WSP11937

• File Number: 8040.200
• Description: Section D General Studies-Energy
• Date: 1/1/1974
• Author: Davis-Wood-USGS
• Title: Energy-Oil Shale-Geological Survey Circular 703-Water Demands for Expanding Energy Development
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

Tabl!': I.-ContirJ8Cnt water conAumption foreoo!u, in acre-ft per year, for (J I-million-barre'-per-ooy &ha'e-oil industry
(Arter table 111-6, vol. I, U.S. Departmenl or the Interior, 1973)

Upper range

Most likely

Lower range

Process requirements

6.000- 8.000
9,000- 12,000
29,000- 44.000
47.000- 70,000
15.000- 23,000
0- 12.000
1.000- 1.000

8.000
12,000
44.000
84,000
37.000- 45.000
18.000
1.000

6,000
9.000
17,000-21.000
24,000
10.000
o
1,000

Mining and crushing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Retorting. . . . . .. . ... . ... . . . . . .. .. . . .. . . .... . .. . .. .. .
Shale oil upgrading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Processed shale disposal ................................
Power requirements ...................................
Revegetation . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sanitary use ................... - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

204,000-212.000

107,000-170.000

67.000-71,000

Subtotal

Associated urban

17,000
2,000

13,000- 17.000
1.000- 2.000

9,000-11,000
o

Domestic use ........................................
Domestic power ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19.000

14.000- 19.000

9.000-11,000

Subtotal.............................. ........

223.000-231.000

121,000-189.000

76.000- 82.000

TOTAL

Ancillary development

. 32,000- 64.000

Nahcolite/dawsonite . . .

255.000-295,000

121.000-189,000

76.000-82.000

GRAND TOTAL.......... .. -........ -. ... .. .. -.... .-

I Estimates based on one or two plants; however, ruture markets may support three plants (see Chapter I, Section C-l-f). With
three plants, Ihe upper limit would approximate 327,000 acre-fI or water per year. Development above the I-million-barrel-per-day
level, including a commitment to develop the Naval Oil Shale Reserves, would require additional waler.

Table 2.-Present and future water we, in thowand. of acre-fl per year, in the Upper Colorado River &sin
(Arter table 11.4, vol. I. U.S. Department or the Interior, 19731

Colorado Utah Wyoming Total
2,976 1.322 805 5.103
-1.788 -684 -304 -2,776
-955 -397 -392 -1.744
-342 -152 -92 -S86
+121 +18 +31 +170
12 107 48 167
2155 ' 19 174
167 107 67 341

Use

Allocated share of 5,750,000 acre-ftl .........................................
1970 use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Committed future use ................................... -. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .
Evaporation from storage units . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Credit for water salvage ............................ -. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .

Not identified as to use

Committed future use thal could be made available for oil shale. . . .. . . . . . . . . .

Total polential water that could be made available for depletion for oil-shale
development4 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

use, plus water from aUlhorized projects committed 10 oil.shale
developmeol aod water from existing reservoirs not presently
committed to a particular use. Additional water can be made
available if the States permit the industry to purchase some of
the water rights from those presently using water and if the use
category is changed rrom some of the future commitments.

I Arizona received the right to the consumplive use of the first
50,000 acre-ft per year.
2 From the existing Green Mountain and Ruedi Reservoir.; and
the authorized West Divide Project.
:I From the existing Fontenelle Reservoir-Seedskadee Project.
4This includes water not presently identified.for a particular

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