NECESSITY FOR RESEARCH IN OIL-SHALE INDUSTRY. 
GREATER CO-OPERATION AMONG INVESTIGATORS NEEDED. 
There is very seldom a laboratory at the experimental plants, and 
only infrequently a well-trained technical employee. Except in a very 
few cases, shale oils produced in the small plants have never been given 
more than very superficial inspection and the real quality of the oil 
made is generally unknown even to the operators themselves. There 
is little spirit of co-operation among the oil-shale operators, each 
apparently believing his idea of a shale retort to be far superior to all 
others. In passing, the writer expresses as his opinion that mutual 
helpfulness and co-operation will go a long way in the building of a 
successful oil-shale industry in this country, as there is so much work 
to be done and so many problems to be solved that no one individual or 
company can hope to do it all. 
: 
Nor Enovucu Continuous Exprrrmentan Work. 
Experimental work in connexion with oil shale, again, with one or 
two notable exceptions, has so far consisted in the construction of a 
retort, usually designed along lines as different as possible from the 
well-known Scotch type of retort, and its operation at maximum 
capacity until a certain lot is run through; then it is shut down until 
another lot is ready for testing. 
Rarely is attention paid to the quality of oil produced. As far as 
the writer knows, none of the plants has been operated long enough or 
under such conditions as would give an idea of its life in commercial 
practice. A run is usually considered successful if oil is produced and 
the residual shale yields practically no more oil. There are practically 
no recognized retorting methods and usually, in any particular type of 
retort, all shales are treated under the same more or less accidental 
conditions, 
As a rule the retorts are designed with the idea of removing oil 
vapours from the retort as soon as they are formed, but this idea is not 
-always carried out. Most retorts builders try to get as far away from 
Scotch practice as possible and though many use steam in retorting, 
the quantity used is so small or it is applied under such conditions that 
it gives negligible results. 
Tue Scorcu Practice. 
For a proper understanding of problems in shale-oil production and 
refining, it is desirable that Scotch practice in this regard be outlined, 
as it is generally not well known, or its principles are misinterpreted. 
In the following discussion the writer wishes it to be understood 
that he does not believe Scotch oil-shale retorts and operations to be the 
last word in the oil-shale industry. It is reasonable to believe that 
types of retorts and practices different from those employed in Scotland ~ 
may be developed in this country more particularly adapted to American 
shales and conditions. It is emphasized, however, that the Scotch 
oil-shale industry is really the only commercially successful oil-shale 
industry in the world at the present time and that it has been successful 
for more than sixty years. This being the case, the logical first step 
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