Oil shale in Israel

Oil shale in Israel

Oil shale in Israel is widespread but an undeveloped resource, largely because of economic and technological constraints. Israeli oil shales belong to the group of Upper Cretaceous marinites. Although oil-shale deposits may lie under as much as 15% of the country, only a small part of these are mineable. According to the Geological Survey of Israel, deposits that could have the biggest economic potential are located in the northern Negev, the largest being the Rotem-Yamin formation. For several decades, oil shale was used for small-scale power generation at Mishor Rotem. Several Israeli companies have proposed shale oil extraction; testing of the viability of the oil shale industry is currently being undertaken by Israel Energy Initiatives. However, as of 2011, there are no commercial oil shale operations in Israel.

Resource

Oil shale in Israel is Upper Cretaceous marinite, which kerogen is most-likely formed from marine phytoplankton.[1][2] According to government agencies in Israel, oil shale within the nation is not at present a viable energy resource, given currently available technologies.[2] Further study and analysis are needed to determine the full potential.[3]

Oil shale deposits cover approximately 15% of Israel, mainly in the northern and central parts of the country. There are more than than 30 known occurrences of oil shale.[1] The theoretical total reserves are estimated to be about 300 billion tonnes. However, only a few billion tonnes are thought to be recoverable in practical terms through open-pit mining.[2] The main resources are located in the north of the Negev desert.[3] The principle economic potential have the Mishash and the Ghareb formations in northern Negev.[1][2] As a source for hydrocarbon production, particular interest is oil shales in Dead Sea graben area.[2] The largest deposit is Rotem-Yamin (Mishor Rotem and Mishor Yamin occurrences).[3] Other larger deposits are Sde Boker, Nahal Zin, Zenifim, Shefela-Hartuv, Oron, Nabi Musa, En Boqeq, and Yeroham.[4] According to Tsevi Minster of the Geological Survey of Israel, the largest oil shale occurrence may be Shefela.[2]

The thickness of oil shale formations vary from 30 to 450 metres (98 to 1,480 ft); maximum thickness of the Ghareb Formation in the northern Negev is 130 metres (430 ft). The oil shale in Israel is carbonate-rich consisting of 65 to 80% chalk and marl, and 2–15% clays. Its moisture is up to 20%.[1] Organic content is about 9–15% and sulfur 10–15%.[5] It yields about 40–100 litres (8.8–22 imp gal; 11–26 US gal) of shale oil per one metric ton of oil shale.[1] By mineral composition, Israeli oil shale is similar to oil shale in Jordan.[2]

History

An oil shale-fired power plant at Mishor Rotem was commissioned in 1978. In 1978–1981, a 100 kW pilot oil shale-fired power plant was operated. Between 1982 and 1986, the PAMA company, a subsidiary of the Israel Electric Corporation, established and operated a 1 MW pilot plant, which used the fluidized bed combustion technology. The 13 MW demonstration plant was completed in 1989. After 2000, the power station was operated by the Rotem Amfert, a subsidiary of Israel Chemicals.[1] The plant was closed in April, 2011. Israel Chemicals announced that it was closing the plant because it made negligible profits and because it was better to close the plant rather than cause future damage to the environment.[6]

Bustan, an Israeli NGO, reported that Israel considered purchasing oil shale processing technology from Russia's Technopromexport in 1999. The project was not implemented. Bustan also reported that Pittsburgh-based MidAtlantic Energy Group considered a project to build a 150 MW oil shale-fired power plant at Mishor Rotem.[7]

In 2006, A.F.S.K. Hom Tov announced a plan to build a small (1–2 tonne/h) test plant in Haifa before building a full scale production plant at Mishor Rotem.[8][9][10] The company envisioned bringing bitumen 80 kilometres (50 mi) by pipeline from the Ashdod refinery and returning product along the same corridor.[11] However, the plan was not implemented, and Hom Tov subsequently ceased to operate.

