Underground coal gasification: Technology status report

Technical Report · Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6536430

The US Department of Energy's Morgantown Energy Technology Center is conducting a program in underground coal gasification (UCG). The purpose of this program is to develop the technology for converting coal seams, in place, to a combustible gas that can be cleaned, treated, and upgraded for a variety of end uses, such as the production of chemicals, substitute natural gas, liquid fuels, and electrical power. Coal resources targeted for UCG processing are those coal seams that are unsuitable for recovery using current mining technology because of technical, environmental, health and safety, or economic factors. Conceptually, UCG processing is relatively simple and straightforward. Wells are drilled from the surface to provide access to the target coal seam. One well serves for injection of an oxidant, such as air or a mixture of oxygen and steam, into the seam, while another well serves as a production well for the gasification process gases. These two process wells are connected within the seam using one of several linking techniques to provide an open pathway for the flow of large quantities of gaseous products. Surface treatment of the product gas stream is similar to that for surface gasification processes. The Program is divided into two main technical areas or subprograms: (1) Process Technology, and (2) Process Monitoring, Control, and Environmental Impact Mitigation. The intent of this report is to present the research and accomplishments since 1983 by discussing the elements in these two subprograms that are inhibiting the commercialization of UCG: (1) site suitability, (2) process well linkage, (3) process control, and (4) environmental risks. 60 refs., 12 figs.

• Research Organization: USDOE Morgantown Energy Technology Center, WV
• OSTI ID: 6536430
• Report Number(s): DOE/METC-87/0244; ON: DE87001004
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
IN-SITU GASIFICATION
FIELD TESTS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
BOREHOLE LINKING
CAVITIES
COAL GASIFICATION
COMMERCIALIZATION
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
ECONOMICS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
GROUND SUBSIDENCE
GROUND WATER
GROWTH
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MORGANTOWN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CENTER
REVERSE COMBUSTION
REVIEWS
SITE SELECTION
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
US DOE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
DOCUMENT TYPES
DRILLING
GASIFICATION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
TESTING
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
US ORGANIZATIONS
WATER
010404* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Gasification