The Glenwood post., 1917-10-20
STATE GEoLoG1sT MAKES RE-
PORT ON OIL sHALE DEPosITl

PORT ON OIL sHALE DEPOSITS
At the end of 1915 the total proven
area of productive oil land in the
United states was 4,l00 square milen
So-called coil fields" were of vastly
greater extent, but the actually prov
en- ground had the area stated. Up to
that date the total production Of oil
from the proven territory had been
l3,617 100000 barrels, and the possible
future production WAS estimated ut
5,753, 900 barrels. These two fig
ures added give the estimated total
original content of the proven fields ~
100000, 900 barrels. This wuuld be
2,27l 900 barrels per square mile for
the original content, and 1,40O,O bar
rels future production per square mile.
In northwestern Colorado alone we
have over $500 square miles of terri.
tory in which there are commercially
workable oil shale beds averaging over
90 feet in aggregate thickness, and cap
able of yielding at least SO gallons of
oil per ton of shale. mo beds under
four feet thick are included in this es-
innate. These figures are very con
servative, and believe far below the
mark, and yet their meaning is as
| founding. In one acre of this area
there would be 1880 barrels of oil. IN
each square mile there would be a.
100000 barrels. This is over ten times
as much as was originally contained
in each square mile of the proven all
territory in the United States, and
seventeen times as much per squai e
mile as now remains in the proven
fields. If we consider the whole area
of l,500 square miles of oil shale in
Colorado we have an oil content of 36.-
O00, 100000 barrels, or just under Ten
times as much as has been produced in
this country since the discovery of oil
in 1859.
Are these merely interesting facts,
or have they any commercial signifi-
cance! In Scotland, France, Australia
and New leland similar shales are be-
ing distilled, and the resulting crude
oil is refined and made to produce Il
great variety of commercial products.
The Scottish shale oil industry was
started about 1850, and is flourishing
today as never before. The dividends
paid by the operating companies range
from per cent to so per cent and the
average dividend would be "a per cent.
A comparison of conditions in Scot
land with those in Colorado may help
to answer the question.
The Scottish shales lie far below the
surface on which the treating plants
stand, and have to be hoisted through
shafts or hauled up inclines. The Col.
orado shales lie from 1000 to $500
feet above the valley floors where
plants should be erected, and can he
lowered by gravity. 10
The Scottish shales are in irrigular
beds, which thicker and thin out, are
faulty and thrown into folds which
greatly increase the cost of uiiniag.
The Colorado shale beds are constant
and uniform in thickness lie in hori.
zontal position and are neither folded
nor faulty.
The Scottish shale layers vary in
oil content from place to place. The
Co.orado rock is very constant in its
oil content.
The Scottish shales as worked aver.
age 80 U. s. Gallons of oil per ton
Vast bodies of Colorado, shales in
benches to 10 feet thick will average
over so gallons per ton. r
The Scottish shales yield the follow
| ing amount Of sulphate of amonia than
will the Colorado shales. This appear.
to be the only point of advantage pos
sessed by the Scottish shale.. .i
The Scottish shale yield the follow
ing commercial products: Gasoline
motor spirits, Illuminating oil, lubsica
ting oil, gas oil, sissniag oil, tuts eil
Emssfias yax eete, stin Fesss, ,nl