Abstract: A system for recovering methane gas from a coal seam and rock strata and other coal seams above a coal seam being mined or as has been previously mined. The system involves directionally drilling one or more degas holes from a surface location that curve to extend above and essentially parallel, near parallel or slanted to a coal seam to be mined or as has been previously mined. The degas hole is spaced an appropriate vertical distance above the coal seam, usually twenty (20) to two hundred (200) feet, depending on the mining technique being employed and rock strata characteristics. The degas hole is to draw methane gas under vacuum or pressure differential from the gob that is created when the overburden is collapsed. Multiple degas holes can be formed from the same surface location to run parallel to, across and even at an angle to a coal seam.

Abstract: An in-situ coal gasification process for practice on a formation having one or more dipping coal seams that involves, directionally drilling a production wellbore into a burn module designated in each coal seam each from a separate surface location and, from one surface location, directionally drilling injection wellbores to a designated burn module in a coal seam.