View on oil shale development

Conference · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6155470

Weichman, B

An examination of energy statistics shows clearly that the US is on the edge of an impending energy crisis. This appears preposterous in the face of a world oil glut and probable world oil price decreases over the next year or so. However, oil supply, oil demand and US economy statistics support the scenario of a rapidly occurring energy crisis in the US should oil imports be shut off even partially. This is not an unlikely happening under present world tensions. Oil and gas exploration and production statistics support the view that domestic oil reserves will continue to decline even if concentrated oil exploration activity were maintained. The shortest avenue for US energy independence is through the development of synthetic fuels. However, a detailed study shows that, under present technology, synthetic fuels cannot be produced economically regardless of the price of crude oil. One exception to this economic situation is shale oil coproduced with other minerals from the vast Saline Zone oil shale resource of northwest Colorado.

• Research Organization: Beneco, Inc., Houston, TX
• OSTI ID: 6155470
• Report Number(s): CONF-8405216-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 68:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040800* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Economics
Industrial
& Business Aspects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
294004 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Oil Shales & Tar Sands
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
INDUSTRY
MARKET
MATERIALS
OIL SHALE INDUSTRY
OIL SHALES
PETROLEUM
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
RESOURCE POTENTIAL