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The discussion of oil shale in the recent letters to the editor demonstrates the continuing interest in and controversy surrounding oil shale. In writing this letter I fully recognize the emotion that is generated by the mere mention of oil shale, for I spent most of my career following its ups and downs and lost my job during the last downturn. However, I do not think that should be the basis for giving false information to the public.
Here are some facts about oil shale. It contains a solid hydrocarbon called kerogen that when heated gives up petroleum like oil and gas. On average, oil shale contains about 5 parts inorganic material to one part hydrocarbon (not 19:1). That means that nearly one barrel of oil can be recovered from a cubic yard of a solid piece of oil shale (about 3 x 3 x 3 ft).
Yes, it is more expensive to produce oil from oil shale than conventional oil fields, and that is why it has not ever gone into commercial production in the United States. However, there is commercial production from oil shale in China, Estonia and Brazil. In Estonia, oil shale provides all the petroleum products for the country, and electric power produced from oil shale is exported to other Baltic countries.
There are numerous independent source s of technical information that confirms that oil shale contains more energy that it consumes in releasing its oil and gas. Estimates range from a ratio of 1:3 to 1:6 depending upon the technology. I refer readers to an independently prepared document by the Rand Corporation, Oil Shale Development in the United States – Prospects and Policy Issues by James Bartis and others, published in 2005. Page 18 confirms these findings.
Whether oil shale is to reduce our dependence upon foreign petroleum is still in question, but a number of companies are still spending a great deal of money on research and development because they believe it has technical and economic merit, and its development can meet stringent environmental standards.
GLENN VAWTER
Executive Director
National Oil Shale Association
Glenwood Springs
3 Responses to “There is hope for oil shale in the future”
Posted November 19th, 2008 at 4:20 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Super nice marketing effort, Glenn - but, we ain’t buying what you’re selling. Been to Estonia or Ft. McMurray lately to witness the environmental fallout?
Remind me again how many US taxpayer dollars were spent on the failed Anvil Points cleanup project? Was it $25 million, or a bit more? And, while we’re on it - just how many tax dollars were pissed away on Government “guaranteed pricing” for hopeless extraction of the miracle oil shale juice (was it only $42/barrel that we suckers paid?) during the last “beating of a dead horse” in the late 70’s/early 80’s.
Don’t forget - a ton of phone books (or a ton of Captain Crunch) has a greater BTU content than a ton of organic marlstone!
Even our conservative neighbors recognize the FOLLY and ABSURDITY of pursuing oil shale:
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Published on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 by the Salt Lake Tribune
Oil Shale Frenzy - Bush rules a gift to oil companies
Salt Lake Tribune Editorial
“It’s still November, but Christmas is arriving early for fossil-fuel extraction companies that have had oil shale on their wish lists for years.
The Bush administration’s Interior Department wants to open millions of public acres in Utah, Colorado and Wyoming to oil companies to extract kerogen, a sludgy form of oil, from shale rock. As Bush’s days in Washington wind down, his agents are working to give Big Oil a firm toehold on public lands by sidestepping the usual public-appeal process and adopting regulations that give companies a deal on royalties.
New rules would require payment of only a 5 percent royalty on oil shale for the first five years of production, while regular oil and gas wells pay 12.5 to 18.8 percent — a nice gift to energy companies that American taxpayers could end up paying for in environmental degradation?.
The traditional processes for producing oil from shale, which require huge amounts of water and produce millions of tons of CO2, are potentially dangerous for the fragile deserts and high plains of the West. There is too little data on the effects of such invasive extraction.
Experiments are on-going for a less-harmful method that is more resource-friendly. Until new technology is developed — and it is apt to take a decade, researchers say — the federal government should hold back on leases for what amounts to large-scale strip mining for oil.
The economic feasibility of oil-shale extraction waxes and wanes according to the price of oil on the world market. When oil prices are high, it’s worth the expense to mine oil from shale — about $37.75 to $65.21 a barrel, compared with $19.50 a barrel for conventional crude. But when oil prices drop, companies abandon the projects, often devastating local economies. Utah saw such boom-bust cycles in the ’80s, to our regret.
The rule-setting process for oil shale mining was halted by a congressional moratorium two years ago. That moratorium was allowed to expire this year, largely in response to record-setting fuel prices and the Republican mantra, “Drill, baby, drill.” Utah’s Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson irresponsibly joined the GOP chorus.
AMERICA MUST WEAN ITSELF OFF CARBON-BASED ENERGY. BY CONTINUING TO PROVIDE LAVISH INCENTIVES FOR OIL PRODUCTION, INSTEAD OF ENCOURAGING CONSERVATION AND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT, WE MERELY QUICKEN OUR PACE TOWARD CATASTROPHIC CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSED BY THE BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS.”
Posted November 19th, 2008 at 5:09 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Nigel,
I have always believed what Glen is saying, that there is a future for Oil Shale. When we have exhausted all our petroleum products and all of our energy needs are being met by electricity; we will still need a small amount of oil as a feedstock to make plastic for credit cards.
Posted November 19th, 2008 at 5:40 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Indeed. Credit cards. So we can continue to buy cheap plastic (oil-based) crap imported from China. And continue mortgaging our future and the planet’s future.
As for oil shale’s future? Give it another several hundred thousand years of time, heat and compression and it might be a viable product.
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