Title: Recovering coal bed methane from deep unmineable coal seams and carbon sequestration

Authors: Thomas D. Brown, Donald K. Harrison, J. Richard Jones, Kenneth A. LaSota

Addresses: US Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory, P.O. Box 10940, Pittsburgh, 15236-0940 PA, USA. ' US Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory, P.O. Box 10940, Pittsburgh, 15236-0940 PA, USA. ' US Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory, P.O. Box 10940, Pittsburgh, 15236-0940 PA, USA. ' Department of Science, Robert Morris University, 6001 University Boulevard, Moon Township, 15108-1189 PA, USA

Abstract: Published data from nearly 2,000 coal samples comprising 250 coal beds from 17 states, representing many of the coal producing horizons in the USA, shows moderate correlation (0.7) between depth and methane content for high volatile coal ranks. Low-volatile rank coals average the highest methane content, 12.74 m³/ton (450 ft³/ton), subbituminous rank coals the lowest, <0.71 m³/ton (<25 ft³/ton). Experimentation under replicated in situ conditions of triaxial stress, pore pressure and temperature on Pittsburgh No. 8 coal indicate permeability decreases with increasing CO₂ pressure, with an increase in strain in the coal associated with its swelling.

Keywords: CO₂ sequestration; coal bed methane; unmineable coal seams; carbon sequestration; geological sequestration; carbon dioxide; triaxial stress; pore pressure; temperature; permeability; strain; coal swelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2007.014233

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2007 Vol.29 No.4, pp.474 - 483

Published online: 26 Jun 2007 *

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