Oil Shale

Total U.S. oil shale resources could exceed 6 trillion barrels of oil.  Estimates indicate that 1.8 trillion barrels of recoverable oil are present in the richest oil shale deposits of the Green River formation located in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah.  The potential of our vast oil shale resources was recognized in 1912 by an Executive Order of President Taft establishing the Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves. 

Surface retorting and in situ techniques have been used here and in other countries to extract oil from shale.  It is expected that surface mining, underground mining, in situ, and modified in situ methods and technologies will be used depending on the depth, thickness, and quality of the resource in a specific location.  Total production cost, including a 15% rate of return, is estimated to be $35 - $54 per barrel initially, falling by 40% - 50% after a few years of production and experience.

A 2004 study concluded that developing our oil shale resources would not only make a valuable contribution to our energy security, national security, and economic well being, but could easily produce over 2 million barrels of oil per day by 2020.  Ultimate capacity could reach 10 million barrels per day at a cost of less than $25 barrel if regulatory, environmental, and socio-economic hurdles to developing this resource were overcome.  The major impediments include the 1920 Mineral Leasing Act, which restricts the number and size of leases available, the moratorium on oil shale leases, and obstructionists using the legal system to curtail or delay development, mainly due to environmental concerns.

Additional Oil Shale Resources

UFTF Press Release

UFTF Report To the President and Congress

Volume I - Preparation Strategy, Plan, and Recommendations

Volume II - Resource-Specific and Cross-cut Plans

Volume III - Resource and Technology Profiles

Environment, Safety, and Health

Development of America's Strategic Unconventional Resources

Secure Fuels from Domestic Resources

NPR's National Strategic Unconventional Resource Model

"From Reservoir to Refinery" and Other Educational Posters

Strategic Significance of America's Oil Shale Resource - Volume I

Strategic Significance of America's Oil Shale Resource - Volume II

Is Oil Shale America's Answer to Peak-Oil Challenge?

Oil Shale and the Environment

Oil Shale Water Resources

Energy Efficiency of Strategic Unconventional Resources

Carbon Management for Strategic Unconventional Resources

CRS Report for Congress