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Processes
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Oil Shale Mining and Processing
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Oil Shale Mining and Processing

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical Processes and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 March 2026 | Viewed by 416

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Wentong He

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Earth Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Interests: shale oil pyrolysis; spatial migration; in situ transformation; oil and gas geochemistry
Dr. Chao Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
Interests: rock-forming processes; kerogen conversion; hydrocarbons; high-temperature and -pressure simulation; oil and gas generation; exploitation potential; multi-scale rock mechanics characterization; mining engineering
Dr. Jian Yi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Earth Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Interests: characteristics of organic acids in oil shale pyrolysis products; high-temperature and high-pressure simulation experiments

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Oil shale is a significant unconventional oil and gas resource, crucial for diversifying energy supply and enhancing energy security. Research in its mining and processing not only drives the integration of multiple disciplines like geology, chemical engineering, and materials science but also spurs innovation in these fields.

Key frontiers in oil shale mining and processing include in situ conversion technology, which transforms oil shale into mobile hydrocarbons underground, improving recovery rates and reducing environmental impact. Radio frequency (RF) heating technology heats oil shale efficiently, overcoming the limitations of traditional methods. Three-dimensional development optimizes well patterns and fracturing to maximize reservoir utilization and recovery. Environmentally friendly technologies, such as CO2-assisted fracturing, enhance efficiency while minimizing environmental harm. Intelligent mining, supported by big data and AI, enables real-time monitoring and optimized management, boosting efficiency and safety.

In conclusion, oil shale mining and processing research is vital for energy security and disciplinary development. With ongoing technological advancements, this field is poised to achieve greater efficiency, environmental sustainability, and intelligent operations, contributing significantly to global sustainable energy development.

Dr. Wentong He
Dr. Chao Yang
Dr. Jian Yi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • in situ conversion of oil shale
  • micro-migration of shale oil
  • enrichment mechanisms of organic matter in oil shale
  • pyrolysis process of oil shale
  • analysis of oil shale oil products
  • high-temperature and high-pressure simulation experiments
  • isotopes and biomarker compounds
  • AI-based analysis of oil shale pyrolysis process
  • evaluation of semi-coke organic carbon
  • co-pyrolysis of oil shale and coal

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

21 pages, 5340 KB  
Article
A Study on the Basic Properties of Oil Shale and Its Oxidative Pyrolysis Kinetic Characteristics in an Air Atmosphere
by Zongyao Qi, Peng Liu, Tong Liu, Xiaokun Zhang, Changfeng Xi, Bojun Wang, Fang Zhao, Chuanju Zhao and Liang Zhang
Processes 2025, 13(11), 3431; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13113431 - 25 Oct 2025
Viewed by 275
Abstract
The in situ conversion of oil shale with air injection has the advantage of self-generated heat. The fragmentation degree of oil shale affects the oxidative pyrolysis process. In this paper, the basic properties of oil shale were analyzed, and weight loss observation and [...] Read more.
The in situ conversion of oil shale with air injection has the advantage of self-generated heat. The fragmentation degree of oil shale affects the oxidative pyrolysis process. In this paper, the basic properties of oil shale were analyzed, and weight loss observation and high-pressure TGA-DSC (thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry) tests in an air atmosphere were conducted using the cores and particles. The oil shale’s oxidative pyrolysis characteristics and the effect of its particle sizes were evaluated. The results show that the porosity and permeability conditions, TOC (total organic carbon), and inorganic mineral composition of oil shale are highly heterogeneous, with higher permeability and greater TOC along the bedding direction. The derivative of the TGA curve shows a single peak, and the heat flow curve shows a double peak that can be used to determine the oil shale’s oxidation type. The oxidative pyrolysis stage of organic matter can be divided into three temperature ranges, of which the medium temperature range is where the most combustion weight loss and heat release occurs. The activation energy of oxidative pyrolysis, which is affected by factors such as particle size, organic matter content, and pyrolysis temperature, is 46.92–248.11 kJ/mol, indicating the varying degrees of difficulty in initiating the reaction under different conditions. The pre-exponential factor is 3.15 × 102–6.27 × 1011 1/s, and the enthalpy value is 2.575–4.045 kJ/g. The combustion indexes and reaction enthalpy under different particle sizes are more correlated with their own organic matter content. As oil shale particle size decreases, the variation law of the activation energy and pre-exponential factor changes with temperature from an initial continuous increase to a decrease, then increases again with the smallest kinetic parameters in the medium temperature zone. A small particle size, high organic matter content, and high pressure are more conducive to initiating the oxidative pyrolysis reaction to achieve in situ conversion of organic matter. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oil Shale Mining and Processing)
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