The massive size of the oil shale resource in the Western USA, particularly in the Green River Basin, has attracted numerous commercialization attempts from industry over the last 100 years. Although great sums of money have been invested and many professional careers have been devoted to the challenge, efforts thus far have not resulted in a commercial oil shale industry. For more than 40 years, Shell has been active in the Green River oil shale seeking a process that could develop the 800 billion bbls of oil resource (RAND Corporation). Since 1980 Shell has focused on the In-situ Conversion Process (ICP) in which oil shale is heated by thermal conduction from a closely spaced array of electric resistance heaters. At approximately 650oF, the kerogen present in the oil shale is converted to oil, gas and water that can be produced by conventional means. Although the process is subject to mining statutes and regulations in the State of Colorado, no traditional mining is required. This paper provides a brief history of attempts to commercialize oil shale in the United States and an overview of Shell's ICP technology, including its 1940s Swedish oil shale roots. It focuses on Shell's seven field pilots conducted in Colorado that address ICP recovery, heater testing, and freeze wall construction and performance.

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Globally, with a rapidly growing world population, increasing prosperity and improved access to reliable electricity the IEA expects the demand for energy on the planet to increase significantly in the next decadesi. Meeting this demand globally and in Jordan will be a formidable challenge and requires exploring for conventional hydrocarbons as well as tight / shale oil and gas resources. Jordan has one of the largest oil shale resources in the world and although previous attempts to harness this energy source have been made in Jordan, none have resulted in large scale production of energy from oil shale. In May 2009, Royal Dutch Shell plc ("Shell") signed an Oil Shale Concession Agreement to explore and evaluate the commercial potential of the deeper layers of Jordanian oil shale. Since then, the Jordan Oil Shale Company (JOSCO), a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell, has gathered seismic data over an area of 22, 270 km2 across the country and drilled/tested over 300 wells. JOSCO also established one of the most advanced geochemical and geological laboratories in the Middle East to analyze thousands of rock samples, and currently employs more than 200 people of which more than 95% are Jordanian. Being part of Shell provides JOSCO with access to a network of experts world-wide, providing invaluable technical know-how, operational expertise, cutting-edge research capabilities and global commercial insight. Shell's approach to oil shale development utilizes a technology called In-situ Conversion Process (ICP). This is different from conventional surface retorting methods and direct firing of oil shale for power generation, and is aimed at heating the oil shale by thermal conduction using a closely spaced array of horizontal heaters. JOSCO's current activities are focused on demonstrating the technical feasibility of ICP technology in Jordan. The first ICP field test (Jordan Field Experiment, JFE) has been designed and will aim to validate JOSCO's subsurface understanding of the ICP process. After the JFE, further piloting is required in Jordan before a commercial project is envisioned. When successful, oil shale can play an important role in supporting the Jordan's energy mix, and may also help encourage further benefits to Jordan's energy industry, economy and society in the future.

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This paper will discuss an unconventional methodology for using physical and digital media strategies in a tightly structured framework for the integration of Environmental Control Systems (ECS) principles into a third year design studio. An interchangeable use of digital media and physical material enabled architectural explorations of rich tactile and luminous engagement.The principles that provide the foundation for integrative strategies between a design studio and building technology course spring from the Bauhaus tradition where a systematic approach to craftsmanship and visual perception is emphasized. Focusing particularly on color, light, texture and materials, Josef Albers explored the assemblage of found objects, transforming these materials into unexpected dynamic compositions. Moholy-Nagy developed a technique called the photogram or camera-less photograph to record the temporal movements of light. Wassily Kandinsky developed a method of analytical drawing that breaks a still life composition into diagrammatic forces to express tension and geometry. These schematic diagrams provide a method for students to examine and analyze the implications of element placements in space (Bermudez, Neiman 1997). Gyorgy Kepes's Language of Vision provides a primer for learning basic design principles. Kepes argued that the perception of a visual image needs a process of organization. According to Kepes, the experience of an image is "a creative act of integration". All of these principles provide the framework for the studio investigation.The quarter started with a series of intense short workshops that used an interchangeable use of digital and physical media to focus on ECS topics such as day lighting, electric lighting, and skin vocabulary to lead students to consider these components as part of their form-making inspiration.In integrating ECS components with the design studio, an nine-step methodology was established to provide students with a compelling and tangible framework for design: Examples of student work will be presented for the two times this course was offered (2001/02) to show how exercises were linked to allow for a clear design progression.