TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: The method uses at least two heat sources. The heat is provided to the portion of the formation by heating a selected volume (V) of the formation to pyrolyze at least some of the hydrocarbons within the selected volume of the formation. The heating energy/day provided to the selected volume is equal to or less than Pwr obtained from the equation Pwr = hasteriskVasteriskCvasteriskrho-B (where Pwr = heating energy/day, h = average heating rate of the formation, Cv = average heat capacity of the formation, rho-B = formation bulk density), and the heating rate is less than 10degreesC/day. The permeability of the majority of the selected formation section is increased to greater than 100 millidarcy as the heat is transferred to the selected formation section. The temperature within the majority of the selected formation section maybe controlled as a function of the pressure of the selected formation section or vice versa. The heat maybe controlled such that an average heating rate of the selected formation section is less than 1 degreesC/day during pyrolysis. The pressure within the majority of the selected formation section maybe controlled at preferably at least2 bar absolute to inhibit production of fluids having a carbon number of greater than 25. The pressure maybe controlled by a valve coupled to the heat source(s) or to a production well located in the formation. The formation conditions maybe further controlled to provide a partial pressure of hydrogen gas (H2) within the mixture of greater than 0.5 bar. This step can be accomplished by recirculating a portion of hydrogen from the mixture into the formation. In method (B), the formation is heated at 400-1200degreesC to allow synthesis gas generation.Preferred Property: A portion of the selected formation section has a thermal conductivity of greater than 0.5 W/(mdegreesC).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Component: The heat source(s) comprises electrical heaters, surface burners, flameless distributed combustors or natural distributed combustors. The system in (D) further includes an insulated conductor disposed within the opening of formation to heat at least a portion of the formation during application of an electrical current to the conductor. The insulated conductor comprises a conductor disposed in an electrically insulating material. The insulating material maybe disposed in a sheath comprising a corrosion-resistant material. The insulated conductor maybe configured to generate radiant heat of approximately 500-1150 W/m during use. A heat exchanger, which is configured to heat the oxidizing fluid, maybe disposed external to the formation. The conduit comprises orifices configured to provide the oxidizing fluid into the opening of the formation.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The mixture produced comprises condensable hydrocarbons having an API gravity of at least25degrees. The condensable hydrocarbons can comprise 0.1-15 wt.% olefins, greater than 20 wt.% aromatic compounds, 5-30 wt.% cycloalkanes, less than 5 wt.% multi-ring aromatics with more than two rings, and less than 0.2 wt.% asphaltenes. It may also comprise less than 1 wt.% (calculated on an atomic weight basis) nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur. The oxygen is preferably present as an oxygen-containing compound (e.g., phenols) at 5-30 wt.% in the condensable hydrocarbons. The mixture produced also comprise non-condensable hydrocarbons with 0.001-0.15 molar ratio of ethene to ethane. The non-condensable hydrocarbons can comprise 0.1-15 wt.% olefins.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The mixture produced further comprises a non-condensable component consisting of greater than 10 vol.% but less than 80 vol.% hydrogen. It can also comprise greater than 0.05 wt.% ammonia which can be utilized in producing fertilizer. It can also include water, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide.Preferred Fluid: The synthesis gas generating fluid comprises water, steam, and/or carbon dioxide.Preferred Material: The electrical insulating material of the conductor comprises magnesium oxide and aluminum oxide.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Material: The conductor comprises copper-nickel alloy containing 2-6 wt.% nickel.