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Oil shale is fine-grained Sedimentary Rock containing significant amounts of Kerogen (a solid mixture of organic Chemical Compound s), from which liquid hydrocarbons can be manufactured. The name ''oil shale'' is somewhat misleading as it need not be Shale , and the Hydrocarbon in it is not Oil . In addition to the oil shale, there are other groups of organic-rich sedimentary rock— Bitumen-impregnated Rocks ( Tar Sands and petroleum reservoir rocks), Humic coals and Carbonaceous Shale .WEC, p. 74


The kerogen in oil shale can be converted to Synthetic Crude oil through the chemical process of Pyrolysis . When heated to a sufficiently high temperature a Vapor is driven off which can be Distilled (retorted) to Yield a Petroleum -like shale oil—a form of Non-conventional Oil —and combustible shale gas ('' Shale Gas '' can also refer to gas occurring naturally in shales). Oil shale can also be Burnt directly as a low-grade fuel for power generation and heating, and be used as a raw material in the chemical and construction materials industries. Currently oil shales are used commercially for oil production in Estonia , Brazil and China , for power generation in Estonia, China, Israel and Germany , for cement production in Estonia, Germany and China, and for chemical industry in Estonia and Russia .
WEC, p. 73

  Last Schora first = F C
  Last2 Tarman first2 = P B
  Last3 Feldkirchner first3 = H L
  Last4 Weil first4 = S A
  Title Hydrocarbon fuels from oil shale
  Journal Proceedings
  Publisher American Institute of Chemical Engineers
  Volume 1
  Pages 325-330
  Year 1976