Variability of geochemical properties in a microbially dominated coalbed gas system from the eastern margin of the Illinois Basin, USA

Journal Article · Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · International Journal of Coal Geology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2008.02.002· OSTI ID:1014916

Strąpoć, Dariusz ^[1]; Mastalerz, Maria ^[1]; Schimmelmann, Arndt ^[1]; Drobniak, Agnieszka ^[1]; Hedges, Sheila ^[2]

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1. Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States)
2. National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, (United States)

This study outlines gas characteristics along the southeastern margins of the Illinois Basin and evaluates regional versus local gas variations in Seelyville and Springfield coal beds. Our findings suggest that high permeability and shallow (100-250 m) depths of these Indiana coals allowed inoculation with methanogenic microbial consortia, thus leading to widespread microbial methane generation along the eastern marginal part of the Illinois Basin. Low maturity coals in the Illinois Basin with a vitrinite reflectance R_o~0.6% contain significant amounts of coal gas ~3m³/t, 96 scf/t) with ≥ 97 vol.% microbial methane. The amount of coal gas can vary significantly within a coal seam both in a vertical seam section as well as laterally from location to location. Therefore sampling of an entire core section is required for accurate estimates of coal gas reserves.

• Research Organization: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy (FE)
• OSTI ID: 1014916
• Report Number(s): NETL-TPR-2267
• Journal Information: International Journal of Coal Geology, Vol. 76, Issue 1-2; ISSN 0166-5162
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
58 GEOSCIENCES
COALBED GAS
MICROBIAL GAS
METHANOGENESIS
METHANE
CARBON ISOTOPES
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ILLINOIS BASIN