The article provides information on the main methods of the extraction of synthetic (kerogen) oil from oil shale and evaluates the results of the industrial implementation of these methods outside the Russian Federation. According to the US Geological Survey the geological resources of kerogen oil reach 390 billion tons (not including Russia). Oil shale processing methods are divided into ex-situ and in-situ. The main method of producing synthetic oil is the method of ex-situ retorting, while annual production volumes do not exceed 2 million tons. Currently, there are only nine active commercial projects dealing with synthetic oil production: three in Estonia and six in China. Another five projects have pilot status. None of the pilot projects related to application of in-situ methods of the synthetic oil production has entered the commercial phase. All five pilot projects based on in-situ methods in the last two decades have been closed or stopped. Major oil companies such as Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil withdrew from all projects related to the processing of oil shale due to the high energy intensity of the processes and possible serious environmental problems. The processing of oil shale has a significant negative impact on the environment, primarily associated with groundwater and air pollution. The data presented in the article suggests that it is too early to claim a breakthrough in the development of kerogen oil.
References
1. Kucherov V.G., Bessel' V.V., Oil global geological resources and reserves assessment: myth and reality (In Russ.), Neftyanoe khozyaystvo = Oil Industry, 2021, no. 10, pp. 14–18, DOI: https://doi.org/10.24887/0028-2448-2021-10-14-18
2. Bhargava S., Awaja F., Subasinghe N.D., Characterisation of some Australian oil shale using thermal, X-ray and IR techniques, Fuel, 2005, V. 84, no. 6, pp. 707–715, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2004.11.013
3. Geology and resources of some world oil-shale deposits, 2005, URL: https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2005/5294/pdf/sir5294_508.pdf
4. Oil shale (kerogen) resources and some projects in the world, 2018, URL: https://aenert.com/fileadmin/default/templates/images/Technologies/Unconventional_fossil_fuels/Shale...
5. Estonian oil shale industry yearbook 2019, URL: https://haldus.taltech.ee/sites/default/files/2021-04/ VK_eesti_polevkivitoostuse_aastaraamat_en_2019.pdf?_ga=2.94444828.1831482186.1629698087-2065338881.1627903036
6. Xu Y., Sun P., Yao S. et al., Progress in exploration, development and utilization of oil shale in China, Oil shale, 2019, V. 36, no. 2, pp. 285–304, DOI:10.3176/oil.2019.2.03
7. Pan Y., Zhang X., Liu S. et al., A review on technologies for oil shale surface retort, J. Chem. Soc. Pak., 2012, V. 34, no. 6, pp. 1331–1338.
8. Patent US7264694B2, Retort heating apparatus and methods, Inventors: Merrell B.G., Keller M.R., Noble R.K.
9. Patent US4524826A, Method of heating an oil shale formation, Inventor: Savage K.D.
10. Crawford P.M. et al., New challenges and directions in oil shale development technologies, Oil shale: A solution to the liquid fuel dilemma, Publications, 2010, pp. 21–60, DOI:10.1021/bk-2010-1032.ch002
11. Oil shales production worldwide from 2016 to 2020, 2023, URL: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1310952/oil-shales-production-worldwide/
12. Raukas A., Punning J.-M., Environmental problems in the Estonian oil shale industry, Energy & Environmental Science, 2009, V. 2, no. 7, pp. 723–728, DOI:10.1039/b819315k
13. Controversial oil substitutes sharply increase emissions, devour landscapes, 2007, URL: https://www.nrdc.org/media/2007/070611
14. Scraping the bottom of the barrel – unconventional oil could cost us the earth, 2008, URL: https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?142161/Scraping-the-bottom-of-the-barrel-unconventional-oil-could-cost-us-the-earth
