Probably requires more energy to run the process than it is worth it to get out. Basic laws of thermal dynamics, you can't win, break even or get out the game. The natural process of creating crude oil take a long time and enormous energy (pressure of the earth, gravity, energy from the sun, etc.). Thats a LOT of energy in the process.
"Probably requires more energy to run the process than it is worth it to get out."
Well, residing in a state with a large number of hog waste lagoons, chicken and turkey farms, etcetera, there is a value that should be assigned to getting rid of the waste. Even if there was a net negative, as far as fuel derived from the process, it could still be promising.
True, but I wonder how much of the cost can be recovered simply by tying this into a waste management company.
After all, everyone pays to have their trash disposed of. The Thermal Depolymerization corporation could charge the same rate to collect the trash... and then sell the oil generated from that trash.
I wonder if that would help in recouping the additional cost of generating the oil.