Control of subsidence during underground gasification of coal

Patent · Tue May 31 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:7122457

Gash, B W; Buxton, T S

A method of modifying an underground coal seam located between a lower noncoal layer and an overburden layer to control subsidence resulting from gasification of coal in the underground coal seam, comprising: (a) drilling holes through the overburden layer and the underground coal seam and into the lower noncoal layer, (b) gasifying a portion of the coal adjacent each hole, thereby producing cavities of a predetermined shape; (c) placing fluid transportation devices within each cavity; (d) filling, through the holes, each cavity with a heat resistant material adapted to support the overburden upon gasification of the coal; (e) introducing a cooling fluid into the transportation devices; and (f) gasifying the coal.

• Assignee: Amoco Corp., Chicago, IL
• Patent Number(s): US 4747642
• OSTI ID: 7122457
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010404* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Gasification
012031 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Underground Mining-- Strata Mechanics & Control-- (1987-)
BOREHOLES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CAVITIES
COAL
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL GASIFICATION
COAL SEAMS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASIFICATION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GROUND SUBSIDENCE
IN-SITU GASIFICATION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
INHIBITION
MATERIALS
MECHANICS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINING
OVERBURDEN
PROCESSING
RESOURCES
ROCK MECHANICS
ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS
STRATA CONTROL
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
UNDERGROUND MINING