Coal-bed methane potential in Montana

Conference · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:6095862

Campen, E

Montana's coal resources are the second largest of the US, with coal underlying approximately 35% of the state. These resources are estimated at 478 billion tons. Associated coal-bed methane resources are estimated to be 14 tcf. The coals of Montana range from Jurassic to early Tertiary in age and from lignite to low-volatile bituminous in rank. Thickness, rank, maceral composition, and proximate and ultimate analyses all vary vertically and laterally. The state contains eight major coal resource areas. A large percentage of Montana's coal consists of the Paleocene Fort Union lignites of eastern Montana, generally considered of too low a rank to contain significant methane resources. Most of the state's other coal deposits are higher in rank and contain many recorded methane shows. During Cretaceous and Tertiary times, regressive-transgressive cycles resulted in numerous coal-bearing sequences. Major marine regressions allowed the formation of large peat swamps followed by transgressions which covered the swamps with impervious marine shales, preventing the already forming methane from escaping. About 75% of Montana's coal is less than 1,000 ft below the ground's surface, making it ideal for methane production. Associated water appears to be fresh, eliminating environmental problems. Pipelines are near to most of the major coal deposits. Exploration for coal-bed methane in Montana is still in its infancy but at this time shows commercial promise.

• OSTI ID: 6095862
• Report Number(s): CONF-9107109--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Journal Volume: 75:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
011000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
03 NATURAL GAS
030200 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
ALKANES
BROWN COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CENOZOIC ERA
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
COAL
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL RANK
COAL RESERVES
COAL SEAMS
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
DEPOSITION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS ANALYSIS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
HYDROCARBONS
JURASSIC PERIOD
LIGNITE
MACERALS
MATERIALS
MESOZOIC ERA
METHANE
MINERAL RESOURCES
MONTANA
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RESERVES
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
RESOURCES
SUBBITUMINOUS COAL
TERTIARY PERIOD
USA