2. Outline
I. Introduction:
• Shale Oil is a type of sedimentary rock that is rich in kerogen. It is contrary to
petroleum, which means that it is non-natural product.
II. Body:
• Process of shale oil extraction
• Economic benefits of shale oil
• Negative impact of extracting shale oil on the environment
III. Conclusion:
Presenting two solutions for existing problems related to shale oil production. The
main issue is waste of water and the solution of this problem is usage of spoiled
water. As for second issue, secondary processing of ash will be the most appropriate
solution.
3. What is shale oil?
Shale oil is conventional oil which contains unconventional
production (Maugeri, 2013)
4. Crude shale oil can be obtained by either aboveground or in situ (in place) processing. In
aboveground retorting , the shale is mined and then heated in retorting vessels.
5.
6. • In a true in situ process, a deposit is first fractured by
explosives and then retorted underground.
• In modified in situ processing, a portion
of the deposit is mined and the rest is shattered (rubbled) by
explosives and retorted underground.
8. • Shale production allows only the relatively high price of
oil.
• Price on shale oil has grown from 4 billion barrels in
2007 to 33 billion barrels in 2010.
9. Negative impact of oil
shale on environment
Environmental impact of oil shale processing and extraction is more negative than
positive. Air and water pollutions, waste of materials, land use, greenhouse gas
emissions that might lead to global warming and many more are the examples of it. Oil
shale was formed many years ago, and it contains enough oil which allows to burn
without any additional processing or adding any chemicals.
10. Surface mining of oil shale causes harmful emissions to the atmosphere,
which includes carbon dioxide, the most harmful greenhouse gas. This process is called
polluting air while on the other hand, polluting water is another issue of oil shale
industry because a huge amount of water is needed to extract oil. Mining and processing
of oil shale require lands, therefore lands are withdrawn from their primary uses and are
wasted.
16. Solution №2
Semi-coke, as one of the most ecologically harmful second product of
shale oil retorting, can be used in cement and rock-wool process.
(Brendow, 2003)
18. In practice
This strategy is successfully exploited by German Dottern-hausen Rohrbach Zement
factory, where burnt oil shale is used “for the production of cement, soil/rock
stabilizers and filling and sealing material” (Brendow, 2003).
