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<br /> <br /> <br /> electric al demands for water [ both during the various extraction and development <br />phases and the additional demand from the workforce to support the industry <br />(workers, housing, etc.) ] . <br />Task 2.1.1 - Extraction and Development ( Direct Use ) <br />According to the US Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, <br />estimates of water requirements for mining activities range from 10 gallons per ton to more <br />than 150 gallons per ton of coal mined, with a lower range applicable to western coals with <br />minimal revegetation activities and the higher end applicable to underground mining of <br />eastern coals (Gleick 1994). Another source, the U.S. Water Resources Council estimated <br />that oil shale development will increase annual consumptive water use in the Upper Colorado <br />Region by about 150,000 acre - feet per year for each million barrels (oil equivalent) per day <br />of production, which is the equivalent of about three barrels of water per barrel of oil (U.S. <br />Water Resources Council, 1981). Other estimate s range from 2.1 to 5.2 barrels of water per <br />barrel of shale oil product (OTA, Volume I, 1980). This de mand, in addition to the demand <br />for water to produce natural gas , will be assessed by contacting key natural gas companies in <br />the region to gain an est imate of the average amount of water that is used in developing a <br />well including primary activities of drilling and dust control . <br />URS will conduct a survey of key natural gas and oil shale production companies in the <br />Yampa/White Basins as part of the quant ification of direct water uses during the extraction <br />and development phases. In addition, URS will contact the Colorado Oil and Gas <br />Commission (COGC) staff (natural gas regulators) and the Division of Reclamation and <br />Mine Safety (oil shale regulators) to u nderstand what, if any, limiting production factors alter <br />the rate of increase in production during natural gas and oil shale development. <br />From these estimates a list of simple assumptions for determining water use will be <br />developed for each type of ener gy development. These will be used to construct scenario’s <br />from which demand can be projected. In addition other factors will be outlined including : <br /> Spatial analysis of the spread of new natural gas development <br /> Rate of new well development <br /> Average amou nt of produced water to offset demand <br />Task 2.1.1 Deliverable – URS will develop scenarios with different natural gas and oil shale <br />techniques and production rates for each . URS will compile the results of the assessment <br />into a table . <br />Task 2.1.2 – Indire ct/ Municipal Uses <br />According to the US Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, both <br />plant operations and construction for oil shale development, will bring an estimated 70,000 <br />workers who will be directly employed. Beyond these direct employment increases, indirect <br />increases in employment will occur, stemming from three general effects: <br /> - 8 - <br />