Towards sustainable shale oil recovery in Jordan: An evaluation of renewable energy sources for in-situ extraction

Abstract

Oil shale (OS) can significantly enhance energy security and diversify the energy mix in countries like Jordan. However, OS extraction and utilization are always associated with negative environmental impacts. This paper investigates a novel approach of using renewable energy to further retort the OS to produce oil. In this study, Al-Lajjun and Sultani OS resources in Jordan were analyzed using a mathematical model and simulation analysis using the system advisor model (SAM) software. The study aimed for in-situ shale oil extraction from a vast shale oil reserve in Jordan, with a focus on mitigating energy usage and environmental issues. The study suggested utilizing recovered heat from the production stream along with an external source, which may include natural gas, solar thermal energy, or a combination of both, to produce the substantial amount of heat energy necessary for in situ pyrolysis of OS. The study designed five different plants using the SAM program: gas steam boiler (GB), photovoltaic (PV) with batteries, parabolic trough with thermal energy storage (TES), PV integrated with GB, and parabolic trough coupled with GB. The economic analysis, project recovery, and environmental evaluation were conducted, and the results showed that drilling wells in the Sultani area was more expensive than in the Al-Lajjun area due to the thickness of overburden. The PV with GB was the most economically advantageous option, with a total cost of $79.4 M for Al-Lajjun and $89.89 M for Sultani. However, the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for Al-Lajjun and Sultani are 10.41 and 9.18 ¢ per kWh, respectively. Conversely, PV systems with batteries and the parabolic trough with TES demonstrated a higher level of environmental friendliness compared to other shale oil recovery systems. Among these, the systems incorporating PV with GB and parabolic trough with GB, both featuring an SF of 30%, consistently demonstrate CO2 emissions of 0.016 kg CO2 per kg of shale oil produced. In contrast, the system solely reliant on GB without any solar contribution, holding a 0% SF, exhibited elevated CO2 emissions of 0.023 kg CO2 per kg of shale oil produced. The study recommends the use of PV with GB as the most economically viable option, while PV with batteries is the more eco-friendly choice for extracting shale oil from the Al-Lajjun and Sultani OS reserves located in Jordan. The study outcomes can be useful for policymakers and investors interested in developing the shale oil industry in Jordan. However, further research is needed to evaluate the long-term environmental impact and sustainability of the proposed method.