Utilization Of Oil Shale Retorting Ash In Daqing Oilfield

Due to the increase in the price of petroleum and the decline of conventional oil, oil shale hasgained much attention as an alternative energy resource. The traditional oil shale industry obtainsthe shale oil and fuel gas by retorting the crushed oil shale, and electricity can also be produced.The main solid wastes are the combustion ashes and the ashes collected by the dust separator (flyash); these are produced in great quantities. The effective utilization of the solid wastes can beone way to reduce the environmental impacts and to add value to the production process.In recent years many technologies for comprehensive utilization of the solid wastes have beendeveloped. These include the production of cement, chemical fertilizer, ceramsite and buildingblocks as well as the extraction of aluminum oxide, sodium silicate, rare earth elements, etc.This presentation discusses data on the characteristics of shale combustion ashes from Daqing oilshale (Liushuhe Basin, Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province, China). Results were obtainedfrom laboratory-scale retorting experiments performed in the Dalian University of Technology(in Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China). Jilin University in Changchun City also providedexperimental information related to the extraction of aluminum oxide and the production ofcement and ceramsite for use in hydraulic fracturing. These products represent potential methodsof comprehensive utilization of shale ash that could aid commercialization of oil shale use.