Promise in Extracting Oil from Shale Economically

TEWKSBURY, Mass., May 8, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Shale reserves,
estimated at more than two trillion barrels in the U.S., are a potential
source of oil that now may be economically unlocked thanks to technology
developed by Raytheon Company and its partner, CF Technologies.
Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) business' radio frequency
(RF) energy combined with critical fluid (CF) technology shows promise for
efficiently extracting oil from shale.
"Raytheon is an expert in RF technology," said Lee Silvestre, director
of Mission Innovation at Raytheon IDS. "What makes this effort a
breakthrough is that similar RF technology that we have been applying in
core defense products -- radars for tracking and guidance systems -- has
demonstrated applications in the energy crisis."
Historically, the lack of an economical and environmentally friendly
way for extracting oil from shale has kept it from being a significant
energy source. Raytheon IDS and its partner, CF Technologies, located in
Hyde Park, Mass., have struck upon a solution that could solve both the
economic and environmental roadblocks.

Raytheon Technology Shows Promise in Extracting Oil from Shale Economically

Very interesting and promising news, if this proves true.
There is no doubt that this should be a 'sooner' rather than a 'later,' but obviously, and as always, the hurtle will be those "environmental roadblocks."

Furthermore, there are other alternatives to extracting oil fron shale, such as thermally conductive in-situ conversion.

Related article: ...the Utah Oil/Tar Sands...America's Forgotten Resource







seekerof

[edit on 8-5-2006 by Seekerof]