coal??

Hi - just something that has been going round in my mind for a bit since an Ann came out a week or two ago about CTPs programme..

"Central has received a report from international consultants Netherlands Sewell and Associates which concludes that the Permian Purni Formation coals intersected by the Company�s recent Coal Seam Gas (CSG) programme did not generate economic volumes of thermogenic methane. There remained some potential for the coals in the basin in areas not drilled to date to have generated economic volumes of biogenic methane.

The Company plans to initiate a four well stratigraphic coal drilling programme within the next month designed to expand the area of known coal intersections and believes the basin has considerable potential for Coal to Liquids (CTL) mining and processing to produce value added transport fuels. Other options are being evaluated such as Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) combined with Gas to Liquids (GTL) processing to produce transport fuels and/or coal mining coupled with beneficiation to produce an enhanced quality coal product for export."

I noticed that they are talking about drilling more holes to prove up the their coal resources. To me (in my all be it fairly limited understanding of their coals potential) it seems a bit odd.. is it really THAT much of a possiblity for quick commercialisation that it warrants directing funds and time away from exploiting an active oil system, when the oil seems like the most likely potential for bringing some cash flow into the coffers? From the impression I had from some previous posts, the coal was an unproven possibility for the future, but not really likely to be source of income anytime soon, in which case, why pursue it at all until we have a regular/stable income with which to play around with..? I guess it comes down to if youve got a limited pot of money, where is your best bang for buck going to be, and coal at this point doesnt seem like it to me?..is there more to this? Interested in your opinions..?