Real-time imaging of oil shale pyrolysis dynamics at nanoscale via environmental scanning electron microscopy

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

Applied Energy

Volume

363

Publisher

Elsevier

School

Centre for Sustainable Energy and Resources

RAS ID

69792

Funders

Natural Science Foundation of China / University of Science and Technology Beijing

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

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.

DOI

10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.123093

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