The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1946-11-22
Oil
to Build
Reserves
BY ROBERT E. GEIGER
Associated Press

energy in his automobile and
furnace, government fuel ex-
perts predict, this nations oil
reserves may be at a danger
ously low point.
But scientists are working
to build a neW American fuel
industry to fill the gap.
This is the oil shale indus
try, with a known reserve from
four to five times as great
as the petroleum reserve.
Scientists forecast that with
in three years they a demon
strate a practicable method of
operation, Thus they hope to
accomplish in a few years what
experts of many nations have
been trying to do for decades.
The government is spending
$50, 000,0 900 to develop fuel and
oil from shale and other sour
ces.
Statistics of the American
Petroleum institute show
America is consuming more
than 1900, 900 ,000 barrels of oil
a year. The proved reserve is
around 20,453, 231 900 barrels,
less tnan a 20-year supply.
Reserves Large
But DR.. w. c. Shredder,
chief of the Office of Synthe-
tic Liquid Fuels Of the Bureau
of Mines, estimates that oil
shale reserves of the United
States contain four or five
times this much recoverable
oil, or about 90 000, 900 600 bar
rels.
About $4,000, O00, 900 barrels
or 81 per cent of the recover
able toIal are in the Green
River formation of Colorado,
Wyoming and Utah. Another
major deposit is in the new
Albany formation of Indiana,
Kentucky and Ohio. Texas ard
Nevada have known isolated
deposits, and smaller beds a
found in 10 other states.
The Navy, greatest user If
power in the nation, believes
these oil shale deposits SO i'm
portant to national security
that 163, 484 acres of shale e.
serves have been set aside for
il.
Costs Are High
Without the aid Of govern
ment subsidies or high tariffs,
large scale oil shale Industries
have never existed in any
country during %peacetime be-
cause of the competition of pc
troleum.
However, with improved me-
thods and by the sale of valu-
able by-produets, this eondi-
ton may change, experts say.
Some by-products include de
tergeEts, insecticides, plant
sprays, resins, solvents, emul-
styling agents, medicinal chem
zeal bases, dyes, phenols, ere
soils and numerous organic
sulphur and nitrogen chemical
compounds.
Du.Ing the wal Germany de-
veloped new processes and
these now are available to
American scientists.
Sweden also had a unique
oil shale project. Experts of
the Bureau of Mines say Swe-
dish engineers drilled holes in
to ear-the-surfaee shale beds.
They introduced heat into these
holes by means of electricity.
The temperature of the ground
was raised until the oil vapor-
lied and escaped through the
holes. The vaper then was
condensed and refined, produc-
ing oil. .
Tropic Plants Grown
A queer by-product of this
project was reported. The in
tense heat was said to make it
possible to grow sub-tropical
vegetation in a climate distinct
ly northern. Swedish experts
repeatedly estimated the soil
warmth might last for years,
permitting the growing of ex-
otto plants.
Such a method is not expect
ed in American shale areas.
For one thing vast quantities
of electricity are not available,
and in addition much of the
shale soil isn't sufficiently rich
for ciops.
Recovery of oil from shale
requires three processes: min
ing the shale, retorting or
frying the oil from the shale
and refining the crude oil OBJ
tanned from shale Each phase
represents enormous problems.
To work out these problems
a $500. 900 research and devel-
opment laboratory has been
built at the University of Wy
oming at Laramie. AT Anvil
Points. near Rifle, Solo, in the
heart of the oil shale district,
a ST. 100000 demonstration
plant is being erected.