Method for increasing the calorific value of gas produced by the in situ combustion of coal

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:863116

Shuck, Lowell Z ^[1]

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1. Morgantown, WV

The present invention relates to the production of relatively high Btu gas by the in situ combustion of subterranean coal. The coal bed is penetrated with a horizontally-extending borehole and combustion is initiated in the coal bed contiguous to the borehole. The absolute pressure within the resulting combustion zone is then regulated at a desired value near the pore pressure within the coal bed so that selected quantities of water naturally present in the coal will flow into the combustion zone to effect a hydrogen and carbon monoxide-producing steam-carbon reaction with the hot carbon in the combustion zone for increasing the calorific value of the product gas.

• Research Organization: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV (United States)
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4095650
• OSTI ID: 863116
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
increasing
calorific
value
gas
produced
situ
combustion
coal
relates
production
relatively
btu
subterranean
bed
penetrated
horizontally-extending
borehole
initiated
contiguous
absolute
pressure
resulting
zone
regulated
desired
near
pore
selected
quantities
water
naturally
flow
effect
hydrogen
carbon
monoxide-producing
steam-carbon
reaction
hot
product
situ combustion
btu gas
calorific value
coal bed
product gas
combustion zone
carbon monoxide
gas produced
steam-carbon reaction
absolute pressure
subterranean coal
pore pressure
desired value
water natural
hot carbon
/166/48/