Israel's shale reserves 2nd largest in world

The Times Of Israel ^ | Horovitz | David

[idov]

Far below the surface of the Promised Land, a hidden treasure lies. If it can be carefully liberated from the geological layer in which it is caught, it promises nothing less than to transform Israel’s economy. It is called oil shale. And, along with Jordan, Israel just so happens to sit upon the world’s second largest deposits of the stuff, after the United States.

Oil shale deposits are overwhelmingly located outside conventional oil-rich areas such as the Middle East and North Africa. So if safe, economic processes for extracting this alternative oil resource can be put into effect, dependence on the energy-exporting Middle East could gradually decline, in a dramatic transformation of the global economy, with Israel as a prime beneficiary.

Advocates say oil shale is an Israeli resource whose time has come, and are adamant that it can be realized without negative environmental consequences. But critics cite fears of underground fires, contaminants seeping into air and water, even seismic rifts.

With a few exceptions, the battle over oil shale is being fought away from the headlines. It will come to a head in the Jerusalem Regional Planning Authority, a body headed by an Interior Ministry bureaucrat, which in the next few months will decide whether to authorize a pilot project to extract shale oil in the Elah Valley, south of Beit Shemesh.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks idov.

...along with Jordan, Israel just so happens to sit upon the world's second largest deposits of the stuff, after the United States.

[afraidfortherepublic]

This is true, but you have to disturb the surface before you can get way, way below! Friends who have visited and who have lived in Israel claim that you cannot turn over a teaspoonful of dirt without unearthing some Biblical, or archeological, artifact. I’m sure that’s a bit of an exageration, but I’d hate to see anything ancient lost through too eager exploration.

Look at what the Muslims are doing to the Temple Mount! It’s a disgrace.

[idov]

This article is by the publisher of the newspaper Horovitz about Vinegar, a genius in the field. They are not just blowing smoke, pardon the pun.

Here is another take from the Huffington Post. The idea is that Vinegar has a new method to obtain the heat. Where the cost outweighs the benefit you have nothing, of course. But that is not the case here.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-finkDaniel%20Fink/will-israel-become-an-oil_b_3640959.html

[Tijeras_Slim]

The Saudis must really hate Israel today.

But how can we tell?

[Sherman Logan]

Good point. But that’s one of the great things about modern horizontal drilling techniques. Very small surface footprint needed.

[spokeshave]

Ha....small potatoes.... “His estimate is that Israel as a whole has at least 250 billion barrels of high quality shale oil,”

According to the US Geological Survey...the Green River Formation weighs in at 3 Trillion barrels of oil.