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

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]