Lots of coal is a mile deep and hard to mine. Drill down to the formation, introduce hot hydrogen and the right catalyst, and get oil and hydrocarbon gases up. Fischer-Tropsch in situ.
You got it.
Extract all the "Coal Bed Methane" you can then do similiar but hotter.
Was thinking something along the line of Frasch Process, where they pump superheated water down the hole and product comes out.
Maybe use the CBM to fuel the thing.
Your thoughts?