Unconventional Oil

Unconventional oil refers to oil stored in sources that are harder to extract than traditional oil. These include reserves like shale oil, which is found in shale rock formations, and tar sands, which contain bitumen—thick, tar-like oil. Extracting unconventional oil often requires advanced techniques such as hydraulic fracturing (fracking) or surface mining, making it more complex and costly. While it significantly boosts oil supplies, it also raises environmental concerns like groundwater contamination and high greenhouse gas emissions. Overall, unconventional oil is a vital but complex part of the global energy landscape.