e c t s of the operation on the e c o l o g i c a l communities ( p l a n t s , w i l d l i f e , f i s h ) and (2) develop e c o l o g i c a l t e s t procedures that w i l l be used by other parts o f the program t o evaluate systems performance with respect t o e c o l o g i c a l c r i t e r i a . This work w i l l be geared to the environmental impact approach described above. M i t i g a t i o n o f S o c i a l and Community Economic Impacts. The s o c i a l and community economic aspects o f t e c h n o l o g i c a l developments are among the most d i f f i c u l t t o deal with. To a l a r g e extent, t h i s i s due to the f a c t that s o l u t i o n s i n v o l v e i n s t i t u t i o n a l arrangements and l e g i s l a t i v e i n i t i a t i v e s beyond the scope of most R&D operations. The problems do not lead themselves to c o n t r o l l e d experiments that can be c a r r i e d out i n the f i e l d or l a b o r a t o r y . I n s t a l l a t i o n o f m i t i g a t i n g measures such as front-end f i n a n c i a l support t o communities for planning and development w i l l be d e a l t with i n DOE s i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n p l a n t . This part o f the R,D&D plan w i l l focus on the s o c i a l and economic issues for which s o l u t i o n s are not known and which t h e r e f o r e require additional research. 1

Methods for C o n t r o l l i n g or Preventing Subsidence. Underground mines are always s u s c e p t i b l e to subsidence, which presents a concern for s a f e t y and environmental disturbance, i n c l u d i n g a q u i f e r d i s r u p t i o n and changes i n the surface land form. Some o f the r e t o r t abandonment c o n t r o l measures w i l l a l s o act to prevent subsidence. The R&D conducted to s a t i s f y t h i s need w i l l focus on general underground mining whether r e l a t e d to underground processes or surface r e t o r t i n g processes. It w i l l be c l o s e l y t i e d to the mining tasks and include analyses o f s a f e t y , h y d r o l o g i c a l d i s r u p t i o n , and changes i n surface f e a t u r e s . The research w i l l focus p r i m a r i l y on prev e n t i o n or planned, c o n t r o l l e d subsidence. Development o f Compliance Plans. The R,D&D tasks, f o r environmental as w e l l as the other three a c t i v i t i e s included i n the Management Plan are c a r r i e d out i n conjunction with, o r as part o f , major f i e l d p r o j e c t s . These p r o j e c t s , which involves engineering and c o n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s , must comply with F e d e r a l , s t a t e , and l o c a l standards, and i n p a r t i c u l a r , with p r o v i s i o n s o f the National Environmental P o l i c y Act (NEPA).


OIL

10

S H A L E , T A R SANDS,

AND RELATED

MATERIALS

DOE prepares Environmental Assessments, and Environmental Impact Statements when a p p r o p r i a t e , f o r those major f i e l d proj e c t s . A i r , water, and other environmental monitoring, as r e quired t o demonstrate compliance with NEPA and a p p l i c a b l e permits, i s conducted as part o f t h i s need; that data i s made a v a i l a b l e to other tasks f o r v a r i o u s analyses and d e c i s i o n s . Process S p e c i f i c R,D&D


In a d d i t i o n , t o s a t i s f y i n g key needs which p r e s e n t l y impede o i l shale commercialization the O i l Shale R,D&D Program w i l l simultaneously address the f o l l o w i n g processes. Surface Processing. The DOE i s pursuing a s u r f a c e module demonstration program as described i n P.L. 95-238. This program w i l l r e s u l t i n both design and business proposals f o r the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a surface r e t o r t module. A d e c i s i o n to proceed with c o n s t r u c t i o n o f designed modules on a cost shared b a s i s i s being held i n abeyance pending i n d u s t r i a l a c t i o n s and the a v a i l a b i l i t y o f other f i n a n c i a l i n c e n t i v e programs such as those to be provided by the newly formed Synthetic Fuels Corporation. Other research and development supporting surface r e t o r t i n g i s mainly focused on mining and environmental e f f e c t s with long term R&D d i r e c t e d to improving surface r e t o r t i n g processes. In S i t u P r o c e s s i n g . The current near term emphasis o f the Program's research a c t i v i t i e s i s on developing and expanding i n s i t u r e t o r t i n g process technology, with p a r t i c u l a r emphasis on modified i n s i t u methods. This programmatic d i r e c t i o n i s based on the f a c t that i n s i t u o i l shale technology has not advanced to the point where i t has been proven t o be t e c h n i c a l l y or economically f e a s i b l e . Engineering analyses i n d i c a t e that i n s i t u processes have the p o t e n t i a l t o be more cost e f f e c t i v e and l e s s d i s r u p t i v e to the environment than surface r e t o r t i n g . Therefore, the program i s focused on developing the necessary t e c h n i c a l and environmental information from which an economic and environmentally acceptable i n s i t u technology can be engineered. In a d d i t i o n to t h i s technology base program, the DOE i s also sponsoring s e v e r a l major i n s i t u o i l shale f i e l d demons t r a t i o n t e s t s . The f i e l d demonstration t e s t program and the technology based R&D programs are i n t e g r a l l y r e l a t e d , i n that f i e l d demonstration s i t e s are o f t e n used as s i t e s f o r R,D&D program e f f o r t s and information gained from the f i e l d t e s t s i s used to guide the o v e r a l l R,D&D program. Each o f these p r o j e c t s has been evaluated to determine the program technology requirements that can be met by ongoing i n d u s t r y c o n t r a c t and the other t e c h -


1.


