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Title: Synthetic fuels - where have we been. where are we going

Journal Article · · Mines Mag.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5636114

The term synthetic fuel is somewhat of a misnomer in that it implies some material produced through the wonders of alchemy, when in reality these so-called synthetic fuels are merely fuels produced from sources other than those yielding conventional petroleum. In the common vernacular, these synthetic fuels, or synfuels, normally include those produced from oil shale, oil sands, or coal conversions. Interestingly, these synfuels have been a part of the US energy picture longer than the conventional petroleum-based fuels we now take for granted. Had it not been for major discoveries of petroleum and natural gas within the US and throughout the world, we might now be calling fuels from oil shale, oil sands and coal conversion conventional. The history and prospects for the synfuels industry in the US are reviewed.

Research Organization:
Colorado School of Mines, Golden
OSTI ID:
5636114
Journal Information:
Mines Mag.; (United States), Vol. 74:9
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English