U. S. could learn from Russian experiences with oil shale

Journal Article · Mon Dec 09 04:00:00 EST 1968 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5665093

Gardner, F J

The Russian experience with production of oil and gas from shale holds some lessons for those who are pushing for exploitation of the vast shale deposits in the western U.S. The Soviet oil-shale industry, largest in the world, is sagging under the combined pressure of that country's economic reform program--a technological lag-- and increasingly stiff competition from other fuels. Production of raw shale in Estonia and neighboring Leningrad Province was originally scheduled to grow by at least a third during the current Soviet 5-yr plan. Instead, it has virtually leveled off. Estonian officials have fought tooth and nail to protect the small Soviet republic's biggest industry against crude-oil and natural-gas competition, and against charges that further head-long oil-shale development is uneconomic and in violation of Kremlin directives requiring all nondefense enterprises to show a profit.

• OSTI ID: 5665093
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 66:50; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040800* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Economics
Industrial
& Business Aspects
ASIA
COMPETITION
EASTERN EUROPE
ECONOMICS
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCES
EUROPE
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDUSTRY
MINERAL OILS
NATURAL GAS
OIL SHALE INDUSTRY
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PRODUCTION
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ROCK
SHALE OIL
USSR