Additional gas resource for coal bed methane by applying underground coal gasification and enhanced coal bed methane

Abstract

Methane gas obtained from coal sources can be classified into two categories i.e Coal Bed Methane (CBM) and Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) gases. The Industry today often neglects the importance of capturing the UCG as important source of methane potential besides the surface gasification potential. This research will evaluate on the new resource estimation of methane as reserves with application of new technological advances in exploitation. As an analysis, the UCG energy return is significantly higher than that of CBM. Both CBM and UCG output gas can be liquefied, or used as a direct feedstock to local power stations. The CO2 generated from UCG process may be used for Enhanced Coal Bed Methane (ECBM) process because of more adsorption capacity than methane, may lead to additional methane potential. Deeper coal seams may be targeted for CBM, followed by UCG for additional resources in the form of coal gas. A depleted CBM area may be targeted for UCG with some modification on the well profile. Developing an integrated and centrally controlled approach to exploit the coal resources in which, the appropriate extraction methodology should be identified for each particular target coal-seam or groups of coal seam. It is important to strategize the sequencing of energy extraction methods to provide an optimal balance between the energy delivery for sustainable future and its true socioeconomic value. As from this analysis, with 245.6 acres of coal, estimated gas can be produced is 3.25 TSCF which is 101 BSCF is coming from CBM, 3.14 TSCF from UCG and another 14.45 BSCF is from ECBM