Results from an in situ coal gasification experiment involving explosive fracturing: Hoe Creek Experiment No. 1

Technical Report · Tue Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:7258464

Hill, R W; Thorsness, C B

Results of Hoe Creek Experiment No. 1, the first field test of the packed-bed concept for in-situ coal gasification, are reported. The packed-bed concept, originated at LLL, involves the use of an array of chemical explosives to enhance the permeability of a reaction zone within a thick bed of coal. Experiment No. 1 was a simple two-spot fracturing experiment in which two explosive charges were fired simultaneously at the bottom of a coal seam. Preshot and postshot characterizations of the site show that the coal permeability went from 0.3 D (darcy) to about 2 to 4 D. Examination of cores taken after the blast showed moderate-to-heavy fracturing in the upper few feet of the coal bed, a lesser fractured zone in the middle, and a highly pulverized zone in the bottom 5 to 10 ft. Correspondence of the degree of fracturing with code calculations has built confidence in our ability to calculate the extent of fracturing. However, a review of flow behavior has led to the conslusion that permeability is not a simple function of the degree of fracturing. The coal was ignited and gasification proceeded for 11 days. During this time, 122 tons of coal were gasified out of an estimated 1000 tons within the fractured region. Heating quality of the gas averaged 110 to 150 Btu/scf.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 7258464
• Report Number(s): UCRL-52229
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010404* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Gasification
CALORIFIC VALUE
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COAL GASIFICATION
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
COMMINUTION
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING
FLUIDS
FRACTURING
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
IN-SITU GASIFICATION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
PACKED BED
PERMEABILITY
PROCESSING
SAMPLING
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES