Underground coal conversion. Program description

Technical Report · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:6279612

The goal of the U.S. Department of Energy Underground Coal Conversion (UCC) program is to develop the technology to produce clean fuels from coal deposits unsuitable for commercial exploitation by conventional mining techniques. The highest priority is to develop and demonstrate, in conjunction with industry, a commercially feasible process for underground gasification of low-rank coal in the 1985--1987 time period. The program will also attempt to develop cost-effective technologies to utilize steeply dipping seams and bituminous coal by UCC. Results of the program to date indicate that, while UCC is technically feasible, it still contains some process unknowns, environmental risks, and economic risks that require R and D. In order to contribute to the national energy goals, a strong DOE program which incorporates maximum industry involvement is planned. Major projects are described in some detail. Finally, a strong program of supporting activities will address specific problems identified in the field testing and will seek to advance UCC technology. In summary, the program's strategy is to remove the high-risk elements of UCC by resolving those technical, environmental, and economic uncertainties that remain, and to enable industry to assume responsibility for commercialization of the process.

• Research Organization: Department of Energy, Washington, DC (USA). Div. of Fossil Fuel Extraction
• OSTI ID: 6279612
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET-0100
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010404* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Gasification
010405 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Hydrogenation & Liquefaction
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
294001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Coal
BOREHOLE LINKING
COAL GASIFICATION
COMMERCIALIZATION
COST
ENERGY SOURCES
EVALUATION
FLUIDS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
IN-SITU GASIFICATION
IN-SITU LIQUEFACTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
LIQUEFACTION
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PROCESSING
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS