Shale samples selected at 5-ft intervals from a 339 foot section of core in the depth interval from 2369.0 feet to 2708.0 feet of the Devonian Shale from Perry County, Kentucky were studied to determine the quantity of organic matter present, fuel potential, distribution of organic compounds, and the composition of the benzene soluble and insoluble fractions. The methods used consisted of infrared spectroscopy, thermal chromatography, extraction techniques, Fischer Assay, and elemental analysis. Resultant depth profiles of total organics, organic to mineral carbon, pyrolytic oil yield, oil carbon number distribution, benzene soluble organic fraction, and major elemental composition of the benzene soluble organics are presented. The organic material is contained in several well-defined zones throughout the length of the core, but individual samples in one zone also show variations in the amount of organic material present. The pyrolytic conversion of the organic content to oil is relatively constant. There is little variation in the chain length of the organic components as a function of depth. 5 tables, 6 figures.