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Recent Advances in Oil Shale Conversion Technologies

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "H: Geo-Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 14 November 2024 | Viewed by 3414

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sunhua Deng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Interests: in situ development and utilization of oil shale; near-critical water extraction technology; synthesis of polymer materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Oil shale, as an unconventional oil and gas resource, presents significant promise for the future of energy production. With global fluctuations in oil prices and concerns about energy security, the development of oil shale resources has gained increasing attention in several countries. Oil shale is abundant in many regions worldwide and offers a viable alternative source of oil. However, the efficient and environmentally friendly conversion of oil shale remains a key challenge for the industry.

Recent advances in oil shale conversion technologies are important for the full development of this abundant resource. Innovative approaches in oil shale conversion, such as in situ retorting, oxidative-assisted pyrolysis, steam-assisted cracking, hydrothermal decomposition and catalytic pyrolysis, have emerged as key areas of interest and research focus. These technologies aim to enhance the efficiency, yield, recovery and environmental performance of oil shale conversion processes, providing sustainable solutions for the production of shale oil and gas from oil shale.

In this Special Issue, we invite authors to submit original research, review articles and reports focusing on the recent advances in oil shale conversion technologies, and manuscripts that contribute to the understanding of innovative approaches, challenges and opportunities in this field. Topics of interest for publication in this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • In situ conversion technology;
  • Oxidative-assisted pyrolysis;
  • Steam-assisted pyrolysis;
  • Hydrous pyrolysis;
  • Catalytic pyrolysis;
  • Advanced heat transfer technologies;
  • Enhanced oil recovery technologies;
  • Low carbonization development;
  • Environmental issues and challenges;
  • Socioeconomic impact and policy editor.

Dr. Sunhua Deng
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • oil shale
  • conversion
  • pyrolysis
  • in situ
  • catalytic

