184.    BELL, H. S.  Costs of Oil From Coal and Shale.  Am. Petrol. Refining, chap. 36, rev. ed.; Nat. Petrol. News, vol. 37, No. 10, 1945, pp. R 205-206; Chem. Abs., vol. 39, 1945, p. 2190.

                  Three methods for the production of oil as a substitute for petroleum are compared from an economic standpoint:  (1) Bergius coal hydrogenation; (2) Fischer-Tropsch gas synthesis; and (3) recovery of oil from shale.  (1) Yield about 100 gal. of gasoline/long ton of coal, capital cost $0.90, operating cost $0.17-$0.22/gal.  (2) 36 gal. of synthetic crude/ton of coke, capital cost $1.18, operating costs are believed to be comparable.  (3) average of 43 gal. of gasoline/ton of shale, with a recovery of oil from the shale varying from 75-90%, capital cost $0.39, operating cost $3.20/bbl. of crude oil, assuming 60% yield of gasoline, $0.14-$0.15/gal.  It is concluded that none of the methods is commercially attractive and none, with the possible exception of extraction of rich shale, could compete with petroleum.  Adaptation of the second method to natural gas probably will precede commercial hydrogenation of coal in the United States.