Shale oil: what's its future
A discussion of the future of oil shale may be divided into 2 parts--(1) the unsolved academic problems of the nature of oil shale and of the mechanism of its decomposition and (2) the likelihood of U.S. production of commercial shale oil. Several facts stand out regarding the future role of oil shale and shale oil. Oil shale is the largest global potential source of energy in the form of carbon-containing matter. However, the oil will not flow, but rather the shale must be mined and heated to a relatively high temperature to recover the oil. It is intimately associated with considerable quantities of mineral matter which not only absorbs a large amount of sensible heat, but also presents a real disposal problem. As with any national asset, the effect of government policy could decide one way or the other. In Spain, in Estonia, and in Australia, limitation of imports have subsidized the industry in the past. Tax concessions, depletion rate, excise remissions, and a host of paper charges probably will, in the long run, decide whether American shale oil will flow in the near future. The answer will be provided by those who make economic policy and not be technical men. (18 refs.)
- OSTI ID:
- 6949356
- Journal Information:
- Hydrocarbon Process. Pet. Refiner; (United States), Vol. 44:9
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
OIL SHALES
RETORTING
SHALE OIL
PRODUCTION
AUSTRALIA
FORECASTING
PERFORMANCE
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
SPAIN
TAXES
USA
AUSTRALASIA
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINEERING
EUROPE
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
MINERAL OILS
NORTH AMERICA
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
WESTERN EUROPE
040402* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Surface Methods