A research program for the development of an in-situ technology for the recovery of oil shale from beds of thin strata is described. The program has been designed for five consecutive phases extending over a total of five years. Two possible field site locations in the White Mountain region of western Wyoming, near Rock Springs, have been selected. A corehole program as well as environmental studies have been initiated on these proposed sites. A mining plan has been designed to provide for determining blasting techniques, theoretical design data relating to heat effects on mine pillars, retort configuration and a general mining plan to minimize environmental impact. A retorting plan has also been developed to test both direct and indirect heating modes as well as both vertical and horizontal retorting techniques.