Mike Pitts - Director Subsurface

Mike joined Green Gas as Director of Subsurface in 2006. He is an experienced mine gas extraction and safety manager. Since 1968 he has worked in the coal industry internationally specialising in ventilation and mine gas issues.

For the past 20 years, Mike has undertaken international consulting assignments on spontaneous combustion, mine ventilation and coal mine methane projects. In addition to numerous technology transfer assignments, Mike has worked in a range of countries to develop methane drainage techniques, providing assistance ranging from reservoir characterisation and engineering design for drainage systems to equipment specification and the training of local personnel.

Mike is qualified to provide assistance with preventive or remedial action on spontaneous combustion, and investigations of fires, explosions and other dangerous occurrences in mines. He has worked in the United Kingdom, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, People's Republic of China, Egypt, Germany, India, Kosovo, Mexico, Romania, Sardinia, Serbia & Montenegro, Siberia and Turkey.
Mike holds a B.Ed. in Physical Science from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom.

Petr Hemza - Director of Geology & Mine Safety (Green Gas, DBP)

Petr is currently the Director for geology and mine safety for Green Gas, DPB, a.s., a wholly owned subsidiary of Green Gas. He began his career as a field geologist in 1987. In his current role he specialises in providing consultancy services to coal mine owners. This covers a wide range of specialist areas such as: mine gas drainage, mine ventilation, gas emissions, geomechanics, geophysics, geology and hydrogeology. He also provides expertise on coal and/or gas reserves computation as well as analysis and geological laboratory work.

From 1993 to 2001 Petr worked as the chief geologist in the coal bed methane exploration programme of the Czech Republic. He is the author of the final geological report from this programme and has presented this work widely at conferences around the world.

In 2005 Petr completed his PhD, which focused on defining parameters affecting the presence of coal bed methane in coal seams in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin.

The Coal Mine Gas team also benefits from the international expertise of other Green Gas team members such as Karl Schultz.