RIASSUNTO
Abstract
Kazakhstan based oil & gas companies recover approximately 2,000 to 3,000 metric tons per day of elemental sulfur from their product streams (approximately 500 tons of elemental sulfur is recovered for every 100,000 barrels of extracted petroleum in Kazakhstan). The bulk of the sulfur is recovered by Tengizchevroil (TCO).In Europe and the United States recovered elemental sulfur is normally sold into the chemical and manufacturing market as a raw material for:
phosphate fertilizer (50%)
sulfuric acid, detergents, and other chemicals
metal and fiber industries
paint manufacture
rubber products
paper
pharmaceuticals
By-product elemental sulfur can potentially be used as a binder replacement in petroleum asphalt and Portland concrete as sulfur modified asphalt and concrete to meet or exceed American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and/or American Concrete Institute (ACI) standards.
Potential Applications for Sulfur Polymer Concrete & Sulfur Extended Asphalt
Improving the highway infrastructure using sulfur modified concrete and asphalt might be a steady outlet for locally produced elemental sulfur.The sulfur extended asphalt can extend current Kazakhstan asphalt production capabilities by upwards of fifty weight percent (25 volume percent).
Other potential outlets for Kazakhstan produced sulfur include:
Sulfur polymer concrete slabs and blocks for construction
Sulfur Polymer Stabilization Solidification for radioactive and mercury contaminated materials
Screening-level Ecological Assessment for Sulfur Modified Concrete and Asphalt
The environmental behavior of these sulfur-modified construction materials resembles that of conventional Portland cement concrete and hot mix paving asphalt, except for the possible release of sulfur to the environment.
1.0 Introduction
Kazakhstan based oil & gas companies recover up to 3,000 metric tons per day of elemental sulfur from their product streams (approximately 500 tons of elemental sulfur is recovered for every 100,000 barrels of extracted petroleum in Kazakhstan [1]. The bulk of the sulfur is recovered by Tengizchevroil (TCO).
The developing Kashagan East prospect is pre-salt and involves drilling to a depth of approximately 5,000 meters.It has been predicted that any oil discovered in this area is most likely to be similar to Tengiz crude, i.e. exceptionally light and with a high H2S content and therefore requiring market outlets for recovered elemental sulfur.This field could more than double recovered elemental sulfur in Kazakhstan.
The Tengizchevroil and Kashagan East fields and production treatment facilities are within a very sensitive environmental and geopolitical area of the world with multiple important stakeholders, including consortium partners and Kazakhstan regulators.
In Europe and the United States recovered elemental sulfur is normally sold into the chemical and manufacturing market as a raw material for:
1) phosphate fertilizer (50%)
2) sulfuric acid, detergents, and other chemicals
3) metal and fiber industries
4) paint manufacture
5) rubber products
6) paper
7) pharmaceuticals