Pore Evolution of Oil Shale during Sub-Critical Water Extraction

Youhong Sun, Li He, Shijie Kang, Wei Guo, Qiang Li and Sunhua Deng
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Youhong Sun: College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Li He: College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Shijie Kang: College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Wei Guo: College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Qiang Li: College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Sunhua Deng: College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: The porous structure of oil shale plays a vital role in heat transfer and mass transport. In this study, the pore evolution of oil shale samples during sub-critical water extraction was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), N 2 adsorption/desorption, and low field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The following results were obtained: (1) With increased extraction time and extraction temperature, the yield of bitumen increased, pores in spent samples obviously developed and extended to the inner of the shale matrix, and their pore size gradually increased from the nano to micron size; (2) Pore volume and surface area of mesopores increased with increasing yield, indicating that the extraction of organic matter improves the development of organic matter pores distributed in mesopores; (3) The formation of secondary organic matter pores primarily contributes to the increment of pore volume in oil shale samples. The diameter of kerogen may range from 100 to 1600 nm; (4) Fractures probably propagated parallel to the bedding direction, and their evolution led to an initial increase in the total pore volume followed by a decrease. This is likely because fractures will be strongly compacted by pressure due to the weakening of inner support after more organic matter is extracted.

Keywords: oil shale; sub-critical water extraction; SEM; N 2 adsorption/desorption; NMR; pore size distribution; porosity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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