oil shale
Fuel-bearing sediment
Oil shale is sedite rock containing keite organic material called kerogen that can be processed to extract petroleum-like oil.
Unlike conventional oil deposits, the hydrocarbons in oil shale haven't naturally converted to liquid crude—they require mining and heating to release usable fuel.
The oil shale deposits in Colorado hold vast energy reserves, but extraction remains expensive and environmentally contentious.
Quick, cutting reply
- pyrolysisHeat-driven molecular breakdown
- miningExtracting earth's resources
- surface miningTopsoil-removal ore extraction
- underground miningExcavating minerals from tunnels
Energy from decomposed organisms
- nonrenewableCannot be replaced naturally
- energy securityAssured access to fuel
- combustibleCapable of burning
- hydrocarbonsCarbon-hydrogen organic compounds
solid fuel · energy source · strategic reserve · domestic production · import substitution · fuel supply · energy independence
Formed from deposited material
- marlstoneCalcareous clay rock
- claystoneIndurated fine-grained sedimentary rock
- siltstoneConsolidated silt deposit
- bituminousContaining natural tar
strata · laminae · formation · deposit · outcrop · stratigraphy · fossilization · mineralogy
Improving to superior version
- hydrogenationBonding hydrogen to compounds
- distillationPurification via vaporization
- refiningRemoving unwanted elements
- crackingBreaking without separating completely
gasification · carbonization · feedstock · coking · naphtha · diesel · petrochemicals · sulfur removal
Emissions that trap heat
- carbon footprintTotal greenhouse gases produced
- water usageAmount of liquid consumed
- land reclamationCreating ground from water
- air emissionsPollutants released into atmosphere
habitat disruption · tailings · waste management · remediation · water scarcity · subsidence · dust control
retort
Quick, cutting reply
- pyrolysisHeat-driven molecular breakdown
- miningExtracting earth's resources
- surface miningTopsoil-removal ore extraction
underground mining · ex-situ · strip mining · crushing · fluidized bed
fossil fuel
Energy from decomposed organisms
- nonrenewableCannot be replaced naturally
- energy securityAssured access to fuel
- combustibleCapable of burning
hydrocarbons · solid fuel · energy source · strategic reserve · domestic production · import substitution · fuel supply · energy independence
sedimentary
Formed from deposited material
- marlstoneCalcareous clay rock
- claystoneIndurated fine-grained sedimentary rock
- siltstoneConsolidated silt deposit
bituminous · strata · laminae · formation · deposit · outcrop · stratigraphy · fossilization · mineralogy · tectonics
upgrading
Improving to superior version
- hydrogenationBonding hydrogen to compounds
- distillationPurification via vaporization
- refiningRemoving unwanted elements
cracking · gasification · carbonization · feedstock · coking · naphtha · diesel · petrochemicals · sulfur removal
greenhouse gases
Emissions that trap heat
- carbon footprintTotal greenhouse gases produced
- water usageAmount of liquid consumed
- land reclamationCreating ground from water
air emissions · habitat disruption · tailings · waste management · remediation · water scarcity · subsidence · dust control
- fossil fuelsnatural gas, coal, anthracite, lignite, peat
- natural resourceslumber, water, gas, air, coal reserves
- petroleumcrude, oilfields, kerosene, diesel fuel, gasoline
- geological formationsmineral deposit, ore deposit, coal deposit, gold deposit, lode
- Great PlainsGreat Plains, high plains, High Plains, grassland, grasslands
- sedimentary rockssandstone, limestone, mudstone, siltstone, conglomerate
oil shalesolar energy
Harnessed stellar radiation
wind power · renewable energy · clean energy · green energy · hydroelectric power
scale, oil, shell, oily, petroleum, shale, oiliness, oilcloth, oilcan