Assessment of geologic factors controlling the economic recovery of Alabama deep-basin lignite

Technical Report · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5010195

Mancini, E A

The primary objective of this research has been the assessment of the geologic factors controlling the economic recovery of the deep-basin lignite in the Alabama Coastal Plain. The objective has been achieved by determining the thickness and quality of the lignite resource and the lithology of the strata overlying the lignite beds. Results of the study are presented. Two coreholes were drilled in Choctaw County, Alabama, to evaluate the deep-basin lignite resource in southwest Alabama. The deep-basin Oak Hill lignite core is of a higher quality than the near-surface lignite. The deep-basin lignite has an average calorific value on a moisture-free basis of 12,680 Btu/lb. The deep-basin Tuscahoma lignite is not of as high a quality as the deep-basin Oak Hill lignite. (DMC) The main Oak Hill lignite bed is between 2 to 11 feet thick in coreholes and oil and gas wells studied from Choctaw County. The overburden thickness increases from less than 50 feet in northern Choctaw County to over 2000 feet in the southern part of the county. The hypothetical deep-basin Oak Hill lignite resource in Choctaw County is about 2.3 billion short tons. The hypothetical deep-basin lignite available in southwest Alabama may exceed 3 billion short tons. In situ low-Btu gasification without any transportation is presently the most feasible method of recovering the energy stored in the deep-basin lignite in southwest Alabama. In situ liquefaction is potentially the recovery method of the future for the deep-basin Oak Hill lignite. (DMC)

• Research Organization: Alabama Univ., University (USA). School of Mines and Energy Development
• OSTI ID: 5010195
• Report Number(s): NP-2906031; ON: DE82906031
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
011000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
ALABAMA
BOREHOLES
BROWN COAL
CALORIFIC VALUE
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CAVITIES
COAL
COAL DEPOSITS
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
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ENERGY SOURCES
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FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
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LIGNITE
LITHOLOGY
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MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
RESOURCES
THICKNESS
USA