Underground coal gasification test successful

Journal Article · Mon Apr 21 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Chem. Eng. News; (United States)

OSTI ID:5462908

A recently completed underground coal gasification (UCG) test at Tennessee Colony, Texas, has been a success. Using technology licensed from the Soviet Union, the Texas Utilities Co. is exploring the potential of using the vast Texas lignite deposits for power generation. The research has included demonstration of the ability to make sequential well linkings while producing gas in 2 parallel channels, to determine the operational effects of local groundwater infiltration, and to assess environmental effects, particularly in the groundwater conducted in a lignite seam varying between 7.5 and 9 ft thick, at a nominal depth of 270 ft. Ten wells were linked by a reverse burn. The burn was initially air-blown, then centered on steam/oxygen oxidizing gas blown into the burn. The basic finding is that it is possible to conduct a reverse burn in a thin, wet lignite seam, and that water infiltration plays an important role. Researchers estimate that a low-Btu gas (85 to 100 Btu/SCF) can be produced from Texas lignite at a cost less than the current deregulated market price for heat from natural gas.

• OSTI ID: 5462908
• Journal Information: Chem. Eng. News; (United States), Journal Name: Chem. Eng. News; (United States) Vol. 58:16; ISSN CENEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010404* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Gasification
010900 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
AIR
BOREHOLE LINKING
BROWN COAL
CALORIFIC VALUE
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
COAL GAS
COAL GASIFICATION
COMBUSTION
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
ECONOMICS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FEDERAL REGION VI
FIELD TESTS
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GAS INJECTION
GASES
GASIFICATION
GROUND SUBSIDENCE
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IN-SITU GASIFICATION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
LIGNITE
MATERIALS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDATION
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
POWER GENERATION
PROCESSING
REVERSE COMBUSTION
STEAM
TESTING
TEXAS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
USA
WATER
WATER INFLUX