Method for increasing the calorific value of gas produced by the in situ combustion of coal. [US DOE]

Patent · Tue Jun 20 00:00:00 EDT 1978

OSTI ID:6233479

Shuck, L Z

The present invention relates to the production of relatively high Btu gas by the in situ combustion of subterranean coal. The coal bed is penetrated with a horizontally-extending borehole and combustion is initiated in the coal bed contiguous to the borehole. The absolute pressure within the resulting combustion zone is then regulated at a desired value near the pore pressure within the coal bed so that selected quantities of water naturally present in the coal will flow into the combustion zone to effect a hydrogen and carbon monoxide-producing steam-carbon reaction with the hot carbon in the combustion zone for increasing the calorific value of the product gas.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): US 4095650
• OSTI ID: 6233479
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 10 Aug 1977; Other Information: PAT-APPL-823,480
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
IN-SITU GASIFICATION
PROCESS CONTROL
CALORIFIC VALUE
CARBON
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL GASIFICATION
FUEL GAS
HIGH BTU GAS
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
STEAM
WATER
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
CONTROL
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
010404* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Gasification