Hoe Creek No. 3: first long-term underground coal gasification experiment with oxygen-steam injection
There are compelling reasons for pursuing underground coal gasification. The resource that could be exploited is huge - enough to quadruple present proved coal reserves - if the process is successful. Cost estimates indicate that substitute natural gas or gasoline may be producible at reasonable prices by the technique. In the Hoe Creek No. 3 underground coal gasification experiment linkage paths were established between the injection and production wells by drilling a horizontal borehole between them near the bottom of the coal seam. The drilled linkage hole was enlarged by reverse burning, then the forward gasification process began - first with air injection for one week, then with oxygen-steam injection for the remainder of the experiment. During the oxygen-steam injection period, approximately 3900 tons of coal was gasified in 47 days, at an average rate of 83 tons/day. The heating value of the dry product gas averaged 218 Btu/SCF (194 kj/mol), suitable for input to a processing plant for upgrading to pipeline quality, which is approximately 900 Btu/SCF (800 kj/mol).
- OSTI ID:
- 5397223
- Journal Information:
- Energy Technol. Rev.; (United States), Journal Name: Energy Technol. Rev.; (United States); ISSN ETERD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Hoe Creek II field experiment on underground coal gasification, preliminary results
LLL in situ coal gasification program. Quarterly progress report, January--March 1978. [Hoe Creek No. 2 and 3]
Related Subjects
010404* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Gasification
AIR
CALORIFIC VALUE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL GAS
COAL SEAMS
COMBUSTION
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
DRILLING
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
GAS INJECTION
GASES
GASIFICATION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
IN-SITU GASIFICATION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
MINERAL RESOURCES
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDATION
OXYGEN
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
RESOURCES
REVERSE COMBUSTION
STEAM INJECTION
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
USA
WYOMING