Laserfiche WebLink
<br />. <br /> <br />Requirements for additional municipal and industrial water <br />as estimated in this report are based on a logical and orderly <br />development of an oil shale industry. Even partial development of <br />the oil shale potentialities would require significant quantities of <br />water for industrial processing and for related service industries and <br />residential areas. The firm of Cameron and Jones, Incorporated, <br />Engineers-Consultants, was retained by the State of Colorado to make <br />a study of water requirements of the potential oil shale industry and <br />related developments. The study was summarized in a report dated <br />JUly, 1959, a copy of which is appended to this report. This discussion <br />summarizes data presented in the Cameron and Jones report and other <br />data obtained from studies prepared by agencies of the State of <br />Colorado. <br /> <br />The general area also contains a wealth of other resources <br />that could materially contribute to the growth of population centers <br />and increase demands for municipal and industrial water. These <br />resources include mineral deposits, timber reserves, gas and petro- <br />leum reserves, agricultural potentialities, and recreational possi- <br />bilities. No attempt is made in this report to evaluate the additional <br />requirements for municipal and industrial water that could result from <br />future development of industry based on these resources. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Need and pattern of oil shale development <br /> <br />The demand for oil in the United States and throughout the <br />world is generally expected to increase for an indefinite period in <br />the future. Petroleum production in the United States has increased <br />steadily but has not kept pace with demand during the past decade. <br />It is predicted in the Cameron and Jones report that domestic produc- <br />tion of petroleum will continue to increase until the period 1965 to <br />1970 and then will begin a gradual decline. It is stated in the <br />report that the reason for this decline will not necessarily be that <br />the industry cannot locate new sources of petroleum but rather that <br />the cost of oil from alternative sources, such as oil shale, will be <br />less than the cost of locating and producing petroleum from new <br />sources. <br /> <br />The widening gap between demand and petroleum production in <br />the United States has been filled with imports from foreign sources. <br />It is stated in the Cameron and Jones report that this practice can <br />probably be followed through 1965 without the nation becoming overly <br />dependent upon overseas oil. It was concluded that the 1960-65 <br />period would be a logical time for initial commercial developnent. of <br />the oil shale industry. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />29 <br /> <br />