A one-dimensional oil shale retorting model was used to simulate inclined fluidized bed retorting of western oil shale. The calculated oil yields agree fairly well with data from previous experiments because the stoichiometry and kinetics of western oil shale pyrolysis do not depend strongly on heating rate. Although the model produces acceptable results with western shales, an understanding of the retorting mechanism for eastern shales at high heating rates is necessary to properly predict oil recoveries under fluid bed conditions. 6 refs., 3 tabs.