Oil shale

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/oil-shale

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary organic component?Kerogen (Type I, II, or III), a solid precursor to liquid hydrocarbons
2. What is the geological formation?Fine-grained sedimentary rocks formed in anoxic, organic-rich lacustrine or marine environments
3. How does oil shale form?It forms in ancient lakes or shallow seas where plant and animal matter piled up, then was buried and heated over millions of years.
4. How do people get oil from oil shale?They either mine the rock and heat it in a machine (ex‑situ) or heat it underground with steam or electricity (in‑situ) to turn the kerogen into liquid fuel.

Kerogen Maturation: The geological process where organic matter transforms into kerogen under heat and pressure.
Pyrolysis (Retorting): Thermal decomposition of kerogen in the absence of oxygen to produce synthetic crude oil and gas.
In-situ Extraction: Heating and processing oil shale underground without removing it from the ground.
Spent Shale: The residual rock material remaining after kerogen has been extracted.