Transcript Environmental Considerations Related to Oil Shale

INTEK
Environmental Considerations
Related to Oil Shale
Development
September 23, 2008
SPE #116599
Emily Knaus, INTEK Inc.
Anton Dammer, U.S. Department of Energy
Economic Setting
Price
of crude
oil has
risen dramatically
in the
U.S.
domestic
oil shale
resource offers
a
past large
decade
(graph
represents
USD
per
barrel)
prize;
particularly
with
high
prices
$160
$140
$120
$/Barrel
$100
$80
$60
$40
$20
$0
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
147
$/Bbl
Domestic Oil Shale Region
2 Trillion Barrels
6 Trillion Barrels
Domestic Oil Shale Resource Potential
Total Resource
6 Trillion Barrels
High Quality Resource
2 Trillion Barrels
Technical Recovery
1.2 Trillion Barrels
Estimated
Reserves
600 – 800
Billion Bbls
Source: INTEK, Inc.
Technology Considerations
Surface Mining / Surface Retort
Underground Mining / Surface Retort
Slope Mine
Crusher Conveyer Crusher Conveyer Retort Plant
ine
Trucks Conveyer Crusher Conveyer Retort Plant
eM
Shovel
Waste
Disposal
Slo
p
Waste
Disposal
Overburden
Oil Shale
Oil Shale
Mining
Mining
2
1
Partial Upgrading
Partial Upgrading
To Market
To Market
Modified In-Situ
Step 2
Step 1
Create Void by Mining Rublize shale by explosions
True In-Situ
Step 3
Initiate combustion
Retorted Shale
Virgin
Shale
Combustion Front
Free oil movement
Mined Shale
Mined Shale to
surface retorts
Shale oil to refinery
Environmental Impacts Overview
• Air Quality
• Water Use and Quality
• Land Disturbance
• Wildlife Impacts
Air Quality - Potential Emissions
NOx
SO2
CO2
• Criteria
pollutants
HC Gas
• Carbon
dioxide
emissions
Oil Shale Processing
Air Quality – Mitigation Strategies
Capture for:
CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery
Sequestration
Other Industrial Uses
NOx
SO2
Capture and Clean
using Existing Technology
CO2
• Emerging
technologies
Capture for
Process Plant Use
HC Gas
• Current
technologies
Oil Shale Processing
Water Use and Quality Considerations
• Water consumption
• Produced water runoff
• Surface water protection
• Ground water protection
Water Consumption
Oil Shale
Production
Rate
(MBbls/D)
Oil Shale
Additional
Total New
Projected
Total New
Industry
Water to
Water
Population
Water
Water
Support
Demand
Growth
Demand
Demand
Population
(MM acre(People)
(MMG/D)
(MMG/D)
(MMG/D)
ft/yr)
500
21 to 63
96,000
13
34 to 76
1,000
42 to 126
177,000
24
86 to 150 0.10 to 0.17
2,500
105 to 315
433,000
58
163 to
373
Source: Wood, Thomas., “Water Resources for Oil Shale”., Battelle., (2006).
0.04 to 0.09
0.18 to 0.42
Produced Water
• Water is a byproduct of oil
shale retorting
• ~2-5 gal/ton
• Produced water
will contain a
variety of
substances
Surface Water Protection
• Mining and
retorting
operations
• Treatment
facilities for
products
• Other
wastewaters
• Spent shale
Ground Water Protection
Ground Cover
Soil
Oil
OilShale
Shale
Zone
Ground Water
Impermeable Barrier
Source: INTEK, Inc.
Shell’s Freeze Wall Test
Source: DOE, Secure Fuels Report, 2008
Land Disturbance - Magnitude
Green River
Formation = 11
MM Acres
Undisturbed
Area
~9 MM Acres
BLM PEIS
1.9 MM Acres
20%
1 MMBbl/D Oil
Shale Industry =
0.08 MM Acres
1%
Land Disturbance - Impacts
• Mining disrupts
the surface
• Increase in
spent shale
• Reclamation
will help to
mitigate the
long-term
impacts
Wildlife Impacts - Aquatic Species
• Four endangered species
• Colorado River Basin is critical habitat
• Site-specific data and analyses necessary
Source: U.S. DOI/BLM PEIS (December 2007)
Wildlife Impacts - Terrestrial Species
• One mammal is
endangered
• Two are
threatened
• Water supply
• Fragmentation
of habitat
Source: U.S. DOI/BLM PEIS (December 2007)
Wildlife Impacts - Avian Species
• Two endangered
species
• Migratory and
permanent bird
residents
• Habitat
preservation
• Water quality
supply
Source: U.S. DOI/BLM PEIS (December 2007)
Wildlife Impacts - Plant Species
• Six endangered
species
• Ten threatened
species
• 41 sensitive
species
• Land
disturbance
Source: U.S. DOI/BLM PEIS (December 2007)
Conclusions
• Unmitigated, oil shale development
can potentially have impacts on:
– Air quality
– Water quality and consumption
– Land disturbance
– Associated ecological and wildlife
systems
• Mitigation practices can
significantly reduce impacts