shale oil

American  

noun

1. petroleum distilled from oil shale.

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shale oil British  

noun

1. an oil distilled from shales and used as fuel

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Etymology

Origin of shale oil

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shale oil

After the debut of U.S. shale oil, OPEC’s power to sway markets appeared greatly diminished.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026

The end of the China boom coincided with ebbing demand for coal in the U.S., where the shale oil boom produced a surge in natural gas supplies and a steep fall in its prices.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2026

Production at the Vaca Muerta shale oil field, which is roughly the size of Belgium, climbed 15% over the past year, with 90% still untapped.

From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2025

Another host, Harold G. Hamm, the executive chair and founder of Continental Resources, is one of the pioneers of the shale oil boom that turned the United States into the world’s largest crude exporter.

From Seattle Times ● May 28, 2024

On mixing this soda-tar with dilute acid, the "crude shale oil creosote" separates, and is measured off.

From A Text-book of Assaying: For the Use of Those Connected with Mines. by Beringer, Cornelius