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U.S. Department of Energy
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Future utilization of Texas lignites: a review. Mineral Resource Cicular No. 63

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7182043

This report evaluates the potential of Texas lignite as a source of energy. Further research into the characterization of lignite, particularly on rank changes and rock strength with depth, and research into the use of Texas lignite as a feedstock for medium-Btu gas production should be undertaken. Factors that are likely to impede such developments, such as limited reserves of shallow lignite and a commitment of a large percentage of the reserves to electricity-generating plants, are briefly considered. It would appear that changes in the energy mix will be costly and that they will be associated with certain adverse impacts on our society. A major challenge for the future of the State will be to obtain a balance between economics and ecology. Although there will probably be an accelerated trend toward the electrification of the energy economy of the United States, coal and lignite will increasingly have to be used for production of gaseous and liquid fuels, for chemical feedstocks, and for reductants. This will have a dramatic impact on crude-oil refinery practice because the mix of their products will have to change. Solving the energy crisis in Texas and the Nation will require drastic measures. These will include determination of realistic environmental standards and regulations, rapid development of lignite- and coal-fired power stations, and construction of coal gasification and liquefaction plants. Of equal importance is the need to develop viable methods for the recovery of deep-basin lignite resources, which are about 10 times as large as those of near-surface lignites. In addition to in situ gasification, the possible application of conventional and nonconventional underground mining methods should also be investigated.

Research Organization:
Texas Univ., Austin (USA)
OSTI ID:
7182043
Report Number(s):
NP-4901154; ON: TI84901154
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English