shale oil
Sedimentary rock fuel
Shale oil is petroleum extracted from oil shale, a sedimentary rock containing organic matter called kerogen.
The extraction process requires heating the rock to release the oil, making it more expensive and energy-intensive than conventional drilling.
The term sometimes overlaps with tight oil, which is extracted from shale formations using hydraulic fracturing: The shale oil boom transformed American energy production.
Fluid-pressure extraction technique
- frackingExtracting gas via pressure
- horizontal drillingSubsurface excavation parallel to ground
- drillingHole-making by rotation
- wellboreDrilled subsurface hole
completion · stimulation · rig · derrick · casing · permeability · upstream · exploration
Unpolished, raw state
- hydrocarbonsCarbon-hydrogen organic compounds
- bitumenViscous hydrocarbon mixture
- refineryIndustrial purification facility
- distillationPurification via vaporization
barrel · reserves · upstream · downstream · midstream · petrochemicals · thermogenic · OPEC
Formed from deposited material
- strataParallel geological layers
- marlstoneCalcareous clay rock
- mudstoneCompacted clay and silt rock
- claystoneIndurated fine-grained sedimentary rock
organic matter · source rock · lamination · outcrop · stratigraphy · compaction · maturation · porosity
Compression-ignition fuel
- gasolineRefined petroleum vehicle fuel
- keroseneFlammable petroleum distillate
- jet fuelAircraft turbine propellant
- naphthaVolatile petroleum-derived solvent
combustion · octane · lubricants · alkylation · distillate
Official rules governing conduct
- moratoriumTemporary prohibition or delay
- energy independenceGenerating power domestically
- OPECPetroleum exporters' coalition
- energy securityAssured access to fuel
boom · bust · subsidy · lease · royalties · export ban · strategic reserve · pipeline
Substances released into air
- greenhouse gasHeat-trapping atmospheric compound
- wastewaterContaminated drainage from buildings
- flaringExpanding outward suddenly
- carbon footprintTotal greenhouse gases produced
pollution · seismicity · water usage · air quality · spills · remediation · land use
hydraulic fracturing
Fluid-pressure extraction technique
- frackingExtracting gas via pressure
- horizontal drillingSubsurface excavation parallel to ground
- drillingHole-making by rotation
wellbore · completion · stimulation · rig · derrick · casing · permeability · upstream · exploration · downhole
crude
Unpolished, raw state
- hydrocarbonsCarbon-hydrogen organic compounds
- bitumenViscous hydrocarbon mixture
- refineryIndustrial purification facility
distillation · barrel · reserves · upstream · downstream · midstream · petrochemicals · thermogenic · OPEC · benchmark
sedimentary
Formed from deposited material
claystone · organic matter · source rock · lamination · outcrop · stratigraphy · compaction · maturation · porosity
diesel
Compression-ignition fuel
- gasolineRefined petroleum vehicle fuel
- keroseneFlammable petroleum distillate
- jet fuelAircraft turbine propellant
naphtha · combustion · octane · lubricants · alkylation · distillate
regulation
Official rules governing conduct
- moratoriumTemporary prohibition or delay
- energy independenceGenerating power domestically
- OPECPetroleum exporters' coalition
energy security · boom · bust · subsidy · lease · royalties · export ban · strategic reserve · pipeline · Keystone
emissions
Substances released into air
- greenhouse gasHeat-trapping atmospheric compound
- wastewaterContaminated drainage from buildings
- flaringExpanding outward suddenly
carbon footprint · pollution · seismicity · water usage · air quality · spills · remediation · land use
- Crude OilBrent, Urals, Maya, bitumen, condensate
- fossil fuelspetroleum, natural gas, coal, anthracite, lignite
- natural resourceslumber, water, gas, air, coal reserves
- oilsextra virgin
- petroleumcrude, petroleum, oilfields, kerosene, diesel fuel
- energy sourcesgas, coal, solar, wind, nuclear
shale oilsolar energy
Harnessed stellar radiation
wind power · renewable energy · clean energy · green energy · sustainable energy
shale oilclean energy
Power from sustainable sources
green power · sustainable fuel · hydrogen fuel · electric power
oil, oily, oiled, oiling, shale, oiliness, oilcloth, oilcan, oilskin