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To: marcos who wrote (5322)	7/15/1998 4:18:00 PM
From: eric deaver	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 11684

What I know of the technology come from my experience with vapor extraction of organics from UST releases. As I understand, its the same process only deeper. Essentially one dewaters the formation and then uses a vacuum to extract the gas from the coal in vapor phase. I am printing a 90 page document on the subject right now and will have definitive information tomorrow. Until then - baby crying, gotta go. Eric

To: marcos who wrote (5322)	7/15/1998 4:47:00 PM
From: eric deaver	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 11684

I'm back!! Baby safely at mother's breast. Here is a discussion of vertical extraction wells from: A Guide for Methane Mitigation Projects - Gas-to-Energy at Coal Mines - Published By USEPA in Feb. 1996 "Vertical Wells Description: Similar in design to conventional oil and gas wells, vertical wells are drilled from the surface into the coal seam several years in advance of mining. In the U.S., they range from 300 to 600 meters in length, depending on the depth of the mine. Well spacing depends on reservoir, geological, and surface conditions. In the U.S., well spacing can range from one well per 8 hectares (20 acres) to one well per 65 hectares (160 acres). Vertical wells usually require hydraulic fracturing of the coal seam to activate the flow of methane. These wells may produce large quantities of water and small volumes of methane during the first several months of operation. As this water is removed and the pressure in the coal seam is lowered, gas production increases. This water produced by vertical wells is the same water that would be removed when the coal is mined. Generally, this water must be treated and disposed in a manner that is similar to the treatment and disposal performed for the water produced during mining. Since vertical wells are operated several years in advance of mining, the equipment for water treatment would need to be installed and operated sooner than would be necessary if the water were handled during mining. Vertical wells typically produce gas with a methane content greater than 95 percent because the methane that is recovered is not diluted with air from the mine workings. The total amount of methane recovered using vertical pre-drainage will depend on both the site specific geology and the number of years the well is drilled prior to the start of mining. Recovery of from 50 to over 70 percent of the methane that would otherwise be emitted during mining operations is possible for operations drilling vertical degasification wells at least 10 years in advance of mining. Although not widely used in the coal mining industry, vertical wells are used by numerous stand-alone 5 operations that produce methane from coal seams for sale to natural gas pipelines. The use of this recovery method is growing in the U.S. Exhibit 4-1 presents a schematic of a vertical degasification well. Suitability/Technical Feasibility: Vertical wells (along with longhole horizontal boreholes - <<Note: here they are referring to boreholes drilled from inside a mine not conventional horizontal drilling>>) are the preferred recovery technique when nearly pure methane must be produced. Vertical wells are suitable for mines that have access to advanced technology, can plan several years in advance of mining, have medium or highly permeable coal seams, and have geological characteristics that permit drilling from the surface. One advantage of vertical wells is that they may be used in conjunction with virtually all coal mining methods. U.S. coal mines employing this technique have successfully recovered large amounts of high quality methane for sale through conventional gas pipelines. Vertical wells cannot be used on low permeability coals (less than 3 md), when surface access is restricted, or when degasification cannot be planned in advance. In low permeability coal seams, vertical wells may not be effective due to limited methane flow through the seam. Additionally, there is some concern that in certain geologic conditions the hydraulic fracturing required to stimulate production from a vertical well may cause damage to the roof rock, which would hinder mining operations. However, U.S. mines employing this technique have shown that hydraulic fracturing can be controlled and should not adversely affect future mining. Finally, due to the need to fracture the coal seam in advance of mining, vertical wells require a more advanced technological expertise than do some of the other methods." FWIW, Eric