Shale oil from Omani deposit Natih B studied at Kazan University

The research is conducted in cooperation with Sultan Qaboos University, EJAAD and Daleel Petroleum.

Natih B deposit is famous for its high ratio of organic matter. To understand proper conditions for oil extraction on this deposit, KFU's Research Center in Liquid Hydrocarbons studied drill samples from Natih B shales. The paper saw light in FUEL.

"The results show that 350°C provides the best hydrothermal conversion of oil shale to synthetic oil in terms of yield and product quality. It has been found that hydrothermal treatment causes a significant increase in pore size and porosity with the formation of associated pore channels, which leads to the transformation of oil shale into a highly permeable porous medium. This change in rock properties facilitates the subsequent injection of any oil shale fluids in the field," explains co-author, Senior Research Associate Yuan Chengdong.

Notably, oil shale is considered the second largest resource of solid fossil fuels in the world. It is a sedimentary rock containing a large amount of organic matter. The composition of organic matter includes kerogen and bitumoid, which can be converted into synthetic oil.

"There is potential to develop shale oil from this formation as a significant amount of synthetic oil and gas has been produced, and the porosity, pore size and connectivity of the pore structure have been increased," adds Junior Research Associate Ameen A. Al-Muntasser.

Kazan Federal University is among the strategic partners of the Omani oil industry. In October 2019, KFU representatives visited the EJAAD Second Leadership Forum, where cooperation documents were signed with EJAAD and Daleel Petroleum.

More information:
Hydrothermal conversion of oil shale: Synthetic oil generation and micro-scale pore structure change

doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.122786

Provided by Kazan Federal University