Niche market assessment for a small-scale western oil shale project.

摘要

As part of an overall program to study the economic feasibility of a small-scale western oil shale project, Western Research Institute requested J. E. Sinor Consultants Inc. to carry out a marketing analysis for the potential products. In undertaking such a study, it was recognized that the production of conventional fuels, such as gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuel, would not be feasible under current economic conditions. Therefore, the approach used in this study was to focus on nonconventional products, having perhaps a small potential market size but providing an opportunity to sell shale oil at considerably more than its crude oil equivalent price. To find such potential market niches, it is necessary to emphasize and preserve the differences between shale oil and petroleum, rather than try to make shale oil simply a substitute for petroleum. The objectives of this analysis are to identify potential products; to determine the size of the existing market for these products; to estimate the prices that such products could receive; and to evaluate all factors influencing the ability to sell shale oil products in these markets. 23 refs., 47 figs., 52 tabs.