Using supercritical carbon dioxide as a solvent, hydrocarbons were extracted from oil shale at low temperature under moderate pressure. Operational variables were studied. The average amount of oil removed corresponded to about 1% of the organic matter of the shale. The maximum yield was 0.73 gallons of oil per ton of shale or about 1.3%. Water was extracted from the shale in greater amounts than was oil. Extraction at temperatures below 400/sup 0/F did not produce high enough yields for the process to be commercially viable. Yield did increase with smaller particle size, increased time of extraction, increased temperature, and increased density of the solvent.