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 10726 KiB  
Article
Influence of Temperature and Bedding Planes on the Mode I Fracture Toughness and Fracture Energy of Oil Shale Under Real-Time High-Temperature Conditions
by Shaoqiang Yang, Qinglun Zhang and Dong Yang
Energies 2024, 17(21), 5344; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17215344 (registering DOI) - 27 Oct 2024
Abstract
The anisotropic fracture characteristics of oil shale are crucial in determining reservoir modification parameters and pyrolysis efficiency during in situ oil shale pyrolysis. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms through which temperature and bedding planes influence the fracture behavior of oil shale is vital for [...] Read more.
The anisotropic fracture characteristics of oil shale are crucial in determining reservoir modification parameters and pyrolysis efficiency during in situ oil shale pyrolysis. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms through which temperature and bedding planes influence the fracture behavior of oil shale is vital for advancing the industrialization of in situ pyrolysis technology. In this study, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), CT scanning, and a real-time high-temperature rock fracture toughness testing system were utilized to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution of pores and fractures in oil shale across a temperature range of 20–600 °C, as well as the corresponding evolution of fracture behavior. The results revealed the following: (1) At ambient temperature, oil shale primarily contains inorganic pores and fractures, with sizes ranging from 50 to 140 nm. In the low-temperature range (20–200 °C), heating primarily causes the inward closure of inorganic pores and the expansion of inorganic fractures along bedding planes. In the medium-temperature range (200–400 °C), organic pores and fractures begin to form at around 300 °C, and after 400 °C, the number of organic fractures increases significantly, predominantly along bedding planes. In the high-temperature range (400–600 °C), the number, size, and connectivity of matrix pores and fractures increase markedly with rising temperature, and clay minerals exhibit adhesion, forming vesicle-like structures. (2) At room temperature, fracture toughness is highest in the Arrester direction (KIC-Arr), followed by the Divider direction (KIC-Div), and lowest in the Short-Transverse direction (KIC-Shor). As the temperature increases from 20 °C to 600 °C, both KIC-Arr and KIC-Div initially decrease before increasing, reaching their minimum values at 400 °C and 500 °C, respectively, while KIC-Shor decreases continuously as the temperature increases. (3) The energy required for prefabricated cracks to propagate to failure in all three directions reaches a minimum at 100 °C. Beyond 100 °C, the absorbed energy for crack propagation along the Divider and Short-Transverse directions continues to increase, whereas for cracks propagating in the Arrester direction, the absorbed energy exhibits a ‘W-shaped’ pattern, with troughs at 100 °C and 400 °C. These findings provide essential data for reservoir modification during in situ oil shale pyrolysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Oil Shale Conversion Technologies)
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21 pages, 57556 KiB  
Article
Simulation Study on the Heat Transfer Characteristics of Oil Shale under Different In Situ Pyrolysis Methods Based on CT Digital Rock Cores
by Yuxing Zhang and Dong Yang
Energies 2024, 17(16), 4169; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17164169 - 21 Aug 2024
Viewed by 586
Abstract
To analyze the heat transfer characteristics of oil shale under different in situ pyrolysis methods from a microscopic perspective, a combination of experimental and simulation approaches was employed. Initially, high-temperature in situ pyrolysis experiments on single-fracture oil shale were conducted using high-temperature steam [...] Read more.
To analyze the heat transfer characteristics of oil shale under different in situ pyrolysis methods from a microscopic perspective, a combination of experimental and simulation approaches was employed. Initially, high-temperature in situ pyrolysis experiments on single-fracture oil shale were conducted using high-temperature steam and electrical methods. Subsequently, micro-CT scanning technology was utilized to obtain digital rock cores under different in situ pyrolysis conditions. Finally, these digital rock cores were seamlessly integrated with COMSOL 6.0 to achieve numerical simulations of high-temperature steam convective heating and electrical conductive heating in the in situ state. The relevant conclusions are as follows: Firstly, during the in situ pyrolysis of oil shale with high-temperature steam convective heating, the overall temperature increase is uniform and orderly. Heat is conducted gradually from the pores and fractures to the matrix. The uneven distribution of pores and fractures causes an uneven temperature field, but no localized overheating occurs, which can effectively enhance the pyrolysis efficiency. Secondly, the heat transfer direction in electrical conductive heating is primarily inward along the normal direction of the heat source end face. The closer the section is to the heat source end face, the higher the rate of temperature increase. Within 1 s, the temperature rise at 100 μm (near the heat source end face) is 2.27 times that at 500 μm (near the farthest cross-section from the heat source end face). The heat transfer effect of high-temperature steam convective heating consistently surpasses that of electrical conductive heating. The Tc value initially increases and then decreases as pyrolysis progresses, reaching a maximum of 1.61331 at 0.4 s, but Tc remains greater than 1 throughout. Finally, in the initial stages of pyrolysis, the high-temperature region formed by conductive heating is superior to that of convective heating. However, once the heat carrier fluid flow stabilizes, the volume of the high-temperature region formed by convective heating grows rapidly compared to that of conductive heating. At 1 s, the volume of the high-temperature region formed by convective heating reaches 5.22 times that of the high-temperature region formed by conductive heating. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Oil Shale Conversion Technologies)
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19 pages, 9629 KiB  
