A mixture of hydrocarbon compounds that can be extracted from oil shale rock to produce shale oil The net energy yield of shale oil is less than that of conventional oil because of the energy used to extract, process, upgrade, and refineshale oil The conversion of kerogen to shale oil and its burning release more carbon dioxide per unit of energy than conventional oil (Source: Mintzer, 1992)
A fossilized organic material present in oil shale and some other sedimentary rocks
any organic matter present in a sedimentary rock that is insoluble in organic solvents; the precursor of oil and natural gas
or kerogen shales or kerogenites Complex mixture of compounds with large molecules containing mainly hydrogen and carbon but also oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. Kerogen is a precursor of petroleum and the organic component of oil shales. It is waxy and insoluble in water; upon heating, it breaks down into recoverable gaseous and liquid substances resembling petroleum. It consists of compacted organic material, such as algae and other low plant forms, pollen, spores and spore coats, and insects
The solid, bituminous mineraloid substance in oil shales which yields oil when the shales undergo destructive distillation
Solid, waxy substance found in oil shale rock consisting of a variety of hydrocarbons
The hydrocarbon in oil shale Scientists believe that kerogen was the precursor of petroleum and that petroleum development in shale was somehow prematurely arrested