Shale oil reserves

The continental U.S. has more oil reserves than all of the Middle East. The largest basin extends into Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. The problem is that most of it is trapped in shale rock formations. The oil has permeated and adhered to the grains of the rock. Russia and China also have large shale oil reserves.

In 1980 a pilot recovery system was successful in extracting marketable fuel without further refinery cost. The best estimate for full scale production was $70 a barrel. The market for crude from drilled wells was under $40 a barrel. The pilot plant was converted to a refinery.

Shale oil usually has few impurities. The pilot plant production was gasoline, propane, and crushed aggregate. The aggregate was suitable for use with concrete production. There was no waste product.

 Inflation would have tripled the production cost. Fortunately technology has negated inflation, keeping the price per barrel under $80. When the price per barrel got to $75, gasoline went over $4.00 a gallon. OPEC knew that price per barrel was not sustainable, because it was too close to the production cost for refining shale oil.

Shale oil is a strip mine operation. It is not as dirty as coal because the permeated oil holds the dust particles. It does have a greater fire risk during handling than coal. However, the heat intensity is equivalent to a weenie-roast bon fire. Accidents involving raw product is limited to the footprint of the release.

If we want to be energy independent why doesn't the government assist in getting this type of production in place? Why the constant harping about alternative energy sources? Don't these "harpers" know we already have an effective and efficient infrastructure and delivery system for heating our homes and moving about our community? Why fix a system that isn't broken?