careers about oil shaleoil in our lives australia s fuel security need for new fuels what is oil shale oil shale as a fuel source qer resource tenements projectsparaho ii technology colorado pilot plant gladstone new fuels development project stage 1 gladstone new fuels development project stage 2 gladstone new fuels development project stage 3 future potential productsdiesel fuel aviation fuel other sustainabilitycommunity environment qld govt policy project appovals media & resourceseducation materials fuel for thought column media releases information links contact us oil is more fundamental to everyday life than you may realise . and we have to find new ways of securing the oil we need . there are many ways to responsibly create new fuels from oil shale while still caring for the environment and our planet . engaging isn t just talking . it s having real conversations with our neighbours and communities . error message notice undefined variable brent day in eval line 32 of home qeqe1060 public html modules php php.module 80 eval d code . notice undefined variable brent month in eval line 32 of home qeqe1060 public html modules php php.module 80 eval d code . notice undefined variable brent year in eval line 32 of home qeqe1060 public html modules php php.module 80 eval d code . notice undefined variable price brent in eval line 33 of home qeqe1060 public html modules php php.module 80 eval d code . understanding australia s oil shale resources can help deliver fuel security and the oil we use in our everyday lives . discovering qer s commitment to ensuring world s best practice in the development of new fuels from oil shale . engaging qer s new fuels development centre nfdc communicating our project to the australian community . a to z australia s oil shale deposits are vast and offer a promising and realistic contribution to our country s current oil shortage especially for transport fuels . barrels of oil contain 158.9 litres . creating new fuels can address australia s declining oil self sufficiency and provide greater fuel security for our country . demand for transport fuels and especially heavy transport such as trains and planes is forecast to continue to grow for years to come . energy density is an important element in fuels for heavy transport which needs the higher levels of energy in carbon based fuels to transport goods and people across long distances . fuel security is declining in australia as we rely more and more on imported oil products and fuels to power our transport networks . greenhouse emissions reduction is a major research challenge qer is conducting through its operation of the paraho ii technology demonstration plant . heavy transport will require greater volumes of high quality fuels such as the ultra low sulphur diesel and jet fuels which qer is producing from oil shale . international energy agency forecasts predict world demand for oil to increase from 87 million barrels per day in 2010 to 99 million barrels per day by 2035 . just over a decade ago australia was 100 % self sufficient in oil but that has now dropped to around 50 % and is forecast to fall further to just 18 % by 2020 . kerogen is a mixture of organic chemical compounds embedded within layers of oil shale that can be released through a process known as pyrolysis which involves heating the shale to temperatures reaching 500 c. local community engagement is at the forefront of qer s activities ensuring two way communication where we openly provide information and take as much care to listen . mining the stuart oil shale deposit at qer s new fuels development centre is carried out by using a traditional open cut method . new fuels development centre qer s facility near gladstone in queensland where we are demonstrating the paraho ii technology for processing oil shale . oil shale deposits consists of organic rich rock formed over millions of years from deposits of silt algae and other plants and vegetation and forms of animal life . peak oil is the point in time when world production of oil is outstripped by demand . qer is an integrated resource company demonstrating a world leading technology for developing australia s vast oil shale resources . retorting is the name given to the process of heating solid oil shale rock to produce a synthetic crude oil which can be upgraded to create transport fuels . sustainable development is based on a recognition that the use of our resources must meet the needs of current generations without compromising or limiting opportunities for future generations . technology demonstration plant the centerpiece of qer s new fuels development centre highlighting the superior operability of the paraho ii technology ultra low sulphur diesel and aviation fuels produced at qer s new fuels development centre are undergoing thorough engine testing regimes to highlight their suitability as a drop in replacement for conventional fuels . visitors are welcome at qer s new fuels development centre with touch screen technology and interesting exhibits on display at our on site visitor centre . waste water produced at qer s technology demonstration plant undergoes stringent treatment processes to remove ammonia and hydrogen sulphide . x ray machines i pods clothing and medicines are just some of the many thousands of items which have oil as a basic ingredient . yields from oil shales vary according to the grade of the deposit but in some instances can be as high as 220 litres per ton of rock . zealous attention to detail and a commitment to quality form the basis for qer s development of an oil shale industry in queensland . frequently asked questions 2013 queensland energy resources home privacy policy disclaimer sitemap contact us web design by rowland .