Real-time imaging of oil shale pyrolysis dynamics at nanoscale via environmental scanning electron microscopy
Abstract
Pyrolysis is a promising technology to increase pore and fracture connectivity in oil shale and thereby accomplish commercial recovery of unconventional hydrocarbons. Herein, real-time oil shale pyrolysis dynamics are imaged at nanoscale via environmental scanning electron microscopy (imaging resolution of 58 nm/pixel, imaging speed of 1 frame per second, and heating temperature up to 750 °C). It is counterintuitively observed that 1) inorganic nano-fractures started to appear below 100 °C; 2) inorganic nano-fracture width had a non-monotonous relationship with temperature; and 3) organic kerogen areas decreased monotonously with increasing temperature. These findings will establish a standard benchmark for unconventional resource recovery, promote fundamental understanding of oil shale pyrolysis dynamics at nanoscale and provide key guidance on oil shale extraction at reservoir scale.
RAS ID
69792
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
6-1-2024
Volume
363
Funding Information
Natural Science Foundation of China / University of Science and Technology Beijing
School
Centre for Sustainable Energy and Resources
Copyright
subscription content
Publisher
Elsevier
Recommended Citation
Pan, B., Yin, X., Yang, Z., Ghanizadeh, A., Debuhr, C., Clarkson, C. R., Gou, F., Zhu, W., Ju, Y., & Iglauer, S. (2024). Real-time imaging of oil shale pyrolysis dynamics at nanoscale via environmental scanning electron microscopy. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.123093
Comments
Pan, B., Yin, X., Yang, Z., Ghanizadeh, A., Debuhr, C., Clarkeson, C. R., . . . Iglauer, S. (2024). Real-time imaging of oil shale pyrolysis dynamics at nanoscale via environmental scanning electron microscopy. Applied Energy, 363, article 123093. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.123093