DOEs

Oil Shale

R, D, & D

Program

11


nology requirements that can be achieved through m o d i f i c a t i o n of the ongoing e f f o r t . In a d d i t i o n t o p r o v i d i n g v a l u a b l e technology base i n f o r m a t i o n , i t i s a n t i c i p a t e d that one or more o f these p r o j e c t s could provide t e c h n i c a l evidence o f process f e a sibility. Use o f e x i s t i n g p r o j e c t s t o accomplish planned tasks w i l l be maximized to reduce t o t a l program c o s t s . Novel Processing Techniques. In a d d i t i o n to the development o f more advanced aboveground and i n s i t u methods, research i s being conducted i n t o new and novel technologies f o r e x t r a c t i o n and processing o f o i l shale products. Although not c u r r e n t l y competitive f o r near term commercial development, these e f f o r t s are i n d i c a t o r s o f l i k e l y second generation advances i n o i l shale technology. The novel technologies being developed are i n two general categories. o

Radio Frequency Heating

o

Hydrogen Retorting

Program Operating

Plans

The O i l Shale R,D&D Program i s defined i n a d r a f t document which include two main s e c t i o n s : a Management and S t r a t e g i c Plan which d e s c r i b e s the R,D&D program management s t r u c t u r e and the long term s t r a t e g i c aspects o f the Department o f Energy's program for achieving i t s technology o b j e c t i v e s , and an Implementation Plan which d e t a i l s o i l shale R,D&D a c t i v i t i e s over the next s e v e r a l years t o the s u b a c t i v i t y task l e v e l . In c o n t r a s t t o the Implementation Plan, the Management and S t r a t e g i c Plan d e s c r i b e s the Program's o b j e c t i v e s as they w i l l be a t t a i n e d by s a t i s f y i n g a s e r i e s o f t e c h n o l o g i c a l needs, each o f which may r e q u i r e the s u c c e s s f u l performance o f one or more sets o f tasks sometime i n the f u t u r e . Described are o i l shale R,D&D a c t i v i t i e s f o r a multiyear period i n terms o f needs, with emphasis placed upon s o l v i n g key t e c h n i c a l and environmental needs i n h i b i t i n g o i l shale commercialization and developing an a c t i v i t y b a s e l i n e f o r each o f s e v e r a l candidate technologies to e s t a b l i s h program d i r e c t i o n , resource requirements, and expected accomplishment. Both plans serve as a b a s i s f o r developing and j u s t i f y i n g future budget requests over t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e p e r i o d s . S t r a t e g i c Plan. The p o l i c y , management, o r g a n i z a t i o n , and long term aspects o f the O i l Shale R,D&D Program, as d i r e c t e d toward s a t i s f y i n g i t s goal and o b j e c t i v e s , are described i n the Management and S t r a t e g i c Plan. The d i s c u s s i o n i s i n three parts addressing planned program e f f o r t s concerned w i t h :


OIL


12

SHALE,

o

Key T e c h n i c a l Need R,D&D

o

Key Environmental

o

Process

T A R SANDS,

AND

RELATED

MATERIALS

Need R,D&D

S p e c i f i c R,D&D

These e f f o r t s are defined at the fundamental needs l e v e l , each R,D&D o b j e c t i v e (a key need being one such o b j e c t i v e ) r e q u i r i n g the f u l f i l l m e n t o f one o r more o f these fundamental needs before i t i s obtained. This i s i n c o n t r a s t to the manner in which the Implementation Plan i s d e f i n e d , wherein needs are s p e c i f i e d i n terms o f the d e t a i l e d tasks r e q u i r e d t o s a t i s f y them. S t r a t e g i c plans are o u t l i n e d i n a plane higher than that used i n the Implementation Plan. Another d i s t i n c t i o n between the two i s i n t h e i r planning time h o r i z o n . S t r a t e g i c plans are defined over a long term p e r i o d , g e n e r a l l y about ten years, whereas the Implementation Plan concentrates on the near term period not exceeding f i v e years. To show c o n t i n u i t y between the two plans, the time span addressed i n the Implementation Plan i s a l s o defined with the s t r a t e g i c plans and need i d e n t i f i e r s u n i quely assigned i n the Implementation Plan are referenced i n the S t r a t e g i c plans . Implementation Plan. Short term plans are defined i n the Implementation Plan i n terms o f the a c t i v i t i e s and tasks t o be performed. Outlined w i t h i n the Plan are the research tasks that w i l l be performed during the next f i v e year period t o enhance and encourage commercial o i l shale development. The R,D&D tasks are described with respect t o major a c t i v i t y areas (resource c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n , environment, development and e x t r a c t i o n , and processing and i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n ) . Component s u b a c t i v i t i e s w i t h i n each o f these a c t i v i t i e s provides a framework f o r o r g a n i z i n g tasks around s p e c i f i e d technology areas. For each program task the performance periods are s p e c i f i e d i n c o n j u n c t i o n with task d e l i v e r a b l e s and p a r t i c i p a t i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n s . The Plan, conceived as a working document which i s annually updated, thus serves as a b a s i s f o r implementing the R,D&D Program by the various research and i n d u s t r y p a r t i c i p a n t s . RECEIVED

March 19,

1981.


Oil Shale, Tar Sands, and Related Materials - ACS Publications

Recommend Documents