Abstract: This invention includes methods of recovering hydrocarbons from oil shale, and sub-surface oil shale recovery arrangements for recovering hydrocarbons from oil shale. In one implementation, a sub-surface oil shale recovery arrangement for recovering hydrocarbons from oil shale includes a bore hole extending upwardly from a subterranean room into oil shale, with at least an upper part of the room being received within the oil shale and includes a wall through which the bore hole extends. The bore hole includes a lowest portion within the oil shale and an upper portion within the oil shale. A heating energy source extends from the subterranean room into the bore hole along the lowest portion and along the upper portion, insulation and/or cooling is received radially about the heating energy source extending along the lowest portion. Other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: This invention includes methods of recovering hydrocarbons from oil shale, and sub-surface oil shale recovery arrangements for recovering hydrocarbons from oil shale. In one implementation, a sub-surface oil shale recovery arrangement for recovering hydrocarbons from oil shale includes a bore hole extending upwardly from a subterranean room into oil shale, with at least an upper part of the room being received within the oil shale and includes a wall through which the bore hole extends. The bore hole includes a lowest portion within the oil shale and an upper portion within the oil shale. A heating energy source extends from the subterranean room into the bore hole along the lowest portion and along the upper portion, insulation and/or cooling is received radially about the heating energy source extending along the lowest portion. Other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method for recovering a desired fluid hydrocarbon from an underground porous formation having a bottom impermeable to the fluid hydrocarbon and containing the hydrocarbon and at least one other fluid having a specific gravity different from the hydrocarbon, comprising the steps of forming an excavation having a portion thereof below the porous formation; forming a plurality of openings extending from the portion of said excavation into said porous formation; inserting collection means into the porous formation through the openings to separately collect the hydrocarbon and the at least one other fluid; collecting a quantity of the at least one other fluid; circulating the collected at least one other fluid from the porous formation to a point below the porous formation and at least one time back through the porous formation to wash the hydrocarbon therefrom and to form, in the porous formation, a pool of the hydrocarbon and a substantially separate layer of the at least one other fluid; regulating the height