Hostname: page-component-7bb8b95d7b-nptnm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-10-06T18:28:30.749Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Environmental Implications of Oil-shale Development

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Paul D. Kilburn
Paul D. Kilburn
Affiliation:
Chief, Ecological Group, Woodward-Clyde Consultants, Rocky Mountain Region, 2909 West 7th Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80204; formerly Environmental Coordinator, Colony Development Operation, Atlantic Richfield Company, 1500 Security Life Building, Denver, Colorado 80202, U.S.A.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Certain areas of the Piceance Creek Basin are important, not only for their beauty and other amenities but also for their unusual ecosystems. Stoecker (1974) has suggested maintaining one of the larger boxcanyons in the southern portion as a nature reserve. Knutson & Boardman (1973) have suggested preserving a ‘green belt’ to involve the magnificient bluffs adjacent to the Colorado River. Preservation of the Cathedral Bluffs running north and south in the western portion has also been suggested. It is clear that a movement is growing to provide a system of natural areas throughout the Basin. Such a system would maintain important examples of representative vegetation types, wildlife habitat, geological and archaeological features, and other areas of particular ecological interest. This preserve system would maintain natural (or semi-natural) areas both as ecological baselines and as nuclei for obtaining biological ‘seed’ for rehabilitation of disturbed areas. A study to delineate suitable areas that could be included in such a system is surely needed.

Man is viewing vast resources in the Piceance Creek Basin, which probably has the world's largest known hydrocarbon deposit, and his use thereof seems inevitable. The magnitude of the deposit certainly demands a major planning effort. One can even speculate into the future, as Knutson & Boardman (1973) have done, to visualize a concerted or systems approach to obtaining and processing this resource.

Nevertheless, until commercial activity begins and monitoring procures actual data, predictions will remain speculative. Operation of a few commercial plants, mines, and rehabilitation activities, is needed in order that precise predictions can be made for better delineation and quantification of the environmental impacts of a major shale-oil industry.

Type
Main Papers
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 3 , Issue 2 , Summer 1976 , pp. 101 - 115
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 1976

