Unique oil shale technology produces transportation fuel
January 16, 2012
Hatch has been retained by Red Leaf Resources to assist in the commercial implementation of a new technology, designed to lessen fossil fuel reliance through the production of liquid transportation fuels.
Red Leaf Resources, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, has developed a technology to produce liquid transportation fuels from oil shale in an economical and environmentally friendly manner. This new process, called the EcoShale™ In-Capsule Technology, will help alleviate dependence on conventional fossil fuels by using alternative resources to meet growing demand.
Hatch is assisting Red Leaf with the first commercial implementation of EcoShale™, which will be used at an oil shale resource in eastern Utah – nearly 17,000 acres for which Red Leaf has acquired oil shale mineral rights.
EcoShale™ saves scarce water resources by using a low water-to-oil ratio (0.36) in its process. It also protects groundwater and allows for rapid site reclamation. The technology roasts oil shale in earthen capsules and uses conventional mining and construction methods to produce an oil product that requires no coking.
Hatch is applying computational fluid dynamics and mathematical modeling to design the 10-acre capsule. We are also designing a processing facility with a daily capacity of 9,500 barrels of oil and 15 million standard cubic feet of gas.
The Calgary office is working on the project. The project began in June 2010 and is ongoing.
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