Method for in-situ recovery of methane from deeply buried coal seams

Patent · Tue Jan 20 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6158135

Steeman, J W

An improved method for the in situ recovery of methane from a plurality of coal seams beneath the earth's surface. At least one borehole is driven from the surface into a selected coal seam wherein a plurality of cavities are formed. The coal walls intermediate said cavities and the strata overlying said cavities are caused to collapse suddenly thereby forming fissure systems into the coal bearing rock strata from which methane is released. The methane is withdrawn via the fissure systems, cavities and the borehole. The cavities may be formed by chemical, physical or mechanical recovery of the coal.

• Assignee: Stamicarbon B V (Netherlands)
• Patent Number(s): US 4245699
• OSTI ID: 6158135
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
03 NATURAL GAS
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
ALKANES
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL SEAMS
DEGASSING
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROCARBONS
LEVELS
METHANE
MINERAL RESOURCES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RECOVERY
RESOURCES
UNDERGROUND