--> Abstract: Comparative Analysis of Athabasca Oil Sands and Green River Oil Shale Resources—Implications for Production, by James Bunger, Anton Dammer, Hugh Guthrie, and Butch Gangle; #90039 (2005)

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Comparative Analysis of Athabasca Oil Sands and Green River Oil Shale Resources—Implications for Production

James Bunger1, Anton Dammer2, Hugh Guthrie3, and Butch Gangle4
1 James W. Bunger and Associates, Inc, Salt Lake City, UT
2 Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserve, US DOE, Washington, DC
3 U.S. Department of Energy, Morgantown, WV
4 US DOE, Washington, DC

It is becoming increasingly clear that the United States must develop its vast oil shale resources. The richest Green River Formation oil shale zones are equal to, or richer in grade than oil sands produced commercially in Alberta. An estimated 400 billion barrels, in-place, are of 30 gal/ton or better. A high quality resource base, as measured by high grade and easy accessibility, is necessary to realize modest supply cost. Modest supply costs have been shown in Alberta to be necessary to warrant large capital investments.

There are substantial differences between the two resources in terms of ore mechanics, recovery conditions, and product qualities that require new technologies, and adaptations of technologies used in related industries, to produce oil from oil shale. Comparison of known mass and energy balances for oil sands with those calculated for oil shale strongly suggests that oil shale should experience similar profit potential. Products from oil shale will be more paraffinic, less alicyclic and less aromatic assuring good market acceptance. Environmental issues, while similar in nature, may have differing impacts and solutions, and these will need to be mitigated.

Oil shale has a similar business model to oil sands; that is, there is no discovery risk, high recovery efficiency, long-term dependability, but high capital costs. Considering that it may take more than a decade to establish an oil shale industry, that new supply is currently needed, and that product prices will almost certainly remain firm, a government-industry push to develop these resources now seems warranted.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90039©2005 AAPG Calgary, Alberta, June 16-19, 2005