“THE COMING OF SHALE” 1970’S OIL SHALE CORP. ENERGY PROMO FILM PICEANCE BASIN COLORADO 66514

Want to support this channel and help us preserve old films? Visit Visit our website This film focuses on the shale industry and in particular was made to promote the Colony Shale Oil Project. The film also discusses the modern need for energy and power as well as the toll it was already taking on the earth’s natural resources. The Colony Shale Oil Project was located at the Piceance Basin near Parachute Creek, Colorado. The project consisted of an oil shale mine and pilot-scale shale oil plant, which used the TOSCO II retorting technology, developed by Tosco (The Oil Shale COrporation) Corporation. Over time the project was developed by a consortium of different companies until it was terminated by Exxon on 2 May 1982 a day which is known amongst locals as “Black Sunday“. During its existence the project produced 270 thousand barrels (43×103 m3) of shale oil. The film was written by Marjorie Hirsch and photographed by Barbe and William Clark.