THE BEST CHOICE of drilling equipment for a particular coal exploration program depends on the site-specific objectives. The following items should be considered when outlining a project: 1. Type of evaluation phase (exploration, predevelopment, development, etc.). 2. Time frame for implementation of the program. 3. Total cost (budgeted and projected) of the exploration program including costs of permitting, abandonment, and reclamation of boreholes. 4. Extent of the project area. 5. Geological and geophysical characteristics of the project area including types of subsurface lithologies. 6. Maps of surface features. 7. Access to and mobility within the study area. 8. Depth and thickness of the coal beds. 9. Distribution of drill site locations that will best define the variability of beds of interest. 10. Amount of sample required for planned analyses.