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by-product. It also will still further reduce the avail- ability of by-product gases from retorting and refining. It is probable that a supplementary energy source, such as coal or natural gas, will be used to supply a part of the energy requirements of the shale oil plants. The principal by-products of shale oil production and refining during Phase IV will be ammonia and sulfur. Coke production probably will have increased slightly over the level of Phase III, but it is doubtful that refinery gases will be an important product for outside use. It has been suggested that shale oil production would provide raw materials for a petrochemicals industry. While several shale oil fractions, in particular the lighter hydrocarbons from hydrogenation refining, are suitable petro- chemical raw materials, it is doubtful that they will be used as such in western Colorado. First, petroleum con- sumed as petrochemicals amounts to only about 2 percent of the petroleum demand and raw materials from current sources seem adequate for the foreseeable future. Second, western Colorado is far from chemical markets and is handicapped by high freight rates. If shale oil is used as a petrochemical raw material, it is likely to be converted to chemical pro- ducts at pipeline terminals in the market area. The use of oil shale directly, as a chemical raw mater- ial, is a distinct possibility in the future, but the tech- nology to derive valuable chemicals from shale has not yet been fully developed. The lack of readily usable processes and plentiful raw materials from other sources makes it doubtful that oil shale will be used for chemicals production to an appreciable exte~during the next 15 years. -24- I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I