Field hydrological tests of explosively fractured coal. [8 refs]
Hydraulic tests were made in the explosively fractured Felix No. 2 coal as part of the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in-situ coal gasification experiment at the Hoe Creek site, 24 km SW of Gillette, Wyoming. Initial tests after firing two explosive charges 7 m apart in the base of the coal showed an increase, from the native horizontal permeability of 0.3 darcy to an average of 2 to 4 darcy. Later tests, after completion of more experimental wells, showed two enhanced regions horizontally, 10 darcy out to 3 m and 1.5 darcy from 3 m to 15 m as well as apparent non-symmetrical fracture locations and a near native zone between explosion centers. Lower flow rates found at the bottom of the coal than at the top supported interpretation of partial plugging by explosively generated fines. The gasification paths inferrable from preliminary interpretations of hydraulic tests and the path indicated by gasification data correspond only in part. Further interpretation of the hydraulic data and comparisons with postburn coring results should improve evaluation of the usefulness of hydraulic testing in the development of in-situ gasification processes.
- Research Organization:
- California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 7318645
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-78957; CONF-770510-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
LLL in situ coal gasification project. Quarterly progress report, October-December 1979. [Hoe Creek No. 3 and planning]
Hoe Creek experiments: LLNL's underground coal-gasification project in Wyoming
Related Subjects
010404* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Gasification
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COAL GASIFICATION
COMMINUTION
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FUELS
GASIFICATION
IN-SITU GASIFICATION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
PERMEABILITY
PROCESSING
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES