Pumpherston process

The Pumpherston process is a method of extracting oil from oil shale through pyrolysis, which involves heating the rock above 300°C (575°F) in the absence of oxygen. This process breaks down the organic material in the shale, releasing liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons. The Pumpherston process specifically utilized external heating through the retort wall and was employed in Scotland starting in 1862, with refinements later introduced in continental Europe. While many oil shale industries have come and gone due to competition from conventional crude oil, some processes, like those in Estonia and China, continue to operate.123