Potential Yield of Oil from Middle Jurassic Sargelu Oil Shale, Zagros Mountains, Southwest Iran: A Pyrolysis Approach

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Institute of Petroleum Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 School of Mining Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 Exploration Directorate, National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), Tehran, Iran

Abstract

In this study Fischer assay, thermal dissolution, and hydrogenation methods were used to comparatively evaluate oil yield of the Middle Jurassic Sargelu oil shale. Three oil shale samples in three localities from Sargelu oil shale in from Zagros Mountains in southwest Iran were selected. According to the results of oil yield of the samples, the final temperature and residence time from the modified Fischer assay were not significantly different from those of the standard Fischer assay. Accordingly, the highest oil yield based on the standard and modified Fischer assays were 34.29 and 33.7 wt.% from organic matter, respectively. Nevertheless, the modified Fischer assay could increase the API gravity from 18.30 to 24.82 while reducing the viscosity from 7.34 to 4.13 cP. Thermal dissolution in the presence of different solvents give the highest oil yield in the presence of methanol at 350°C in 4 hours. Oil yield varied significantly with different solvents (23.1 to 59.4wt). Direct hydrogenation was performed in the presence of hydrogen at two levels of pressure (20 and 30 bar) and a low temperature, resulting in an oil yield of up to 53.68 wt.% from OM. Indirect hydrogenation in the presence of an aqueous solution of 25% sodium formate (HCOONa) at 380°C in 5 hours produced an oil yield of 51.59 wt.% from OM. Indirect hydrogenation method in the presence of water and zinc solution improved the oil yield to 62.93 wt.%. Maximum oil yield of the oil shale achieved by indirect hydrogenation at 400°C in 2 hours.

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Article Title [Persian]

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Geopersia

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 11 January 2026

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History

  • Receive Date: 13 August 2025
  • Revise Date: 16 November 2025
  • Accept Date: 11 January 2026

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