A--Cooperative Partnership and Opportunity

The United States Geological Survey's (USGS) Energy Resources Program is involved in studying the availability and quality of the Nation's mineral and energy resources, as well as the economic and environmental effects of resource extraction and use. The renewed interest in the potential of oil shale to support the nation's future energy demands has generated a need for better information about oil shale retorting methods as companies consider the economics of this potential enterprise. The USGS is interested in initiating a study effort that will contrast and compare various oil shale in-situ retort technologies to determine the factors controlling their yields and quality of petroleum generated, as well as generated components of environmental concern. Tentatively, the types of retort conditions to be considered in the study will be anhydrous, superheated steam and supercritical CO2. USGS is proposing to begin a laboratory study of yields and quality of petroleum generated by in situ retorting with the Green River Fm. in Rio Blanco Co, Colorado. USGS is seeking partners who are interested in participating in the laboratory and later field trials who have samples, personnel or funding to contribute to the effort. The USGS plans to develop the partnerships under the authority of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act as amended. USGS will consider other retorting technologies for the planned study depending on the interest of a particular party or parties. For more technical information on the project contact Michael Lewan and Ronald Hill, U. S. Geological Survey, Box 25046, MS 977, Denver Federal Center, Denver CO 80225; ML: +1 (555) 000-0000 (contact@example.gov) and JH: +1 (555) 000-0000 (contact@example.gov). For information on the partnership process contact Julia Giller, +1 (555) 000-0000 ext. 3034, contact@example.gov.