Comments on: Oil Shale Anyone? http://blog.getm.org/2006/05/23/oil-shale-anyone/ The Official GETM.org Blog Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:16:50 -0800 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Moderator http://blog.getm.org/2006/05/23/oil-shale-anyone/comment-page-1/#comment-105 Moderator Mon, 03 Jul 2006 06:16:34 +0000 http://blog.getm.org/?p=50#comment-105 I am not a geologist, but from what I understand, power generated from Oil Shale fuel is less than the energy required to extract the fuel, making it financial less feasible, at least for now. As for in-situ extraction of oil, I am aware of techniques that uses steam or heated water in oil extraction processes, but the oil source were different in the cases I am aware of. For example, the “Athabasca Oil Sands” surface mining project in Alberta, the company I work for was involved in a massive project that was very successful. But for that very reason, I am not in a position to discuss it here. Oh, btw, nuclear power plant heated water generally would suffice, but the probability of finding a nuclear power plant close to every shale depot in the Rockies are slim. All the best! I am not a geologist, but from what I understand, power generated from Oil Shale fuel is less than the energy required to extract the fuel, making it financial less feasible, at least for now. As for in-situ extraction of oil, I am aware of techniques that uses steam or heated water in oil extraction processes, but the oil source were different in the cases I am aware of. For example, the “Athabasca Oil Sands” surface mining project in Alberta, the company I work for was involved in a massive project that was very successful. But for that very reason, I am not in a position to discuss it here.

Oh, btw, nuclear power plant heated water generally would suffice, but the probability of finding a nuclear power plant close to every shale depot in the Rockies are slim.

All the best!

]]> By: Donald M. Button http://blog.getm.org/2006/05/23/oil-shale-anyone/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Donald M. Button Sat, 01 Jul 2006 11:50:06 +0000 http://blog.getm.org/?p=50#comment-93 I am a geologist interested in the oil shale extraction but by a different means. There has got to be a company researching in-situ extraction. I understand we need 700 degrees F to extract. What is the heated water temp in nuclear facilities? Idea, with today's directional drilling expertise, can we not circulate heated water thru sands carbonates adjacent to oil shales, or will this not bring the tempertures high enough. Geochemically, we may also be able to boil by different gas methods within the formation water to help boost the temperature. Shales inherently contain pitchblende and pyrochlore as well as the sediments in adjacent beds. These minerals in presence of water and gases can excell the temperture to performace standard, given exact geochemical analysis. Please keep this idea in mind. I'd like to run it by a few oil companies. I am a geologist interested in the oil shale extraction but by a different means. There has got to be a company researching in-situ extraction. I understand we need 700 degrees F to extract. What is the heated water temp in nuclear facilities? Idea, with today’s directional drilling expertise, can we not circulate heated water thru sands carbonates adjacent to oil shales, or will this not bring the tempertures high enough. Geochemically, we may also be able to boil by different gas methods within the formation water to help boost the temperature. Shales inherently contain pitchblende and pyrochlore as well as the sediments in adjacent beds. These minerals in presence of water and gases can excell the temperture to performace standard, given exact geochemical analysis. Please keep this idea in mind. I’d like to run it by a few oil companies.

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