Underground gasification of coal

Patent · Tue Jan 20 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:7275226

Pasini, J III; Overbey, Jr, W J; Komar, C A

There is disclosed a method for the gasification of coal in situ which comprises drilling at least one well or borehole from the earth's surface so that the well or borehole enters the coalbed or seam horizontally and intersects the coalbed in a direction normal to its major natural fracture system, initiating burning of the coal with the introduction of a combustion-supporting gas such as air to convert the coal in situ to a heating gas of relatively high calorific value and recovering the gas. In a further embodiment the recovered gas may be used to drive one or more generators for the production of electricity.

• Assignee: Energy Research and Development Administration
• Patent Number(s): US 3933447
• OSTI ID: 7275226
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010404* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Gasification
AIR
BOREHOLES
CALORIFIC VALUE
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CAVITIES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
COAL GASIFICATION
COMBUSTION
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
IN-SITU GASIFICATION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
OXIDATION
PROCESSING