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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Method of increasing the permeability of a coal seam

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5114575
This patent describes a method of increasing the rate of methane production from a subterranean coal seam penetrated by a wellbore. It comprises: introducing fluid that causes coal to swell into the subterranean coal seam through the wellbore at a pressure above ambient reservoir pressure at the wellbore and below a fracture pressure of the coal seam; maintaining the injected fluid in the coal seam in a pressurized condition so that the fluid will contact the coal seam; and relieving the pressure within the coal seam by permitting the fluid to flow out from the wellbore prior to the pressure within the coal seam decreasing to a stabilized pressure.
Assignee:
Amoco Corp., Chicago, IL (USA)
Patent Number(s):
A; US 5014788
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-511497
OSTI ID:
5114575
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English