The Glenwood post., 1923-10-18
THE POTENTIAL
SHALE INDUSTRY
By Hon. Lawrence G. Phipps, U. S.
=. Senator from Colorado)

since general attention was called to
the possibility of developing the oil
shale deposits of the west, particularly
has endeavored to keep in touch with
the march of progress and to note the
results of the investigations which
have been made to determine the areas
of shale lands that are oil bearing, the
possible yield of oil per acre, together
with the byproducts, such as ammoni
um sulphate, which may be recovered
through the process of reduction.
To one who has not made visit to
these extensive fields, it would be a
difficult matter to convey real under
tory and the geological strata which
contain the oil-bearing shales. Were
it not for the unusual manner in which
the action of the elements, through
the water courses and the process of
erosion, has cut through the original
formations, it would not have been
possible for me to realize even after
three or four visits to the various Sec
tions of these deposits, how extensive
and important they are.
The area of these oil shale lands in
Colorado alone amounts in round fig
ures to 100000 acres, while that of
Utah is approximately three times as
extensive, although the quality of
shale is not SO rich and will perhapes
yield only about one-fifth of the guam
tity of oil per acre that may be count
ed upon from the Colorado fields. The
state of Wyoming also has about half
a million acres of oil shale lands, but
so far as present investigation has de-
tcrmined, the yield of oil per acre will
only average 5000 barrels, as against
$4,000 barrels per acre for the Utah
lands, and $4,000 barrels per acre for
those in Colorado.
Taking this rate of production for
Colorado alone, we have reserve of
about $500, 100000 barrels of oil; for
Utah, 4O,500,OOO, 900 barrels and for Wy
oming, 5000, 0,OOO,O O,O0Obarrels. While the
figure for Colorado production may ap-
pear optimistic attention is called to
the fact that careful sampling of
twelve beds of workable thickness in
the Parachute canon district indicated
yield of 1s5,O00 barrels per acre as
against the estimate of $4,000 barrels,
which has been used in the above fig
ures for Colorado reserves.
These figures should be contrasted
with the estimate made about one year
ago by the U. S. Geological survey on
the reserve of petroleum underground,
recoverable by current production
methods, which was given as 9,159 ,OOO,-
900 barrels.
In what is believed to be the most
desirable section of the Parachute dis.
trict of Colorado, the government has
set aside as a naval reserve As ,444
acres of oil shale lands.
The oil produced from shales hai
proved to be at least equal if not su.
perior to the highest grade of petro-
leum obtained from wells; and in addi-
tion to the usual by-products which
may be recovered from same in the
process of refining, there will be
by-product over and above that secured
from petroleum in the form of am
monium sulphate, to the amount of
almost 500 tons per acre, or abou.
1OO,OOO,O00 tons that may be obtained
from the Colorado fields alone. There
is no question but that this material
will be in great and increasing de-
mand as fertilizer.
The operation of shale mining in
these deposits will be comparatively
simple, because the measures lie al
most horizontally and are thick enough
to furnish plenty of head room. The
water courses have cut numerous can
ons, with many jutting points, exposing
the slfale on their walls or slopes, and
thus affording favorable places for
mining operations. The elevation of
the shale beds above the valley floors
afford plenty of dump room for refuse
and also favorable loading facilities.
The valleys offer suitable sites for the
building of plants and camps at eleva-
tons such as to admit of continuous
operations through all seasons of the
year.
The Colorado fields are so situated
as to have a sufficient supply of water
for mining and retorting uses and are
conveniently located near a main line
railroad. They are also accessible to
communities where all classes OF SUD.
plies and labor are available.
1t has been estimated that, up to
the present time, at least $4,000, 900
has been expended in the development
of shale lands, on assessment work or
purchase, and the building and opera
| on of pypprinaufol rotl,,o1;a.