Described is a method of insitu conversion of coal formations to oil, natural gas, and alcohol fuels, and a method of tertiary oil recovery using lightning as an energy source. Lightning rods which are insulated from other geologic strata conduct lightning to an embedded metal block, the embedded block located in the coal or oil bearing geologic strata. The metal block attracts lightning via the lightning rod, but also serves as capacitance. The conductance of electricity from one lightning rod (+) to another lightning rod (-) through the hydrocarbon bearing strata converts the coal and water to oil, natural gas, and alcohols or secondarily extracts oil as tertiary recovery. The oil, natural gas and alcohols are extracted via traditional pumping methods.