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Title: Exploratory study of some potential environmental impacts of CO2 sequestration in unmineable coal seams

Journal Article · · International Journal of Environment and Pollution

An initial investigation into the potential environmental impacts of CO2 sequestration in unmineable coal seams has been conducted, focusing on changes in the produced water during enhanced coalbed methane (ECBM) production, using a CO2 injection process (CO2-ECBM). A high volatile bituminous coal, Pittsburgh No. 8, was reacted with synthetic produced water and gaseous carbon dioxide at 40°C and 50 bar to evaluate the potential for mobilisation of toxic metals during CO2-ECBM/sequestration. Microscopic and X-ray diffraction analysis of the post-reaction coal samples clearly show evidence of chemical reaction and chemical analysis of the synthetic produced water shows substantial changes in composition. These results suggest that changes to the produced water chemistry and the potential for mobilising toxic trace elements from coal beds are important factors to be considered when evaluating deep, unmineable coal seams for CO2 sequestration.

Research Organization:
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE - Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
DOE Contract Number:
None cited
OSTI ID:
915620
Report Number(s):
DOE/NETL-IR-2007-177; 1741-5101 online; TRN: US200816%%94
Journal Information:
International Journal of Environment and Pollution, Vol. 29, Issue 4; ISSN 0957-4352 print
Publisher:
Inderscience Publishers
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English