In July 2011, Israel Energy Initiatives, a subsidiary of Genie Energy, received a one-year extension of its three year exclusive license to explore oil shale resources on 238 square kilometres (92 sq mi) in Israel's Shfela region.[12][13] IEI hopes to begin a pilot project in 2012, which would produced oil not before 2017.[13][14]

In May 2011, the Russian energy company Inter RAO announced that it had received a license to develop oil shale resources in the Negev desert. The company was said to be planning an oil extraction plant and a 150 MW oil shale-fired power plant to be completed by 2014.[15][16][17] The news was not confirmed by Israeli sources.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Minster, Tsevi (2006). "Oil Shale in Israel". Ministry of National Infrastructures. http://www.mni.gov.il/mni/en-US/NaturalResources/MinesandQuarries/QuarriesOilShale.htm. Retrieved October 27, 2011. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Mister, Tsevi (October 15, 2007). "Oil Shale in Israel: Occurences, Grades and Prospects" (PDF). 27th Oil Shale Symposium. Golden, Colorado. http://www.ceri-mines.org/documents/27symposium/presentations/av02-4minster.pdf. Retrieved October 27, 2011. 
  3. ^ a b c Dyni, John R. (2010). "Oil Shale". In Clarke, Alan W.; Trinnaman, Judy A. (PDF). Survey of energy resources (22 ed.). World Energy Council. p. 116. ISBN 9780946121021. http://www.worldenergy.org/documents/ser_2010_report.pdf. Retrieved October 27, 2011. 
  4. ^ Dyni, John R. (2006) (PDF). Geology and resources of some world oil-shale deposits. Scientific Investigations Report 2005–5294. United States Geological Survey. http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2005/5294/pdf/sir5294_508.pdf. Retrieved October 27, 2011. 
  5. ^ Grinberg, A.; Keren, M.; Podshivalov, V.; Anderson, J. (2000). "Producing electricity from Israel oil shale with PFBC technology". Oil Shale. A Scientific-Technical Journal (Estonian Academy Publishers) 17 (4): 307–312. ISSN 0208-189X. 
  6. ^ Israel Chemicals EVP Asher Grinbaum talks about nurturing vultures and the company's efforts to reduce environmental damage., Globes, March 22, 2011, Yuval Azulai
  7. ^ "Bustan Backgrounder: Negev Oil Shale" (PDF). Bustan. http://www.bustan.org/admin/my_documents/my_files/DZ6_oilshale.pdf. Retrieved October 28, 2011. 
  8. ^ Winer, Stuart (January 14, 2007). "Turning shale and asphalt into oil". Israel21c. http://www.israel21c.org/environment/turning-shale-and-asphalt-into-oil. Retrieved October 9, 2011. 
  9. ^ Analysis: Israel sees shale replacing oil, by Leah Krauss, UPI. November 7, 2006
  10. ^ Israel assesses new oil shale technology, Platts Energy Economist, Issue 297 July 2006
  11. ^ Israel Presses for Oil From Shale, by Neal Sandler, Business Week. July 5, 2006
  12. ^ 10-k, IDT Corp, October 11, 2011
  13. ^ a b Udasin, Sharon (July 1, 2011). "Oil shale can bring energy security and independence". The Jerusalem Post. http://www.jpost.com/Sci-Tech/Article.aspx?id=227414. Retrieved October 6, 2011. 
  14. ^ Ben-David, Calev (June 2, 2011). "Looking for an Oil Boom in Israel's Napa Valley". Bloomberg Businessweek. Bloomberg. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_24/b4232017039815.htm. Retrieved October 6, 2011. 
  15. ^ "Inter RAO gets license to explore oil shale field in Negev Desert". Interfax. May 20, 2011. (subscription required). http://www.interfax.co.uk/russia-cis-business-and-financial-news-bulletins-in-english/inter-rao-gets-license-to-explore-oil-shale-field-in-negev-desert-2/. Retrieved October 28, 2011. 
  16. ^ Dzaguto, Vladimir; Melnikov, Kirill (May 23, 2011). ""Интер РАО" удаляется в пустыню [Inter RAO moves to the desert]" (in Russian). Kommersant. http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1645750. Retrieved October 28, 2011. 
  17. ^ "Российская компания будет перерабатывать сланцы и производить электричество в Негеве [The Russian company will process oil shale and produce electricity in Negev]" (in Russian). NEWSru.co.il. May 23, 2011. http://www.newsru.co.il/finance/23may2011/slancy8008.html. Retrieved October 28, 2011. 

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