Initiating production of methane from wet coal beds

Patent · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:5625607

Terry, R C

Production of methane from an underground wet coal seam is initiated by drilling a well from the surface of the earth through the seam. Rather than pumping water to lower hydraulic head on the seam to permit desorption of methane within the coal, high pressure gas is injected into the seam to drive water away from the wellbore. Gas injection is terminated and the well is opened to flow. Initial gas production is return of injected gas, followed by a mixture of return injected gas and methane, followed by free methane from the fracture system of the coal, and then by methane desorbed from the coal. Upon return of displaced water to the wellbore, pumping operations remove water at rates that permit sustained production of desorbed methane.

• Assignee: In Situ Technology, Inc.
• Patent Number(s): US 4544037
• OSTI ID: 5625607
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
ALKANES
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL SEAMS
COMPRESSED GASES
DEGASSING
DESORPTION
FAILURES
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FRACTURES
GAS INJECTION
GASES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROCARBONS
METHANE
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINING
MOISTURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PRODUCTION
RECOVERY
REMOVAL
RESOURCES
UNDERGROUND MINING
WATER REMOVAL