BLM Oil Shale

Government Report: America’s Combined Energy Resources Largest on Earth

Editor’s Note: Utah Governor Lashes Out Over BLM Oil Shale Policy stating, “”This nonsensical, bass-ackwards, peekaboo policy is nothing more than political posturing by overreaching federal bureaucrats,” Gov. Gary Herbert said. “With no science and no data, and with a wave of their federal bureaucratic magic wand, they just take the bulk of the acreage off the market, stifle innovation, and demonstrate, yet again, that this administration is patently hostile toward even the possible development of much-needed energy resources.”

By brandon loomis

The Salt Lake Tribune

Published: February 4, 2012 08:08AM
Updated: February 7, 2012 01:47PM

From: SunHerald 

Research and Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/15c65679/niobrara_shale_in) has announced the addition of GlobalData ‘s new report “Niobrara Shale in the US, 2012 – Oil Shale Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2020” to their offering.

Niobrara Shale in the US, 2012 – Oil Shale Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2020 is the latest report from the industry analysis specialist GlobalData to provide insight into oil and gas exploration, production, and development in the Niobrara shale play. The report highlights the oil and gas exploration potential of the Niobrara shale play, providing details of the key exploration areas and major exploration companies in the US. The report also provides an understanding of the essential parameters for leasing in Colorado and Wyoming states.

For others, it was the agency itself, and what they saw as an overly restrictive approach to developing energy on public lands.

People on both sides were disappointed in a forum not designed for them to speak openly — instead it sought to inform comments that they could submit later — and with a Grand America Hotel meeting room that was too small for the 100-plus participants to move freely.

From: Rand

Since the early 1980s, oil shale — sedimentary rock that contains solid bituminous materials that are released as petroleum-like liquids when the rock is heated — has not been on the U.S. energy policy agenda. But with oil prices hovering above $60 per barrel and the demand for oil continuing to grow, interest in oil shale is also growing. In particular, oil shale is explicitly addressed in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. But the prospects for a viable oil shale industry are unclear; what knowledge we have is based on assessments that are clearly dated.

From: CBS

SILT, Colo. — The federal government is holding the first of several public meetings on plans for oil shale development on public lands that would keep activity off thousands of acres of environmentally sensitive areas in three Western states.

Under the proposal, new leases initially would be issued strictly for research on how to commercially produce oil from oil shale in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado.

The first meeting is being held Monday in Silt to discuss the environmental impact and the different options that have been announced.

From: Vernal Express

The Uintah County Commission voted unanimously last week to create a countywide Energy Zone and develop plans for oil shale and oil sands extraction.

“We are updating (the county’s) general plan and upon approval will simultaneously be combined in the state legislature with Energy Zones to be discussed elsewhere in Utah,” said Mike McKee, county commissioner.

The vote added two general plan amendments, both intended to maximize efficient energy development in the county.

The Energy Zone overlaps township and range boundaries from south of the Green River to the Grand County line and east to west from the Colorado state line to Duchesne County.

From: The Daily Sentinal (Grand Junction, CO)

By Dennis Webb

Shell has broken ground on the first project on any of its three federal oil shale research and development leases, a company representative said today.

Carolyn Tucker told the Northwest Colorado Oil and Gas Forum in Rifle that the company continues to make “significant progress” on its oil shale project, which until now has occurred only on Shell land. She said she wanted to provide the update partly in light of Chevron’s announcement a few days ago that it is divesting itself of its oil shale R&D lease in Colorado. Chevron said it wanted to focus on other priorities.