Drilling straight down

I enjoyed your article regarding underground gasification

I enjoyed your article regarding underground gasification. 

You state that 'No U.G. trial has ever taken place in the UK'. I have a vague memory of a project in the late 40s/50s on the Kent coal field that was run by Dr. Roxby-Cox (Power Jets). I think they actually ran the G/T but had trouble with ignition. It was not popular with the miner's union at the time. 

I may of course be wrong. Imagination and memory get mixed up at 85. I suspect that we could only drill straight down in those days.

Phil Holbrook, Cyncoed Gardens. Cardiff

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