Site selection and characterization for an underground-coal-gasification test in Washington state. Volume 1. Project summary. Final report

Technical Report · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5322495

Bartel, L C; Love, S L ^[1]

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1. comps.

This project was conducted in the State of Washington to select and characterize a site (or sites) suitable for an underground coal gasification (UCG) experiment. A set of general criteria, based on previous UCG experience, was used to screen potential sites. Based on these criteria, the Tono Basin in the Centralia-Chehalis coal district, was selected for detailed characterization. The basin is near the Centralia Steam Electric Generating Plant, and it contains a 47-foot thick seam of subbituminous coal at a depth of about 600 feet. Geotechnical characterization of Tono was accomplished by using a combination of surface seismic surveys, surface electromagnetic surveys, borehole logging, coring, and hydrological testing. An environmental survey of the Tono Basin was also conducted. The results of the project have not disclosed any characteristics which would preclude conducting a gasification experiment in the Tono Basin. However, several factors need further evaluation before committing to a test: (1) the effect of the coal's high ash content; (2) the effect of possible fracturing near the top of the coal seam; (3) the seam's directional permeability; (4) the hydrogeologic characteristics of overburden sandstone; and (5) the local hydrology of the test site. A preliminary test plan was developed which, if implemented, should lead to a quantitative assessment of the correlation between pre-test characteristics and the functional UCG process, the product gas quality and potential use, and the environmental effects.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5322495
• Report Number(s): SAND-81-2051/1; ON: DE82007557
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010404* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Gasification
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL GASIFICATION
COAL SEAMS
DEPTH
DIMENSIONS
DRILL CORES
FEDERAL REGION X
GASIFICATION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
HYDROLOGY
IN-SITU GASIFICATION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
PROCESSING
RECOMMENDATIONS
RESOURCES
SITE SELECTION
SURVEYS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
THICKNESS
USA
WASHINGTON
WELL LOGGING