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. It opens with images of a jogger taking a run through a park (:12), little league players at their posts (:17) and winter scenes of kids at play (:19) as the narrator discuses energy and power. Shale oil industry workers near a furnace (:56). The molten material is collected in a large rail car (1:09). Scenes of busy city streets and window displays follow as the population and standard of living had increased putting more strain on the energy industry (1:29). The constant need for energy and power vs nature’s limited resources is touched upon as farm machinery press bales of hay together (1:54). A traffic cop guides vehicles (2:05) which require petroleum. A 747-passenger airplane moves on a runway as another example of transportation which would not be possible without the oil industry (2:08). Kitchen appliances which are necessary for the comforts of day to day living are shown (2:17). Picturesque landscape shots follow showing where the power for modern day conveniences and luxuries (2:55). A quote from President Nixon on the need for clean energy appears on a glass door from June of 1971 (3:44). A car moves down a highway headed for Grand Valley in western Colorado (3:56). The town viewed at (4:07) is in the Piceance Basin. This area is known to contain the largest concentration of hydrocarbons (4:15). The mountains of oil are zoomed in on (4:21). Samples of rocks from these mountains are shown (5:18). The semi-works plant rises within the basin (6:06) which was established in 1965 in order to determine the immediate effects on the environment. The current mining process is shown here beginning with the entrance into the mountain (6:34). Scenes from within the mountain depict workers on the ground (6:39). 50 by 30-foot sections are sectored off with pillars (6:48). Charges are set in order to blast free the shale (6:58). An 80-ton capacity truck sets to remove the shale (7:21). A scraper moves along the inner walls (7:31). Rocks move through a series of crushers (8:04). The retort portion of the process follows (8:21). Processed shale is then moistened for compaction (8:52). A sample of the shale oil is poured out (9:01). Tests are shown within the plants research facility (9:29). A bulldozer moves over mounds of processed shale (9:56) to be used for vegetation research. This part of the program discusses erosion, bio stability and ground coverage (10:21). The canyon shown here to be used as grounds for disposition of residue from a twenty-year commercial operation (10:38). Researchers at one of several experimental locations (11:06). A mule deer (11:29). Water samples are collected (11:49). Native foliage is checked here (11:59). Environmental monitoring of the plant and surrounding areas is conducted at facilities at the colony lab (12:26). Shots follow of some of the earlier plants constructed here (13:08). A black and white image of Grand Valley from 75 years prior (13:22) is compared to modern Grand Valley (13:26). Slouched houses and buildings stand in the underpopulated area which was expected to change due to the shale industry (13:36). Locals gather outside the town hall (13:47). Poor areas are depicted to show modern day problems which the energy industry sought to help change (14:19). The New York City skyline (14:29). Credits. Produced by Audio Productions New York, NY (15:02) for the Atlantic Richfield Company and the Oil Shale Corporation (15:05).

The TOSCO II process uses an above ground retorting technology for shale oil extraction, which uses fine particles of oil shale that are heated in a rotating kiln. It used hot ceramic balls for heat transfer between the retort and a heater.

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com