shale oil

noun

: a crude dark oil obtained from oil shale by heating

Examples of shale oil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Low prices are pressuring U.S. shale oil producers, who generally need crude prices at $65 per barrel to drill new wells profitably. Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 12 May 2025 Executives on the frontline of the U.S. shale oil boom were scathing in their criticism of Trump’s policies in anonymous responses to that same survey. Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 30 Apr. 2025 This toggling of production is possible because of how shale oil is extracted. Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025 Now, the shift towards a more normalized rate environment has had a significant impact on shale oil producers, many of whom rely on debt to fund their capital-intensive operations. Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shale oil

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shale oil was in 1857

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Cite this Entry

“Shale oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shale%20oil. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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