The purpose of this research was to determine the quantity and the quality of synthetic gas produced from in situ shale oil. The oil was subjected to cracking temperatures and pressures and passed through a cobalt-molybdate-on-alumina catalyst under a hydrogen atmosphere. All tests were made with a liquid hourly space velocity of 1.02 volumes of oil per volume of catalyst per hour. Operating temperatures ranged from 800 to 1,300F at pressures of 500, 1,000, and 1,500 psig. A gas with the highest methane content was produced at the highest temperature and pressure tested.