Thirteenth oil shale symposium proceedings

Abstract

Foreword: For many years the commercial production of shale oil in the United States has been "just around the corner." Perhaps the 13th Oil Shale Symposium will signify the approach of the turn because everything is now favorable for proceeding except for the resistance of the no-growth groups. It is essential that the initial phases of the industry be established to provide answers for many unanswered questions regarding the environmental, economic, social and political impacts of shale oil production at a commercial scale. Although shale oil production costs are site, deposit and process specific, the production costs of $20 to $50 per barrel look promising compared to the 1980' s costs of $100 per barrel to find and develop a new barrel of conventional crude oil and $25 to $50 per barrel to produce crude oil from existing fields by enhanced recovery methods. It still remains to be seen whether the predicted temporary glut of world oil and U.S. and world economic recession* together with the dire predictions by no growth groups of environmental, social and economic disasters if a commercial shale oil operation is established in Western United States, will stop the present impetus of oil shale development or whether now is the time. This year's papers dealt with many of the above aspects of oil shale development and the authors are to be commended on their work. I also wish to thank Dr. R. E. Poulson and the Laramie Energy Technology Center for their support as well as the Session Chairmen and the many others who made things run so smoothly. James H. Gary Professor of Chemical and Petroleum- Refining Engineering