Start of the modern industry History of the oil shale industry

alexander c. kirk s retort, used in mid-to-late 19th century, 1 of first vertical oil shale retorts. design typical of retorts used in end of 19th , beginning of 20th century.



three of west lothian s shale bings - reminders of industry pioneered in scotland james paraffin young.



the remains of shale bing, drumshoreland, near pumpherston.

the modern industrial use of oil shale oil extraction started in france, oil shale commercial mining began in autun in 1837. shale oil production started in 1838 using selligue process, invented alexander selligue. in 1846 canadian physician , geologist abraham gesner invented process retorting illuminating liquid coal, bitumen , oil shale. in 1847 scottish chemist james young prepared lighting oil, lubricating oil , wax cannel coal , since 1862 torbanite. in 1850 patented process of retorting , refining shale oil , purifying paraffin wax it. commercial scale shale oil extraction lamosite started in 1859 robert bell in broxburn, west lothian. in after expiring of young s patent in 1862 many small shale oil works opened. 1865, there 120 shale oil works in scotland. in 1866 young established young s paraffin light , mineral oil company @ addiewell. other notable shale oil companies broxburn oil company established in 1878 , pumpherston oil company established in 1892.

in united states oil-shale industry concentrated on eastern oil shale deposits. oil distillery built in 1855 @ breckinridge county, kentucky produce oil locally mined cannel coal. following year producing 600 700 gallons per day (2.3 2.6 m/d). in 1860, there 55 companies in united states extracting oil locally mined cannel coal. commercial-scale shale oil extraction, other cannel coal processing, began @ shale oil retorts using devonian oil shale along ohio river valley in 1857. however, discovery of cheap , abundant petroleum in same region, starting drake oil @ titusville, pennsylvania in 1859, put american oil shale industry out of business 1860. largest deposit, green river formation, accidentally discovered in 1874 not utilized until beginning of 20th century.

in 1857, oil shale industry started in germany. in canada, craigleith shale oil works started retort oil shale of ordovician whitby formation near collingwood, ontario, on lake huron in 1859. in 1861 became economically infeasible due discovery of petroleum nearby.

in australia, first oil shale mine commenced in 1865 @ american creek, mount kembla in new south wales. @ same year, first shale oil produced pioneer kerosene works @ american creek. number of other mines , shale oil plants opened in new south wales; however, in beginning of 20th century closed due import of cheaper crude oil.

in austria, oil shale used in 1840–1882 production of asphalt mastic, naphtha , asphalt tar. in sweden, first attempt extract oil alum shale made in 1864. shale oil production started in 1890s , lasted few years. in brazil, oil shale first exploited in 1884 in bahia. in 1900 shale oil extraction industry initiated in new zealand.

in 1894, pumpherston retort (also known bryson retort) invented, considered separation of oil shale industry coal industry. stayed in use until 1938.

operations during 19th century focused on production of kerosene, lamp oil, , paraffin wax; these products helped supply growing demand lighting arose during industrial revolution. fuel oil, lubricating oil , grease, , ammonium sulfate produced.