Iranian scientists, together with foreign colleagues, have developed an innovative method for extracting shale oil. The technology is based on the conversion of kerogen into synthetic hydrocarbons, which opens up new prospects for the country’s energy industry.
Specialists from the University of Tehran, the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and the Tallinn University of Technology presented a new technology for shale oil production. The method involves the processes of pyrolysis, hydrogenation and thermal dissolution, which allows the conversion of kerogen contained in rocks into synthetic hydrocarbons.
The resulting oil can be used as fuel or refined in oil refineries. To do this, hydrogen is added to the raw material and impurities such as sulfur and nitrogen are removed.
The project manager noted that the technology opens up opportunities for creating a new industry for shale oil production in Iran. Research is currently underway in the Galikuhe region of Lurestan province, where 2 billion barrels of light shale oil reserves were discovered in 2017.
The new technology could be an important step in Iran’s energy development, reducing the country’s dependence on traditional methods of oil production and increasing its competitiveness in the world market.
Source: geonews.ru
