Abstract: A method is provided for operating an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale. The retort contains a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles containing oil shale, within top, bottom and side boundaries of unfragmented formation. A drift is in communication with a lower region of the fragmented mass for withdrawal of liquid products of retorting and an off-gas comprising gaseous products of retorting. A gas-sealing bulkhead is placed across the product withdrawal drift and a water spray is installed in the drift through the bulkhead. An upper region of the fragmented mass is ignited for establishing a combustion zone therein. A retort inlet mixture comprising an oxygen-supplying gas is introduced into the top of the fragmented mass for advancing the combustion zone downwardly through it to thereby establish a retorting zone on the advancing side of the combustion zone for producing the liquid and gaseous products.

Abstract: Method for the use of heat, especially "Waste Heat", from geothermal steam or brines for the manufacture of chemicals such as alcohol, which comprises, according to one embodiment, flashing the brine to produce steam, passing the steam to a turbine for electrical energy generation, and employing the steam from the turbine discharge and/or the flashed brine to provide some or all of the heat requirements for the fermentation-distillation process for production of alcohols, e.g. (methanol and/or ethanol) from agricultural wastes. The method can also be utilized for the production by distillation and/or by industrial fermentation and/or by hydrolysis of other chemicals (such as furfural and acetone).