Underground coal gasification process containing a novel system of injection and production wells. Specifically, the injection well is positioned at an angle with respect to horizontal of less than the angle of repose of loose coal and char for the particular coal seam, and the production well is positioned at an angle with respect to horizontal of greater than the angle of repose but less than 90.degree.. This system protects the injection well during the process and places the production well in a position for maximum production while relieving it of certain tensile and shear stresses.