Title: Experimental investigation of effects of oil shale composition on its calorific value and oil yield

Authors: Jamal O. Jaber; Ali Amri; Khalil Ibrahim

Addresses: International Corporation for Oil Shale Investments Ltd. (INCOSIN-BVI), P.O. Box 8253, Amman 11121, Jordan; Faculty of Engineering Technology, Al-Balqa' Applied University, P.O. Box 15008, Amman 11134, Jordan. ' International Corporation for Oil Shale Investments Ltd. (INCOSIN-BVI), P.O. Box 118500, Jeddah 21312, Saudi Arabia. ' Department of Geology, Hashemite University, P.O. Box 150459, Zarqa, Jordan

Abstract: This paper reports results of a detailed geochemical analysis carried out on representative oil shale samples obtained from the Attarat Um Ghudrandeposit, in Jordan. The conducted tests aimed to determine main features of the studied samples, such as oil yield, calorific value, organic and inorganic composition and moisture content. Based on obtained results of a large number of oil shale samples, as received without any treatment, it was found that as other types of oil shale, elsewhere, Attarat Um Ghudran oil shale consists of several major constituents. These are organic matter, biogenic calcite and apatite, detrital clay minerals, and quartz. The effect of borehole depth, total carbon (TC), organic carbon (OC), and total sulphur content (TS) on the calorific value and oil yield were studied and analysed. Results were well correlated (with relatively acceptable correlation coefficients of about 0.9) according to the following equations for the calorific value and oil yield, respectively. Gross calorific value (kcal/kg) = – (478) + (106) OC + (59.2) TS + (21.8) TC Oil yield (% wt) = – (1.12) + (0.597) OC + (0.471) TS + (0.115) TC [Received: Feb 21, 2011; Accepted: March 29, 2011]

Keywords: oil shale composition; geophysical properties; geochemistry; calorific value; oil yield; pyrolysis; Jordan; moisture content.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2011.043714

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2011 Vol.4 No.4, pp.307 - 321

Published online: 29 Jan 2015 *

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