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I’m sure some readers of The Daily Sentinel are well qualified to answer the following question: Is it feasible to use oil shale and oil sands in the production of asphalt? If so, it seems to me this would be an immediate and much more cost-effective use of these resources than trying to refine them into petroleum. I’m very curious to know.
STEVE HAGERMAN
Grand Junction
3 Responses to “Is oil shale more cost effective as asphalt?”
Posted November 5th, 2008 at 7:27 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Interesting question. Maybe you could email Shell and see if they know.
Posted November 6th, 2008 at 12:58 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
Based on my understanding of the composition of oil shale and the methods for removing the petroleum precursors (kerogen) from the rock, the answer would be No.
First, we are talking about a pretty low concentration resource - just gallons of extractable oil per ton of rock (”high” quality oil shale nets about 40gal per ton).
Let’s not forget that heat must be applied to liberate the kerogen. The high volatility fractions come off first. To extract the low volatility fractions that would be suitable for asphalt would require significantly more energy and money inputs.
Again, this is based on my limited understanding of oil shale (and I know even less about tar sands). So, feel free to correct anything that is wrong in my post. I look forward to gaining a better understanding.
Posted November 6th, 2008 at 1:35 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
Bruce,
I believe you are completely correct.
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