Iran Develops Groundbreaking Shale Oil Extraction Technology
WANA (Dec 23) – In collaboration with the National Iranian Oil Company, researchers at the University of Tehran have pioneered a new technology for oil extraction from shale reservoirs. This is the first time such technology has been introduced in Iran, using semi-coke methods at a laboratory-to-semi-industrial scale.
Dr. Ali Shakarifard led the project to explore shale oil potential in Lorestan’s Qalikooh region. In partnership with Tallinn University of Technology in Estonia, the research involved over 3,500 analyses and demonstrated that semi-coke technology could produce high-quality oil from Iranian shale.
The project included three key phases of work. In the first phase, researchers demonstrated the ability to produce premium-quality oil from Qalikooh shale. In the second, adjustments to particle size distribution and carbonate matrix removal using hydrochloric acid increased oil recovery rates by 78–120%, with enriched shale yielding up to 194 liters of oil per ton.
In the final phase, advanced laboratory systems and a semi-industrial unit (TRL 5) were designed to replicate core shale oil production processes.
The project also led to the designing of a semi-industrial unit and the establishment of Iran’s first shale oil pyrolysis lab. This breakthrough lays the foundation for a new shale oil industry in Iran, with potential for large-scale production.
In recognition of its significance, the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology awarded the project as the top national industrial initiative in December 2024.