PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT IN UNDERGROUND COAL GASIFICATION.

Basic Resources, Inc. , a subsidiary of Texas Utilities Co. , has licensed Soviet technology and is developing underground gasification of lignites near Fairfield, Texas. The Atlantic Richfield Company has executed a field gasification test in a 100 ft thick subbituminous coal near Reno Junction, Wyoming. Texas A&M University is carrying out tests in lignite under sponsorship of a consortium. International activities include a field test carried out by the Alberta Research Council near Edmonton, Alberta. The Federal Republics of Germany and Belgium are initiating field work for underground gasification of deep (3000 ft) bituminous coal in Belgium. To accelerate commercialization it is planned to conduct joint DOE/industry projects in low rank coal.