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OIL SHALES


Oil shales is a fine grained sedimentary rock that has Crude oil in it but does not readily give it out except when heated in-situ or mined.

Extraction by mining and transporting it to a heating place for extraction,subjects the entire region mined to geohazards. The ‘pit’ created by the mining will be vast and may not be entirely refilled thereby posing a threat to those living nearby and the ecosystem.

The best and commonest way of extraction of oil from the Oil Shales is by heating it in-situ. This is usually done at temperatures of 425-475oC.  This method is called Pyrolysis. This way, Oil and Gas are driven out from the Kerogen. Oil from Oil Shale is known to contain heavy and radioactive metals.
However, this method also posses a threat because, some of the oil, gets leached out and enters the Groundwater thereby polluting the Groundwater.


Oil Shales are predominant in countries like The United States (Utah and Wyoming), Brazil, Argentina, and Northern Germany.

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