Who founded the shale oil industry in Scotland?
The British Crown granted a patent in 1694 to three persons named Martin Eele, Thomas Hancock and William Portlock who had “found a way to extract and make great quantities of pitch, tarr, and oyle out of a sort of stone.” Shale oil was produced by extracting Shropshire oil shale.
How was shale extracted in West Lothian?
Oil-shale was mined from deep beneath the eastern part of West Lothian. Particularly productive shales were found around West Calder, Deans, Pumpherston and Broxburn. The shale was brought to the surface and taken to a crude oil works, where it was heated in a “retort” to release crude oil and other useful chemicals.
Is shale mined?
Mining. Oil shale is mined either by traditional underground mining or surface mining techniques. There are several mining methods available, but the common aim of all these methods is to fragment the oil shale deposits in order to enable the transport of shale fragments to a power plant or retorting facility.
Which country has the largest shale oil resources?
The US Energy Information Agency (EIA) estimates China holds the world’s largest shale reserves of 31.6 tcm (1,275 tcf) of technically recoverable shale gas reserves.
What is a Bing in Scotland?
bing (countable and uncountable, plural bings) (prison slang, with “the”) Solitary confinement. (chiefly Scotland) A slag heap, i.e. a man-made mound or heap formed with the waste material (slag) as a by-product of coal mining or the shale oil industry.
What are the five sisters in Edinburgh?
These oil-shale bings, nicknamed the “Five Sisters”, are hard to miss when using the Queensferry Crossing. Shale Bings are unique to West Lothian and now form distinctive and well known landmarks. The characteristic of Five Sisters red colour is produced by the weathering of the initially blue-grey burnt oil-shale.
Is petroleum cleaner than coal?
Petroleum (crude oil): Produces less CO2 emissions than coal during production. Scientists estimate that reserves may run out of oil in a century or two. Natural gas: The cleanest burning fossil fuel.
Which country has the world’s largest oil reserves?
Venezuela
Oil Reserves by Country
| # | Country | World Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Venezuela | 18.2% |
| 2 | Saudi Arabia | 16.2% |
| 3 | Canada | 10.4% |
| 4 | Iran | 9.5% |
Are the 5 sisters man made?
The Five Sisters is a man made structure – the spoil from the shale oil industry that was the backbone of the West Lothian economy in the 19th and early 20th century. Its proper name is the Westwood Bing, after the Westwood Oil Works from which it came.
What happened on 27th February 1642 in Scotland?
84 The same annalist tells that on 27th February 1642, a collection was made in every parish in the kingdom for behoof of the Ulster Scots, who were forced to flee into the west parts of Scotland. He adds that out of “this poor paroche fourscoir poundis were collected.”
What happened during the Glorious Revolution in Scotland?
Glorious Revolution in Scotland. The Glorious Revolution in Scotland was part of a series of events between 1688-1689 in England and Scotland known as the Glorious Revolution. It covers the deposition of James VII of Scotland and II of England, his replacement by his daughter Mary and her husband William and the political settlement thereafter.
What was the settlement for Scotland in 1689?
On 7 January 1689, the Scottish Privy Council asked William to take over government pending the election of a Scottish Convention that would agree a settlement. In February 1689, William and Mary were appointed joint monarchs of England and in March, the Convention met to agree a Settlement for Scotland.
What happened in 1641 in Ireland?
It is fortunately not necessary here to recount at length the horrors which characterised the revolt of the Irish in 1641, or to relate the confused story of the prolonged civil war which followed, and desolated the land.