How much does oil shale sell for?
Oil shale economics
The various attempts to develop oil shale deposits have succeeded only when the cost of shale-oil production in a given region comes in below the price of crude oil or its other substitutes (break-even price).  The United States Department of Energy estimates that the ex-situ processing would be economic at sustained average world oil prices above US$$54 per barrel and in-situ processing would be economic at prices above $35 per barrel.  These estimates assume a return rate of 15%.[6]  The International Energy Agency estimates, based on the various pilot projects, that investment and operating costs would be similar to those of Canadian oil sands, that means would be economic at prices above $60 per barrel at current costs.  This figure does not account carbon pricing, which will add additional cost.[4]  According to the New Policies Scenario introduced in its World Energy Outlook 2010, a price of $50 per tonne of emitted CO
2, expected by 2035, will add additional $7.50 per barrel cost of shale oil.[4]