Oil shale perspectives

Conference · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6156175

Knutson, C F; Dana, G F

The worldwide oil shale resources are extremely large. As an example, the calculated recoverable oil from just the Green River Formation in the tri-state area of Colorado-Utah-Wyoming is as large as the estimated ultimate total conventional oil production from the entire world. In addition there are significant resources in other parts of the USA and in other countries. Despite the great potential, the peace of western oil shale development took a general downturn in 1982 because of a combination of factors led by an uncertainty concerning short to intermediate term pricing for crude oil, a lesser demand for petroleum products, and increased projected costs for development. An example is Exxon's announcement that the Exxon/TOSCO multi-billion dollar project would be discontinued and most of its support equipment sold. In the eastern part of the country, Paraho decided not to move its project to Kentucky unless additional financial support could be obtained. On the international front, Brazil and Morocco are actively developing oil shales in their countries, and feasibility and background studies are being conducted in other areas of the world. The industry, from a future commercial development standpoint, and the government, following its policy to promote high-risk, long-range, high-return energy projects, should accelerate their efforts in oil shale research and development. A lead time of 3 to 5 years is necessary from the planning stage to the first barrel of shale oil production. Using a 20,000 bbl/day plant as a minimum goal, modular development of several competing processes and technologies should be conducted in the near future.

• Research Organization: GeoEnergy Corp., Las Vegas, NV
• OSTI ID: 6156175
• Report Number(s): CONF-8304200-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 67:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040100* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Reserves & Exploration-- (-1989)
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
294004 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Oil Shales & Tar Sands
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
INFORMATION
MINERAL RESOURCES
NUMERICAL DATA
OIL SHALE DEPOSITS
RESERVES
RESOURCES