Correcting the Oil Shale Record

Claim: Some Democrats question the commercial viability of oil shale production.

FACT: The Rand corporation estimates that as many as 1.1 trillion barrels are recoverable and at prices as low as $35 to $48 dollars per barrel, within the first 12 years of commercial scale production. At current rates of consumption, 1.1 trillion barrels equals more than 145 years of domestic supply. This number would nearly double assuming the Department of Energy’s estimate of nearly 2 trillion potentially-recoverable barrels. Link

Claim: Some Democrats argue that the shale production process uses massive amounts of water.

FACT: Oil Shale uses less water than ethanol and about the same amount as gasoline. According the Department of Energy Office of Strategic Fuels, it takes 3 barrels of water for 1 barrel of oil. Link.

Claim: Some Democrats are concerned about wildlife habitat and land usage.

FACT: One acre of oil shale can produce from 100,000 to 1 million barrels of oil. In contrast – one acre of corn produces only 7-10 barrels of ethanol. Link.

From Sen Inhofe's blog.