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Oil Shale

Overview of recent research and policy documents on oil shale development in the U.S. West. Scroll down for a link to a library of key resources.

Report: Oil Shale: 14 Unanswered Questions
This report (updated Jan., 2010) summarizes recent research and policy documents concerning oil shale development in the U.S. West. We conclude there are at least 14 unanswered questions about the viability of oil shale production at a commercial-scale. Answering these questions will be crucial to making informed decisions about the future of the industry and the relationship between its impacts and benefits.

Original (2009) Summary digest of 14 Questions report.
WUI white paper by Headwaters Economics
Click on image to download report.


Development Timeline: Oil Shale Activities in Colorado and Utah
This diagram reviews the key stages of oil shale development, the level of investment involved in them, and where current oil shale development activities fall into this timeline.

Click to go to diagram.

Oil Shale Library: Publicly Available Sources
Click here for a list of key reports, public policy documents, research, and analysis concerning the potential of a commercial oil shale industry.

The library is organized by the type of source and features brief annotations regarding the contribution of each entry.

Headwaters Economics
Mail: P.O. Box 7059, Bozeman MT 59771
Deliveries: 810 N. Wallace Avenue, Suite D, Bozeman MT 59715
Ray Rasker Ph.D. 406.570.7044 | Ben Alexander 406.599.7423 | Patty Gude 406.599.7425 | Chris Mehl 406.570.8937
Mark Haggerty 406.570.5626 | Julia Haggerty Ph.D. 406.600.1766 | Josh McCord 406.570.2914

Banner photo is large weathered oil shale sample showing bedding planes and fissures. Uinta Basin, Utah. Source: Argonne National Laboratory.