Article
Research on the Mechanism of Evolution of Mechanical Anisotropy during the Progressive Failure of Oil Shale under Real-Time High-Temperature Conditions
by Shaoqiang Yang, Qinglun Zhang, Dong Yang and Lei Wang
Energies 2024, 17(16), 4004; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17164004 - 13 Aug 2024
Viewed by 496
Abstract
Real-time high-temperature CT scanning and a rock-mechanics test system were employed to investigate the mechanical properties of oil shale at temperatures from 20 to 600 °C. The results reveal that up to 400 °C, the aperture of fractures initially decreases and then increases [...] Read more.
Real-time high-temperature CT scanning and a rock-mechanics test system were employed to investigate the mechanical properties of oil shale at temperatures from 20 to 600 °C. The results reveal that up to 400 °C, the aperture of fractures initially decreases and then increases when loading is perpendicular to the bedding. However, the number and aperture continuously increase when loading is parallel to the bedding. Beyond 400 °C, the number of pores increases and the aperture of the fractures becomes larger with rising temperature. The changes in microstructures significantly impact the mechanical properties. Between 20 and 600 °C, the compressive strength, elastic modulus, and Poisson’s ratio initially decrease and then increase under perpendicular and parallel bedding loadings. The compressive strength and elastic modulus reach minimum values at 400 °C. However, for Poisson’s ratio, the minimum occurs at 500 °C and 200 °C under perpendicular and parallel bedding loadings, respectively. Simultaneously, while the crack damage stress during perpendicular bedding loading, σcd-per, initially exhibits an upward trend followed by a decline and subsequently increases again with temperature increasing, the initial stress during perpendicular bedding loading, σci-per, parallel bedding loading, σci-par, and damage stress, σcd-par, decrease initially and then increase, reaching minimum values at 400 °C. These research findings provide essential data for reservoir reconstruction and cementing technology in the in situ mining of oil shale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Oil Shale Conversion Technologies)
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17 pages, 5757 KiB  
Article
Study on Geological Deformation of Supercritical CO2 Sequestration in Oil Shale after In Situ Pyrolysis
by Heping Yan, Xiurong Wu, Qiang Li, Yinghui Fang and Shuo Zhang
Energies 2024, 17(15), 3849; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17153849 - 5 Aug 2024
Viewed by 660
Abstract
After the completion of in situ pyrolysis, oil shale can be used as a natural place for CO2 sequestration. However, the effects of chemical action and formation stress-state changes on the deformation of oil shale should be considered when CO2 is [...] Read more.
After the completion of in situ pyrolysis, oil shale can be used as a natural place for CO2 sequestration. However, the effects of chemical action and formation stress-state changes on the deformation of oil shale should be considered when CO2 is injected into oil shale after pyrolysis. In this study, combined with statistical damage mechanics, a transverse isotropic model of oil shale with coupled damage mechanisms was established by considering the decreased mechanical properties and the chemical damage caused by CO2 injection. The process of injecting supercritical CO2 into oil shale after pyrolysis was simulated by COMSOL6.0. The volume distribution of CO2 and the stress evolution in oil shale were analyzed. It is found that CO2 injection into oil shale after pyrolysis will not produce new force damage, and the force damage caused by the decrease in the mechanical properties of oil shale after pyrolysis can offset the ground uplift caused by CO2 injection to a certain extent. Under the combined action of chemical damage and mechanical damage, the uplift of a formation with a thickness of 200 m is only 10 cm. The injection of supercritical CO2 is beneficial for maintaining the stability of oil shale after in situ pyrolysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Oil Shale Conversion Technologies)
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21 pages, 3031 KiB  
Article
Study on the Applicability of Autothermic Pyrolysis In Situ Conversion Process for Low-Grade Oil Shale: A Case Study of Tongchuan, Ordos Basin, China
by Dazhong Ren, Zhendong Wang, Fu Yang, Hao Zeng, Chenyuan Lü, Han Wang, Senhao Wang and Shaotao Xu
Energies 2024, 17(13), 3225; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17133225 - 30 Jun 2024
Viewed by 846
Abstract
The feasibility of the autothermic pyrolysis in situ conversion (ATS) process for low-grade oil shale (OS) has not been determined. In this research, the pyrolysis and combustion properties of Tongchuan OS, with a 4.04% oil yield, were systematically analyzed. The findings revealed that [...] Read more.
The feasibility of the autothermic pyrolysis in situ conversion (ATS) process for low-grade oil shale (OS) has not been determined. In this research, the pyrolysis and combustion properties of Tongchuan OS, with a 4.04% oil yield, were systematically analyzed. The findings revealed that temperatures between 350 and 425 °C favored oil production, while temperatures from 450 to 520 °C resulted in a higher rate of gaseous generation. At 300 °C, the volume expansion and ignition coking caused by the large amount of bitumen generated resulted in severe pore plugging, which significantly increased the combustion activation energy of the residue, while the presence of substantial flammable bitumen also significantly decreased the ignition and combustion temperatures. From 300 to 520 °C, the combustion performance of residue decreases continuously. In addition, pyrolysis residues of Tongchuan exhibited a slightly higher calorific value, between 425 and 520 °C, owing to its higher fixed carbon content (10.79%). Based on the ideal temperature screening method outlined for Tongchuan OS, the recommended preheating temperature for Tongchuan OS was 425 °C, while the optimum temperature for the retorting zone should be 510 °C, considering a heat utilization rate of 40%. These findings contribute valuable insights for the application of the ATS process to low-grade OS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Oil Shale Conversion Technologies)
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