Geological Features and Type of Oil Shale Booth

Brief information on the nature of oil shale is given, world reserves, composition and properties of mineral and organic components, and main directions of its use are given. The experience of oil shale use in the Estonian thermal power industry is analyzed. The main differences between oil shale from different deposits are in the content of organic matter kerogen, which is closest to oil in its composition and properties. The lower heating value of oil shale from different deposits, as well as formations and sections of the same deposit, can vary widely—from 4–5 to 20–25 MJ/kg. Depending on the kerogen content, oil shales are classified into different groups according to their quality. The deposits of Ukraine are characterized: Boltyshske, Carpathian and Novo-Dymytrivske. The energy-technological use of oil shale is carried out in the following areas: direct combustion for heat and electricity generation; semi-coking (pyrolysis) to obtain shale tar and produce motor and boiler fuels, chemical products from it; high-temperature pyrolysis into shale gas. Processing under semi-coking conditions produces up to 30% of tar and up to 1.5% of gasoline. High-temperature coking makes it possible to produce fuel gas of up to 40010 km3/t, gasoline of up to 10 kg/t and resins of about 50 kg/t. Gasification of oil shale makes it possible to use the gases to generate heat and electricity and/or produce shale oil for processing into motor fuels. Solid waste from oil shale extraction and processing is a cheap raw material for the production of building materials, soil erosion control and liming. Industrial extraction and processing of oil shale (under certain circumstances) can have a negative impact on the environment. It is concluded that oil shale has prospects for use in Ukraine. Their use should be comprehensive, taking into account economic, energy and environmental aspects. The economic efficiency of oil shale extraction in the country (taking into account geological conditions and reserves) in terms of conventional fuel at cost can be comparable to lignite extraction.