Boltyshkoe deposits of oil shale is located in the Alexander area Kirovogradskoy area and partly in Kaminski region Cherkassy region, and in conjunction with the Boltyshkoe valley in the crystalline basement, which reaches a depth of 600 meters, diameter of about 25 km.
The field «Boltyshkoe» is located 250 kilometers south of Kiev and is the only country’s shale deposit area with production potential, where the total amount of deposits estimated is about 3.8 billion tons. It is the third major shale deposit in Europe, along with Estonia and Leningrad deposits. Fuel value of the Ukrainian oil shale is estimated in the region of 2000-2500 kcal / kg, which is equal to the potential of the Estonian oil shale.
Power of the productive layer, containing layers of shale oil, reaches 400 m. Generally, it is divided into 5 horizons (horizons numbering upward), composed of laminated clays and dark colored alverites. Oil shale is found throughout but the IV-th and II-nd horizons represent a practical interest because of their thickness, continuity and quality of formations. The IV-th horizon including the bulk of reserves (82%) has 5 layers: A, B, C1, C2 and D. These layers are more than 2m thick and have minimal combustion heat of 2000 kkal/kg. Two subsurface layers of the 2-nd horizon are spread in the central part of the basin and occur 40-50 m below bottom of formation D. Oil shale layers occur more or less horizontally and only in the peripheral part of the basin they are refracted with 1-40 in the direction of the central part. Topmost layer A in the soil and the surface has no clear boundaries, and, as a rule, there are gradual transitions in the bituminous clay and alevrite. Characteristic of it is that sub layers of bituminous clay are divided into two almost equal parts. Depth to top reservoir in inclined parts of basin is 60-80 meters; in the center of the structure it is 315 m. The average power in two meter contour accounts of 3.5 m. Below layer A lies stratum B, which is developed throughout the area of basin and is the most productive. This layer contains 43,8% of total deposits. The power between the layers is 8-10 m. The average thickness within two meter contour is of 4.6 m, depth increases from 20-40m from peripheral parts of basin to 335 m in the central basin. Layer B is characterized by a massive texture, and presence of less productive
layers of thin mudstones. The lower part of the reservoir, as a rule, has the best quality and has a clear boundary with the underlying mudstones.
At 4-5 m below the layer of B lie two very similar layer B1 and B2, separated by dense mudstones layers with a power 0,8-1,0 m, which occurs throughout the deposit area and is a marker for these layers. The average thickness in the B1 two meter circuit is 2,5 m, the reservoir B2 -2,9 m Depth of deposited layers from 58 m to 345 m.
Among the green marl clay layer lies G which got development only in the central basin. Power of the deposited layer between the overlaying layer of B2 and D layer is 3-4 m. The average thickness, 2, 6 m, depth ranges from 65 m to 354 m. Layer has a relatively complicated structure. Typically, in the middle part of it is of being said to bituminous clay with a power capacity up to 0,5 m. Two of the lower layer of horizon II distributed in the central basin lie 40-50 m below the soil layer G. Layers of complex structure, which are made of sub layers of bituminous clays has the average power of 7.2 m, with the deposits at depth 221-398 m.
Most common second upper stratum B, is well developed throughout the basin. The remaining layers occupy much less space. They are seen primarily in the central part of the deposit. Power between layers is about 3-10 m, with gradual decreasing to the periphery up to 2 meters, and the between the layers B1 and B2 are rarely more than 1m.
The qualities of all the layers are almost the same. Since the depth indicated little noticeable deterioration in performance. The same is observed in the area of the center cavity to its ends. Key indicators of quality Boltyshkoe shale with on-board heat of combustion 2 000 kcal / kg are shown in Table 2.
In geological terms Boltyshkoe field development can be done by two methods – open pit in the periphery where the deposits are till depth of 15 – 160 m and underground method in the central part. The industrial development of the field can give economic benefit only if the complex, waste processing of oil shale using their organic and mineral parts is done. Odessa Regional Office Center development and economic reconstruction of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has developed a program involving the exploitation of Boltyshkoe field, whose goal is to develop and justify a comprehensive system of waste processing oil shale, which provides the following major areas of use of mineral resources:
- The direct combustion of oil shale in the furnace of power units;
- Energo-chemical processing of oil shale;
- Processing of liquid shale products;
- Processing polluted water;
- Processing of gas shale products;
- Processing of the mineral part of oil shale;
- Environmental protection.
