SHALE OIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1921, Page 8

SHALE OIL.

DEPOSITS IN AUSTRALIA. PRACTICALLY" INEXHAUSTIBLE. Sydney, Nov. 3. With reference to the kerosene shale developments, which are situated in the 1 Joodja Valley, not in the Lithgow district, the Daily Telegraph special repre- „ sentative, as the result of a visit of ; examination, reports that the supply ! of shale is practically inexhaustible and j predicts that before long Australia will I be, producing her own petrol supply inl dependent of outside markets at 2s and ! kerosene at Is Gd per gallon. | He adds that under the existing : methods the output of crude oil is 700 gallons weekly, but at this time next year it may be 15,000 gallons daily. Developments are being made already to erect retorts to handle that quantity under the new method. [An earlier message said: It is reported that the new treatment of kerosene shale at the Commonwealth Oil Corporation mine at Lithgow promises ' most important results. Up to the present, the cost of distillation has retarded the development of the indus- | try, therefore it has been decided to try a new method by forming natural retorts in the shale itself, sealing off I certain areas and setting fire to the | chamber of shale thus constructed. It is stated that the first trial proved I most successful, oil flowing in such volj umo that it was not possible to provide containers for it.]