Distillate Fuels from Green River Oil Shale

Shale oil is notable for its high nitrogen content and for large amounts of unsaturated and metallic contaminants. However, although expensive to refine, shale oil can be upgraded to specification transportation fuels using commercially available petroleum processing technology. The key is an effective initial hydrotreating step in which most of the contaminants are removed. The syncrude thus produced can then be refined in petroleum refineries using conventional technology such as hydrocracking, catalytic cracking, and catalytic reforming to give specification transportation fuels. This paper discusses upgrading options, the properties of fuels from shale oil, and reviews Chevron's plans for commercial development.