A

SEMINAR REPORT

ON

THE GEOLOGY OF OILSHALE AND ITS ECONOMIC

SIGNIFICANCE

PRESENTED

BY

OTERI BENJAMIN

MAT NO: FOS/SLT/05/06/102161

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY

INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY

DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY

ABRAKA.

NOVEMBER 2010
 ABSTRACT

Oil shales are fine-grained sedimentary rocks that are rich in a type of
organic matter called kerogen, which contains significant quantity of oil
when heated. Oil shales were formed as result of deposition of silt and
organic debris on lake beds and sea bottoms. Heat and pressure
transformed the organic material into oil shales over time. Lithologically,
oil shales are diverse group including organic-rich shales, marls, clayey
limestones and dolomite. They range in age from Cambrian to Tertiary
and occur in different parts of the world. They also occur in the Abakaliki
Anticlinorium in the lower Benue Trough, in Nigeria. The largest known
occurrence is the Green River Formation; Wyoming and Utah, Colorado,
USA. Estimate of global deposit range from 2.8 - 3.3trillon barrels of
recoverable oil shales. They can be exploited either by surface processing
or in-situ techniques. However, extracting oil from oil shale is more
complex and is currently more expensive. Once extracted, it can be used
directly as fuel for a power plant, it can also be used for electricity
generation and petrochemicals etc.
 REFERENCE

Bartis, J.T., LaTourrette, T., Dixon, L., Peterson, D.J. and Cecchine, G.,

(2005). Oil Shale Development in the United State Prospects

and Policy Issues. A Scientific – Technical Journal. 226 (2):1 –

5.

Dyni, J.R. (2006). Geology & Resources of some world oil shale

deposits. Scientific investigations Report 2005 – 5294. United

States Department of Interior, United States Geological Survey.

Ehinola, O. A., and Quinshan, Z. (2008). Utilization of Lokpanta Oil

Shale in Portland Cement manufacturing in Nigeria: A

Thermodynamic approach. 25 (3): 310-327.

Ehinola, O.A., Sonibare, O.O., and Akambi, O.A. (2005). The

Economic evaluation, Recovery Techniques, and Environmental

Implications of the Oil Shale deposits in the Abakaliki fold belt,

S. E., Nigeria Journ. Min. and Geol. Vol. 22 (1): 1 – 15.

Ekweozor, C.M., and Unomah, G. I. (1990). First discovery of oil

shale in the Benue Trough. Nigeria Journ. Min. and Geol. 69

(4):502 – 508.

Fischer, P. A., (2004). Estonian oil shale retorting Industry at a

Crossroads. A Scientific – Technical Journ. 21 (2): 97 – 98.

Hutton, A.C., (1987). Petrographic Classification of Oil Shales.

International Journal on Coal Geol. 8:203 – 231.

Hyne, N. J. (2001). Non-technical Guide to Petroleum Geology,

Exploration, Drilling and Production. Pennwell Corporation,

United States of America. 2nd ed. 597p.

North, F. K. (1985). Petroleum Geology. Bulter and Tanner Limited,

Great Britain. 2nd ed. 631p.

Plummer, C.C., Mcgeary D., and Carlson, D. H. (1991). Physical

Geology. Bantell Pres, London. 8th ed. 576p.

Sandor, L., (2004): Oil Shale Energetics in Estoria. A Scientific –

Technical Journal. 24(1): 1 – 4.