Shale oil extraction is an industrial process for unconventional oil production. This process converts kerogen in oil shale into shale oil by pyrolysis, hydrogenation, or thermal dissolution. The resultant shale oil is used as fuel oil or upgraded to meet refinery feedstock specifications by adding hydrogen and removing sulfur and nitrogen impurities. Shale oil extraction is usually performed above ground (ex situ processing) by mining the oil shale and then treating it in processing facilities. Other modern technologies perform the processing underground (on-site or in situ processing) by applying heat and extracting the oil via oil wells. The earliest description of the process dates to the 10th century. The industry shrank in the mid-20th century following the discovery of large reserves of conventional oil, but high petroleum prices at the beginning of the 21st century have led to renewed interest. As of 2010, major long-standing extraction industries are operating in Estonia, Brazil, and China. Its economic viability varies with the ratio of local energy input costs to energy output value. National energy security issues have also played a role in its development. Critics of shale oil extraction pose questions about environmental management issues, such as waste disposal, extensive water use and waste water management, and air pollution.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shale_oil_extraction

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1783:

The first of five strong earthquakes hit the region of Calabria in present-day southern Italy, killing more than 32,000 people over a period of nearly two months. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1783_Calabrian_earthquakes

1923:

Australian cricketer Bill Ponsford made 429 runs to break the world record for the highest first-class score. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Ponsford

1958:

A Mark 15 nuclear bomb disappeared off the shores of Tybee Island, Georgia, US after it was jettisoned during a practice exercise when the bomber carrying it collided in midair with a fighter plane. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1958_Tybee_Island_B-47_crash

1963:

The European Court of Justice's ruling in Van Gend en Loos v Nederlandse Administratie der Belastingen established the principle of direct effect, one of the basic tenets of European Union law. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/direct_effect

2007:

After having driven 900 mi (1,448 km) overnight from Houston, Texas, to Orlando, Florida, US, former NASA astronaut Lisa Nowak was arrested for the attempted kidnapping of Colleen Shipman, girlfriend of Nowak's colleague and former love interest William Oefelein. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Nowak

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

at the feet of (preposition): As a disciple, subordinate, or worshiper of http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/at_the_feet_of

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Enforced uniformity confounds civil and religious liberty and denies the principles of Christianity and civility. No man shall be required to worship or maintain a worship against his will. --Roger Williams http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Roger_Williams