Shale oils produced by pyrolysis of oil shales of the Goynuk and Seyitomer regions in Turkey were analyzed for basic nitrogen compounds. Basic nitrogen compounds were removed from the oil by HCI treated silica gel. Total shale oil, basic, acidic, and neutral fractions were compared. It was found that basic nitrogen accounted for about one half of all nitrogen in Goynuk shale oil, whereas 68% of the total nitrogen was basic in Seyitomer shale oil. The basic nitrogen compounds also included some acidic and neutral nitrogen. Nitriles were also present in shale oils but not detected if the oils were treated with NaOH prior to pyrolysis, suggesting that the formation of nitriles may be due to the reaction of fatty acids with ammonia released from the inorganic matrix.