Geochemical Assessments and Potential Energy Sources Evaluations Based on Oil Shale and Geothermal Resource in Wadi Al-Shallala—North Jordan

Oil shale deposit is considered as one of the fossil fuel sources in Jordan. Despite that, the needs of renewable energy resources become a must in Jordan. Wadi Al-Shallala oil shale is investigated in this work for geochemical, petrographic features and hydrocarbon potential as a conventional energy resource. Various petrographic and geochemical techniques were applied. Oil shale resource potential is evaluated for cooling and heating Sal village houses. Geothermal heat pumps, as renewable energy resource in the study area, were simulated for comparison purposes. Results show that Calcite is the main mineral component of oil shale. Magnesite, Ferrisilicate and Zaherite are exhibited in the studied samples. Other trace elements of Zinc, Cobalt and Molybdenum were presented, too. Calcium oxide of 41.01% and Silicon oxide of 12.4% are the main oxides reflected in this oil shale. Petrographic features of the analyzed oil shale found that the primary mineral constituent is micritic calcite, while the secondary minerals include carbonate mud and opaque minerals. Furthermore, it’s found that total organic carbon averages 3.33% while the total carbon content averages 20.6%. ModerateTOCvalues suggest that Wadi Al-Shallala oil shale has a good source rock potential. Even though nitrogen and sulfur are of low contents in Wadi Al-Shallala oil shale, direct combustion of the reserve for electricity generating will increase CO2 emissions by 2.71 Million m3. Two systems were simulated to cover Sal village cooling and heating demands. The conventional system is compared with geothermal heat pumps. Geothermal heat pumps are found to save 60% of electricity consumption in heating and 50% in cooling systems. The environmental benefits for geothermal system implementation will be a reduction in energy consumption as electricity. The savings in fuel oil will be about 9.35 Million barrels. While the reduction of CO2 emissions will drop to 1.5 Million m3. Results suggest that geothermal heat pumps are the best for satisfying cooling and heating needs in Sal village near Wadi Al-Shallala.

Prediction Approach for Petrothermal Properties in Al Hashimiyya Basalts-Jordan

Thermal conductivity and mineral composition of flood basalt in Al Hashimiyya city were correlated. Representative thin sections were optically analyzed for their mineral constituents and micro fractures. Findings of this study will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the correlation between selected petrological characteristics of basalts and their heat conduction properties. It found that a 10% increase of opaque and ferromagnesian minerals volume in the studied basalts leads to a thermal conductivity increasing by 0.4 W•m−1•K−1. This may considerably contribute to provide an alternative to direct measurements of the thermal conductivity in Jordan basalts if a sufficient mineralogical data set is achievable. Thus, the prediction of thermal conductivity through modal mineral composition may become a significant feature for efficient geothermal system exploration in basaltic rocks. The results can be brought together into a petrophysical and hydrogeothermal model for better reservoir characterization. Such models will improve the assessment of the basalt’s suitability as a geothermal reservoir for cooling and heating utilizations.

Thermo-Physical and Mechanical Properties of Al Hashimiyya Basaltic Rocks, Jordan

Geothermal exploration in northern Jordan is in juvenile phase. North eastern basaltic desert is expected to host, with other rock formations, a shallow geothermal field. For efficient geothermal potential evaluation, a complete understanding of thermo-physical properties of deep reservoir rocks is of utmost importance. Due to the complex technical thermo-physical evaluations of basalts in depth, surficial basalts extending to the west were evaluated. Accordingly, six basaltic sub-flows from Al Hashimiyya were examined into their thermo-physical and mechanical properties. The flows represent the western extinction of large olivine basalt eruption. Different properties were evaluated for oven dried samples: thermal conductivity, permeability, porosity, density and specific heat capacity. In addition, basalts mechanical properties were examined: compressional wave velocity, unconfined compressive strength, indirect tensile strength and point load tests. The results were correlated in proportional patterns. They indicated that thermal conductivity of the studied basalts is dependent on porosity and permeability in parallel with mineral composition. It’s found that mechanical properties are controlled by porosity and permeability, too. The studied basalt properties exhibit slight deviation from the continental basalts thermo-physical and mechanical properties reported in the region. Thermal conductivity ranges between 1.89 and 1.32 W·m-1·K-1, whereas the porosity and permeability averages at 10.64% and 9.75899E-15 m2, respectively. Additionally, unconfined compressive strength averages at 104.9 Mpa and it’s almost 20 times higher than indirect tensile strength which ranges from 8.73 to 2.21 Mpa. As the samples were tested under laboratory conditions, in situ conditions will not be reflected by such values. At greater depth, temperature, pressure and hydrothermal activities will certainly affect rock properties. Micro fractures, whether it will be filled or not, will affect basalts properties, too. The results of this work will be used to develop a comprehensive thermo-physico-mechanical model, and improve the ability to predict rock properties at greater depths of Jordanian basalts.