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Block, M. B. & Kilburn, P. D. (Eds) (1973). Processed Shale Revegetation Studies 1965–1973. Colony Development Operation, Denver, Colorado: 206 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Cameron Engineers (1974). Occidental gives more details on modified in situ scheme and field test results. Synthetic Fuels Quart., 11(2), Part 2, pp.30–7, illustr.Google Scholar
Coffin, D. L., Welder, F. A. & Glanzman, R. K. (1971). Geohydrology in the Piceance Creek Structural Basin Between the White and Colorado Rivers, Northwestern Colorado. U.S. Geological Survey, Hydrologic Atlas HA-370, 2 sheets.Google Scholar
Colony Development Operation (1974 a). An Environmental Impact Analysis for a Shale Oil Complex at Parachute Creek, Colorado. Colony Development Operation, Denver, Colorado: Parts 1–4 in Vols 1–3 with 17 appendix volumes, illustr.Google Scholar
Colony Development Operation (1974 b). Oil Shale: A Symposium for Environmental Leaders. The Colony Case Study. Colony Development Operation, Denver, Colorado: v + 140 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Colorado West [Area Council of Governments] (1974). Oil Shale and the Future of a Region. A Summary Report. Council of Governments, Denver, Colorado: 65 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Cook, C. Wayne (Ed.) (1974). Surface Rehabilitation of Land Surfaces Resulting from Oil Shale Development. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado: Phase I, iii +255 pp., illustr.; Phase II, iii + 157 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Culbertson, W. J. Jr, & Nevens, T. D. (1972). Uses of Spent Oil Shale Ash. Colony Development Operation, Denver, Colorado: 37 pp. (mimeogr.).Google Scholar
Dames, & Moore, [Co.] (1971 a). Liquefaction Studies, Proposed Processed Shale Disposal Pile, Parachute Creek, Colorado. Colony Development Operation, Denver, Colorado: 16 pp. (mimeogr.).Google Scholar
Dames, & Moore, [CO.] (1971 b). Slope Stability Studies, Proposed Processed Shale Embankment, Parachute Creek, Colorado. Colony Development Operation, Denver, Colorado: 45 pp. (mimeogr.).Google Scholar
Duffield, W. J. (1974). Revegetation: a ten-year study. The Green Thumb (Journal of the Denver Botanic Gardens), 31(4), pp. 114–7.Google Scholar
East, J. H. Jr, & Gardner, E. D. (1964). Oil-shale mining, Rifle, Colorado, 1944–56. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, Bulletin 611, pp. 4–59.Google Scholar
Geoecology Associates (1974). Environmental Inventory and Impact Analysis of a Proposed Utilities Corridor in Parachute Creek Valley. Colony Development Operation, Denver, Colorado: 253 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Heley, W. (1974). Processed shale disposal for a commercial oil-shale operation. Mining Congress Journal, 60, pp. 26–9.Google Scholar
Heley, W. & Terrell, L. R. (1971). Processed Shale Embankment Study. Colony Development Operation, Denver, Colorado: 44 pp. (mimeogr.).Google Scholar
Hutchins, J. W., Krech, W. W. & Legatski, M. W. (1971). The environmental aspects of a commercial oil shale operation. American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, New York, N. Y.: pp. 59–68 (preprint).Google Scholar
Kilburn, P. D. (1973). Environmental Analyses by a New Energy-producing Industry. 74th National Meeting of AIChE, New Orleans, La. Colony Development Operation, Denver, Colorado: 15 pp., illustr. (preprint).Google Scholar
Kilburn, P. D. & Legatski, M. W. (1974). An environmental program for a commercial oil-shale complex. American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Casper, Wyoming: Tab. A, pp. 1–11 (mimeogr.).Google Scholar
Kilburn, P. D., Atwood, M. T. & Broman, W. M. (1974). Oil-shale development in Colorado: Processing technology and environmental impact. Pp. 151–64 in Guidebook to the Energy Resources of the Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado. Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, Denver, Colorado: 303 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Knutson, C. E. & Boardman, C. R. (1973). Hydrology of the Piceance Basin and its impact on oil-shale development. Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME, Dallas, Texas: Paper Number SPE 4409, 8 pp., illustr. (preprint).Google Scholar
Marr, J. W., Buckner, D. & Mutel, C. (1973). Ecological Analyses of Potential Shale Oil Products Pipeline Corridors in Colorado and Utah. Colony Development Operation, Denver, Colorado: 96 pp. plus appendixes (mimeogr.).Google Scholar
Murray, D. K. & Haun, J. D. (1974). Introduction to the geology of the Piceance Creek Basin and vicinity, northwestern Colorado. Pp. 29–39 in Guidebook to the Energy Resources of the Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado. Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, Denver, Colorado: 303 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Rold, J. W. (1974). Research on environmental problems of oil-shale development: an example of federal, state and industry cooperation. Pp. 165–70 in Guidebook to the Energy Resources of the Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado. Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, Denver, Colorado: 303 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Savage, J. W. (1974). Oil shale and western Colorado. Pp. 17–9 in Guidebook to the Energy Resources of the Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado. Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, Denver, Colorado: 303 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Schramm, L. W. (1970). Shale oil. Pp. 183–202 in Mineral Facts and Problems. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, Bulletin 650, 1, 291 pp.Google Scholar
Sedgley, E. F. (1974). Is oil-shale rehabilitation possible? The Green Thumb (Journal of the Denver Botanic Gardens), 31(4), pp. 110–3.Google Scholar
Skogerboe, G. V. (1974). Colorado River Salinity: Impact of Parachute Creek Oil Shale Plant and Alternatives for Mitigation. Colony Development Operation, Denver, Colorado: 35 pp. (mimeogr.).Google Scholar
Special Committee [of the Governor/S Oil Shale Advisory Committee.] (1971). Report on Economics of Environmental Protection for a Federal Oil Shale Leasing Program. Department of Natural Resources, State of Colorado, Denver: 204 pp. (mimeogr.).Google Scholar
Stoecker, R. E. (1974). Wildlife workshop. Pp. 79–91 in Oil Shale: A Symposium for Environmental Leaders. The Colony Case Study. Colony Development Operation, Denver, Colorado: v + 140 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Tait, D. B. (1972). Geohydrology of the Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado. Atlantic Richfield Company, Denver, Colorado: 95 pp. (mimeogr.).Google Scholar
Terwilliger, C. V. & Threlkeld, P. G. (1973). Vegetation Map. Piceance Basin and Roan Plateau, Colorado. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado: looseleaf in Cook (a. v.).Google Scholar
Thk Associates [Inc.: Bickert, Browne, Coddington and Associates, Inc.; and the University of Denver Research Institute.] (1974). Impact Analysis and Development Patterns Related to an Oil Shale Industry: Regional Development and Land Use Study. Colorado West Area Council of Governments and the Oil Shale Regional Planning Commission, Rifle, Colorado: 137 pp. (mimeogr.).Google Scholar
Thorne Ecological Institute (1973). Environmental Setting of the Parachute Creek Valley: An Ecological Inventory. Colony Development Operation, Denver, Colorado: iii + 173 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Thorne Ecological Institute (1974). Regional Oil Shale Studies. Environmental Inventory, Analysis & Impact Study. Colorado Department of Natural Resources: 73 pp. + parts 1–24.Google Scholar
U.S. Department of the Interior (1973). Final Environmental Statement for the Proposed Prototype Oil Shale Leasing Program. Washington, D.C.: 6 vols, illustr.Google Scholar
U.S. Geological Survey (1974). Hydrologic Data From the Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado. Colorado Water Resources Basic-Data Release, Washington, D.C.: 245 pp.Google Scholar
Utah Environmental and Agricultural Consultants (1973). Environmental Setting, Impact, Mitigation and Recommendations for a Proposed Oil Products Pipeline Between Lisbon Valley, Utah, and Parachute Creek, Colorado. Colony Development Operation, Denver, Colorado: 274 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Ward, R. T., Slauson, W. & Dix, R. L. (1974). The natural vegetation in the landscape of the Colorado oil shale region. Pp. 30–66 in Surface Rehabilitation of Land Disturbances Resulting From Oil Shale Development. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado: 255 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Weaver, G. D. (1974). Possible impacts of oil shale development on land resources. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 29(2), pp. 73–6.Google Scholar
Wengert, N. (1973). Oil Shale Country Fact Book: Garfield, Mesa, Moffat, and Rio Blanco Counties, Colorado. Colony Development Operation, Denver, Colorado: Part 1,176 pp.; Part II, 148 pp.; Part III, 139 pp.; Part IV, 114 pp.Google Scholar