Effect of Solvent Properties in Thermal Decomposition of Oil Shale Kerogen

Abstract

To gain information on the chemical constitution of kerogen and the mechanism of its decomposition to shale oil, under conditions of minimum cracking of the resulting fragments, finely ground shale was subjected to thermal solution at 200° C. and autogenous pressure, in the presence of selected associating and nonassociating solvents. Total yield of product oils was found to be a function of the molecular volume of the solvent. Their carbon-hydrogen ratio and the percentage of original organic nitrogen and sulfur solubilized were found to be functions of the internal pressure of the solvent and its associating characteristics. The carbon-hydrogen ratio of the product oils was lower in almost all cases than that of Fischer assay shale oil. Nitrogen and sulfur contents were considerably less than that of pure kerogen or of an average assay oil. It is postulated that two forms of kerogen exist. MONG the sources now under investigation in the United

Formation and development of the pore structure in Chang 7 member oil-shale from Ordos Basin during organic matter evolution induced by hydrous pyrolysis

“…These results lend weight to the argument that the increased micro-and mesopores resulted from the decreased macropores (diameter >150 nm). Previous work on the evolution of immature OM indicated that kerogen softens to a rubber-like material prior to the generation of hydrocarbons in an intermediate stage [41,42]. Therefore, the decreasing macropores may be interpreted as blockage by the deformation and softening of kerogen in this thermostage [43].…”

Pore Structure and Gas Content Characteristics of Lower Jurassic Continental Shale Reservoirs in Northeast Sichuan, China

“…However, kerogen in shale and kerogen pyrolysis products such as asphaltenes and crude oil can be used as liquid substances for natural gas to dissolve. The content of dissolved natural gas only accounts for 0.1% of the total natural gas, and the proportion is due to changes in solubility [ 20 ].…”

Physicochemical Properties of Green River Oil Shale. Particle Size and Particle Size Distribution of Inorganic Constituents.

“…The incremental method of sedimentation, considered to be one of the most accurate, was selected for this work. The apparatus was an Andreasen sedimentation vessel (17). One limitation of this method is that particles with diameters smaller than 0.5 micron cannot be measured because Brownian movement prevents free fall.…”