Energy is the most important part of daily life and fossil fuels are a key part of the world's energy resources. In fact, the most abundant and economically sustainable fossil fuel is coal. According to the US Energy Information Agency (EIA), the United States has the largest recoverable reserves in the world. Although domestic use has declined from “annual share of total net production of 50% in 2007 to 37% in 2012,” U.S. coal exports have been steadily increasing. Even if net domestic usage continues to decline in the future, exports will certainly increase as more and more countries begin to industrialize and seek cheap and reliable energy resources. But in order to use coal as energy, it must be mined. The selection of a method depends on many different environmental constraints, “factors such as topography, the geometry of the coal seam and the geology of the overlying rocks and, most importantly, economic constraints” (Hermann 2011) all play a role in method selection. There are two main mining techniques of coal mining; the first technique used is Surface Mining. Surface mining occurs when topsoil is removed by machinery and coal is then extracted from the exposed coal seam. Surface mining includes mountaintop, open-pit, contour, highwall and area mining. These different mining techniques are used depending on environmental and economic factors. The second, more conventional mining technique is underground mining which includes longwall, as well as room and pillar mining. This is where Victaulic can provide efficient extraction techniques that lead to financial savings, quick installation, increased safety and reduced need for future fittings. Victaulic piping solutions play an important role in the mining industry with cr...... middle of paper ......E Tribal Energy Development Guide, World Coal Institute, USGS, MineralInformation Institute, Kentucky Geological Survey and National Mining Association. “Coal Mining Technologies.” http://teeic.anl.gov. Indian Bureau of Energy and Economic Development, October 31, 2000. Web. February 20, 2014. Hermann, Fred W. “Types of Coal Mining.” Types of coal mining. ILO, 2011. Web. 20February 2014. Kentucky Geological Survey. "Methods of Mining". http://www.uky.edu/KGS/. KGS, University of Kentucky, 1 August 2012. Web. 20 February 2014. US Energy Information Administration. “What is the role of coal in the United States?” EIA Energy in Brief: What is Coal's Role in the U.S. Department of Energy, Aug. 16, 2013. Web. Feb. 19, 2014.Vermeulen, Anine. "The company designs innovative fittings for mining pumps." Weekly mining. Creamer Media, February 8, 2013. Web. February 20. 2014.