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Title: Advanced geophysical underground coal gasification monitoring

Journal Article · · Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change
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  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
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Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) produces less surface impact, atmospheric pollutants and greenhouse gas than traditional surface mining and combustion. Therefore, it may be useful in mitigating global change caused by anthropogenic activities. Careful monitoring of the UCG process is essential in minimizing environmental impact. In this paper, we first summarize monitoring methods that have been used in previous UCG field trials. We then discuss in more detail a number of promising advanced geophysical techniques. These methods – seismic, electromagnetic, and remote sensing techniques – may provide improved and cost-effective ways to image both the subsurface cavity growth and surface subsidence effects. Active and passive seismic data have the promise to monitor the burn front, cavity growth, and observe cavity collapse events. Electrical resistance tomography (ERT) produces near real time tomographic images autonomously, monitors the burn front and images the cavity using low-cost sensors, typically running within boreholes. Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) is a remote sensing technique that has the capability to monitor surface subsidence over the wide area of a commercial-scale UCG operation at a low cost. It may be possible to infer cavity geometry from InSAR (or other surface topography) data using geomechanical modeling. The expected signals from these monitoring methods are described along with interpretive modeling for typical UCG cavities. They are illustrated using field results from UCG trials and other relevant subsurface operations.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1366915
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-641052
Journal Information:
Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Vol. 21, Issue 4; ISSN 1381-2386
Publisher:
SpringerCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 14 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (10)

Open radar interferometry software for mapping surface Deformation journal July 2011
Underground Coal Gasification: A Brief Review of Current Status journal September 2009
Characterizing 6 August 2007 Crandall Canyon mine collapse from ALOS PALSAR InSAR journal March 2010
Mining subsidence and displacement prediction using influence function methods journal May 1987
Difference Inversion of ERT Data: a Fast Inversion Method for 3-D In Situ Monitoring journal June 2001
Electrical resistivity tomography of vadose water movement journal May 1992
Surface subsidence induced by the Crandall Canyon Mine (Utah) collapse: InSAR observations and elasto-plastic modelling: Modelling subsidence from mine collapse journal October 2010
Deformation mapping in three dimensions for underground mining using InSAR – Southern highland coalfield in New South Wales, Australia journal July 2011
Radar interferometry and its application to changes in the Earth's surface journal November 1998
Ground subsidence resulting from underground gasification of coal. [36 refs] report March 1977

Cited By (2)

Thermo-mechanical coupling numerical simulation method under high temperature heterogeneous rock and application in underground coal gasification journal January 2020
Monitoring and Control in Underground Coal Gasification: Current Research Status and Future Perspective journal January 2019

Figures / Tables (10)

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Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
58 GEOSCIENCES
underground coal gasification
UCG
electrical resistivity tomography
ERT
interferometric synthetic aperture radar
InSAR