Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Development potential of coalbed methane in the Warrior Coal Basin of Alabama. Chapters 1, 2, and 3

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6428415

From its modest beginnings as a mine degasification R and D effort in 1971, the coalbed methane industry in Alabama is now poised for major development. As of July 1984, 135 wells were producing gas and an additional 52 were in various stages of development. A characteristic of most development thus far has been its association with underground coal mining. Mine degasification wells now comprise over 85% of the total of producing wells. Commercialization is underway with about 123 wells selling either to pipelines or to local industry. It is believed that coalbed methane could supply as much as 50% of the in-state demand for natural gas by the year 2000. This, of course, is contingent upon the development of favorable market conditions to provide incentives. At present, it appears that gas deliverability will begin to fall short of demand by the late 1980s. The coalbed methane industry in the Warrior Coal Basin would then have the necessary impetus to increase the pace of development. The Center for Economic and Business Research at The University of Alabama projects that the benefits to Alabama of a moderately paced development would include direct and indirect taxes of over $40 million, new business investments of $200 million, and direct employment increases of 6000 by 1990. 12 references, 40 figures, 56 tables.

Research Organization:
Alabama Univ., University (USA). School of Mines and Energy Development
DOE Contract Number:
AC21-82MC19334
OSTI ID:
6428415
Report Number(s):
DOE/MC/19334-1692; ON: DE85003301
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English