How do you make oil out of shale?

Answer 1

You don't make oil from shale, you extract oil from shale. The shale acts like a sponge, sometimes the shale is so porous that the oil can be squeezed or sucked out, otherwise it can be extracted by crushing and heating the shale.

Answer 2

Shale is basically formed from the lithification of multiple layers of fine sediments that have been compressed by the weight of additional sediments from above, and cemented together by clay minerals over time as fluids are squeezed out.

Answer 3

Shale oil is mined above ground in an open pit or underground. Traditionally above ground open pit mining methods are used. Water is used heavily in the process and groundwater must be pumped out.