Stuart Oil Shale Project - Project Stages

Project Stages

The first stage of the project, which cost A$250–360 million, consisted of an oil-shale mine and an ATP technology based pilot retorting plant at Targinnie near Yarwun. The plant was constructed in 1997-1999 and was in operation from 1999 to 2004. It was the first application of the ATP technology in the world used for oil shale pyrolysis. The plant was designed to process 6,000 tonnes of oil shale per day with oil output of 4,500 barrels (720 m3). From 2000 to 2004 the pilot plant produced over 1.5 million barrels (240×10^3 m3) of shale oil. After the closure the facility was dismantled.

The second stage with cost of A$600 million was planned to consist of a single commercial-size ATP module four times larger than the first with total capacity of 19,000 barrels (3,000 m3) of oil products (naphtha and medium shale oil) daily. Originally it was planned to become operational in 2006. The third planned stage was construction of multiple commercial production units with capacity of up to 200,000 barrels of oil products per day. It was envisaged to come on stream during 2010–2013. The environmental impact assessment of stage 2 was suspended in December 2004.

The Paraho II technology based demonstration plant built in 2009-2011 at the new location consists of a vertical shaft kiln. Later the oil upgrading unit will be added. At the demonstration stage, the plant utilises 60 tonnes of oil shale per day producing 37–40 barrels per day (5.9–6.4 m3/d). It uses lumps of shale instead of fine particles used by ATP processor. The demonstration project is to cost over $100 million.