Degasification of the Mary Lee coalbed near Oak Grove, Jefferson County, Ala. , by vertical borehole in advance of mining. [14 refs]

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1974

OSTI ID:7291195

Elder, C.H. Deul, M.

A 5-hole pattern was drilled from the surface at a site near Oak Grove, Jefferson County, Ala., to degasify the gassy Mary Lee coalbed in advance of mining. Gas and water production was monitored for 1 year, 4 months to allow gas flow to stabilize fully. A thickened water stimulation treatment was designed and applied in one hole of the pattern to evaluate this degasification technique for the Mary Lee coalbed. A gas production rate of 70,000 ft/sup 3//day after stimulation treatment indicates that the use of vertical boreholes coupled with hydraulic fracturing in advance of mining the Mary Lee coalbed would provide for more rapid degasification and could provide a possible source of natural gas.

• Research Organization: Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Pittsburgh Mining and Safety Research Center
• OSTI ID: 7291195
• Report Number(s): BM-RI-7968
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
011000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
012000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
ALABAMA
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL MINING
COMMINUTION
DEGASSING
FLUID FLOW
FRACTURING
GAS FLOW
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
MINING
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
RESOURCES
SOUTHEAST REGION
USA