The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1916-03-17
UTAH IS
RICH IN SHALES
SOME TIME TO BE DEVELOPED
ON BIG LINES.


In view Of the now increasing de-
mand for gasoline and the Increase in
price Of crude OIL from which II IT,
obtained II u important to know that
an almost ineNhaustible supply of oil
may be obtained from the shales Of
Northwestern Colorado. Eastern Utah
and Southwestern wyoming In fact.
In Carbon county alone are thousands
upon thousands OF acres of deposits 81
shalc-mountains Of II In almost every
direction from Price This shaic con-
tains materials which. when heated.
may be converted into crude oil. gas
or ammonia. The high cost Of dis
tilling oil from shalc a. compared to
the cost 81 producing oil from wells
has thus far prevented the develop
ment In this country 81 such an indus
try and may continue 10 prevent itI
for some time. but sooner or later this
great source 81 supply will be utilized
TO supplement the decreasing produce
ton from the regular oil fields
The oil derived from the shaie Il
similar 10 that which a. being pro-
duced from wells In the United States
at the rate of more than two hundred
and fifty million barrels a year. when
refined by ordinary methods the shalc
oil yields an average Of about 10 per
cent gasoline. % per cent Kerosene
and large amount u Parafflne. The
Yield 81 gasoline from the shaic may
probably be largely increased by tho
use 81 refining methods especially de-
signed FOR that purpose. The gas.
4. al.A L. 4 49,. s...N Nt....f...sa.... =.
Will perhaps be sufficient 60 furnish
all the heat required 60 distiii the
crude oil from the shale.
The ammonia Il q most valuable by
product 81 the distillation and may be-
utilized In the manufacture of COM
mcrciai fertilizer Or other nitrogen
compounds ~ the market demands.
Tho United States geological survey
has examined large areas of the Hhalc
In Colorado. Utah and Wyoming and
has made many dirtillation tests.
Some beds uf rhaie that are several
feet thick viii yield more than bar
rel 81 III a. the ton ~ Hhale. and ono
bed rig inches thick viii Yield more
than two barrels uf crude oil a. the
ton of shnlc. one ton ~ this shaic
should. therefore. Yield nearly ton
gallons ~ gasoline 10y the present
commercial methods of gasoline cN-
traction. and larger yields may be-
made possible by now methods
Little attention has been paid CO.
this shai- because the quantity ~
petroleum produced from wells In the
United States has been sufficient e.
satisfy an dema',s nut Tor more than
fifty years the OH shaie industry 81
Scotland has. been u very important
one. In recent year more than
eight thousand men were employed in
the Industry In that country. yet the
average Yield of oil per ton 81 shale
was much less than that which app
pears possible from the shalc ~ Colo
RADIO aud Utah. II II estimated that
In Colorado alone there II sufficient
shale. In beds three feet or more thick
aud richer than the shalc being mined
In Scotland a. Yield $4,000. 900. O0o
barrels ~ crude oil. from which at
least 1000. ooo. oo0 barrels ~ gasoline
may be- extracted hy ordinary rcfln-
ing processes.
A. was stated In the recent reply 81
Secretary Lane 90 senate resolution
on the subject ~ gasoline. The de-
velopment of this enormous reserve
simply awaits the time when the price
OF gasoline 0r the demand Tor other
diHtillation products warrants the
utilization of this substitute source.
This may happen In the future. ~
all events these shales are likely 10 he
drawn upon long before the eNhaus-
ton of the petroleum fields"
II might be added that oil lime
shaie of the highest quality has been
/ found and tested In various parts of
Utah, Down near Juab station re-
torts have proven that the shales hold
the highest quality paraffine oils.
For the purpose Of working an i'm
mense deposit, engineers estimate IL
Go contain something like nine billion
tons ~ Oh shale, the Utah OH shale
| Products COMPANY owning shale
lands near Cotton, has recently been
| organized Preparations are being
made. according a. officials Of the
company, a. begin work on the prop
erty In the near future. The company
h controlled hy Utah mining men.
Carbon sheets at The sun.-Adyt.