The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-08-15
OH SUPPLY.
IS PROMISED
IN COLORADO
Vast Shale Fields Will BE
Called On When Natural
Fields Fail

Denver, SOlO., mug. L.. W. We
shale, rising in rocky ranges in west
ern Colorado and stretching north
and westward into Wyoming and
Utah, offers man mammoth on
supply when he has exhausted the
natural oil fields Of the world. :,
Exploitation of the source, federal
and private experts are convinced
awaits only the waning OF the ma
tion's oil supply to point where
some new method OF oil derivation Is
necessary, and the development OF
commercially feasible method OF con.
verting into oil the hydrogen ana
carbon atoms with which the shale
teens.
Experimental Plant Built
So sure are those concerned with
the future oil supply that the fields
of shale will yield it. that the United
States government already has es-
tabished an experimental plant NJ
Rulison, Colo, for conversion OF
shale into oil and has set aside IN
the region q naval shale reserve,
while private companies have OBJ
tanned rights to almost all the ranges
not embraced in government re-
serves.
In the Immediate area of western
Colorado are some 1900 square miles
known to contain oil shale-the heart
Of the largest shale deposits in the
world. Government and private
students of the field estimate that
it will yield barrel to barrel and
q half Of crude oil from each ton Of
shale treated. Victor g. Anderson,
former president of the Colorado
School Of Mines. places the produc-
tive value of the fields at between
80 and 80 billion gallons of oil
enough to last the United States for
= century at the present annual rate
Of consumption, which Is 76O5to 800
million barrels.
The deposits are most extensive IN
The vicinity Of Grand Junction De-
Eecue and Palisades. Some Of the
shale mountains rise to 1000 feet.
| The oil strata range from . few
inches to several feet in thickness.
and in color from light tan to . dark
mahogany.
Oil IL NaAwiactMred
| The shales do mot contain oil
merely the elements nefessady to oil.
1 The oil l. manufactured from the
. rocks. Patents for Hundreds Of pro.
| duction processes have been granted.
most Of them to ColoSadoans, and
several small plants IRE now in oper-
alton seeking. 70 prove economic
feasibility Of the. process. 4 simila!
conversion of Shale 60 s0h Il practiced
"a Scotland, but IL e not 31emed
practical Tor handling the Colorado
| Shale. Some authorities Hold that
dif can be produced fs0a tn shah,
when need arises,. At . commercial
cost Of 81 . barrel ss
The shale mountains. exploited fol
oil, may also YielA . by-product Of
! fertiliser.. Fskmsrs near DeBeqne
say they Aave picked shals rocks oil
their fields, burned them. Aild found
that on the next year the grain Trows
from six inches To .wo &eet taller 0u
the spots where the blN1k 4Sh .of .the
rocks was LETT, and that. Is also pro.
duce4 . heavier yield,
] Operators have 1pnD9 r. the treat-
/, ment Of shale . p8oeees Tor iAdue.
trial power. When keak u appliet
within On aiftieht dxum q thA 1hall
for the lnanufactute..e1 oh eeftatI
eases are obtained. IhAAe hAro both
lhe4ting and lighting propeItias. and
i have been piped of ard led beneath
i the retorts to form The fuel by Ihict
i ~ fl1mAo are maiht4ined 1or host
l To- the roestta an3 keeping them Il
operation. The gaoes heve sa4o bel
Ep1ped "a power plAnae to MfaaAl
4 pcNsk Tor Speretion q trans -
-. a -. .s a ] 81, =. III. ..