17th oil shale symposium proceedings: table of contents

Abstract

From the Foreword: Although the 17th Oil Shale Symposium was held this year, 1984 is actually the 20th Anniversary of the 1st Oil Shale Symposium which was held in the Denver Hilton Hotel on April 30th and May 1st, 1964. The 1st Symposium was held as a result of the leasing of the Anvil Points facility of the U.S. Bureau of Mines by the Colorado School of Mines Research Institute to "investigate the technical feasibility of certain mining, crushing, and retorting techniques for oil shale." The investigation was sponsored by Socony Mobil Oil Company and Humble Oil and Refining Company. It is of interest to note that one of the paper was titled "Oil Shale Development Handicapped by Government Indecision" (given by The Honorable Wayne N. Aspinall, Congressman from Colorado). Although there is still a more than adequate supply of government indecision, there has been a great deal of progress over the last 20 years and solutions have been developed for many of the technical, environmental, and socioeconomic problems known at that time. Since then many new problems have been discovered, and papers given at the 17th Oil Shale Symposium reflect the effort to provide solutions to known problems, as well as to problems that might occur. It is encouraging that work is still continuing even though the potential oil shale industry is at a low point in its roller coaster cycle of development. A great deal is riding on the efforts of Union Oil Company of California in operating their bottom feed retort in Parachute. The technical and economic data obtained from their operation will be the yardsticks to compare the costs of shale oil from Green River shales with those of developing an equivalent amount of new crude oil for U.S. consumption. Papers at this Symposium show that progress is being made in quantizing many of the technical, environmental, and health aspects involved in developing a viable shale oil industry. When the industry does develop, it will be one of the most studied industries in the history of the world. If as much thought was placed on political issues, there is a very good chance that Thomas Jefferson and his cohorts would still be wrestling with the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution would be several more centuries down the road. Thanks are due to the speakers, authors, companies, and attendees who made this meeting possible. I look forward to your participation next year. James H. Gary Director of Symposia and Professor of Chemical and Petroleum-Refining Engineering.