In a world of modern technology different methods are implemented for combustion and energochemical processing of low-potential energy commodities that can be subjected to refinement and improvement and can become a technological basis for an integrated system of waste processing of oil shale. Center performed testing the possibility of obtaining synthetic oil from shale with a yield up to 170 kg per ton of oil shale with the subsequent processing of the remaining part of the mineral by cold Ceramic wall building blocks.
Attractive side of the site, apart from the huge reserves of oil shale is, high presence of resin liquid fraction from which you can receive up to 20% gasoline and 37% diesel fuel. This field can be considered as a possible alternative source of liquid fuel to Ukraine. Over the years since the exploration work, it became apparent that the deposit belongs Boltyshkoe not I, but to II – group of industrial classification. According to «The instructions for the application of the classification of reserves to deposits of coal and oil shale» exploration network density and the degree of knowledge Boltyshkoe field, in general, corresponds to the stage of prospecting and evaluation work.
Calculation of Energy oil shale is made in two versions: with a minimum calorific value 2000 kcal / kg / layers A, B, B1, B2 and D horizon IV and II of the horizon / and 2500 kcal / kg / layers B, B1, B2 and D IV horizon. The minimum area of the reservoir to calculate the reserves in accordance with the recommendations
«UkrNIIproekt» / 1966., 1998 / accepted by 2,0 m. The value of the volumetric weight calorific value 2000 kcal / kg 1,40 t/m3 adopted, at 2500 kcal / kg – 1,35 t/m3. Moisture of working fuel – 33%.
Boltyshkoe shale was studied, mainly as energetic raw material, ie burned in dry lumps form for the thermal plants. In terms of the use of oil shale to produce motor fuels, the main problem today, almost no research was conducted. As a preliminary assessment of analytical studies, Boltyshkoe shale’s are promising for thermal processing.
The sulphur content in shale oil of Boltyshkoe deposits belong to the medium – 1-2%. The content of organic matter in the shale layers is 36-45%. Semi coking of shale layers in a rotating retort showed output products: resin 15-20%, 67-72% semi coke, Pyrogenic water 4-6%, gas 5,5-7,0%. The group and fractional composition of oil shale resin layers are identical resin layers, namely:
NK – 200o Celsius (gasoline fraction) 17,5-19,0% vol.
200 – 300o Celsius (diesel fraction) 38,0-40,0% vol.
330oCelsius 40,0-44,5% volume.
Group composition of gasoline fractions in weight %:
naphthenic and paraffin hydrocarbons 42
Unsaturated 42
Aromatic 10
Neutral oxygen compounds 6
Group of the diesel fraction of the weight %:
paraffin and naphthenic 35
Unsaturated 40
Aromatic 7
Neutral oxygen compounds 18
Gasoline fraction consists mostly of paraffin and olefin hydrocarbons of normal structure. The content of organic bases in the gasoline fraction is 1.1% and in the diesel fraction 3.3%. Bases of diesel fractions were tested as anti-corrosive additives and showed a good degree of protection in hydrochloric and sulfuric acids. Shale is characterized by high resin content of paraffin (8%). In fractions if boiled above 300o Celsius higher paraffin content of 15% can be obtained. Mineral ash portion has silica-alumina composition, which can be suitable for the production of a number of construction materials. Boltyshkoe oil shale deposits can be used in energy sector or in energo-chemical directions to the get electricity and various chemical products: benzene, toluene, ethylene, propylene, cleaning substances, oils for wood, etc.
When processing 12 million tons of shale a year for Power and energo-chemical schemes ENIN may receive the following products:
In the future, should continue to study the products semi-coking shale with a view to identifying opportunities for electrode coke, drugs to combat soil erosion, nitrogen compounds. Mining and geological conditions of oil shale deposits Boltyshskogo allow the use of both open and underground development. The Future Company can produce and process fuel oil shale, which will enable the company to sell its product not only in Ukrainian market but a potential exporter to European Union as well. There are various other by-products which can be derived from the oil shale like production of electricity, building material, semi coked gas etc. Possession of such strategic object in the European region will be of high value not only from economical point of view but a excellent opportunity for investment in the future project with positive growth.
