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Title: Viability of underground coal gasification in the 'deep coals' of the Powder River Basin, Wyoming

Abstract

The objective of this work is to evaluate the PRB coal geology, hydrology, infrastructure, environmental and permitting requirements and to analyze the possible UCG projects which could be developed in the PRB. Project economics on the possible UCG configurations are presented to evaluate the viability of UCG. There are an estimated 510 billion tons of sub-bituminous coal in the Powder River Basin (PRB) of Wyoming. These coals are found in extremely thick seams that are up to 200 feet thick. The total deep coal resource in the PRB has a contained energy content in excess of twenty times the total world energy consumption in 2002. However, only approximately five percent of the coal resource is at depths less than 500 feet and of adequate thickness to be extracted by open pit mining. The balance is at depths between 500 and 2,000 feet below the surface. These are the PRB 'deep coals' evaluated for UCG in this report. The coal deposits in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming are thick, laterally continuous, and nearly flat lying. These deposits are ideal for development by Underground Coal Gasification. The thick deep coal seams of the PRB can be harvested using UCG and bemore » protective of groundwater, air resources, and with minimum subsidence. Protection of these environmental values requires correct site selection, site characterization, impact definition, and impact mitigation. The operating 'lessons learned' of previous UCG operations, especially the 'Clean Cavity' concepts developed at Rocky Mountain 1, should be incorporated into the future UCG operations. UCG can be conducted in the PRB with acceptable environmental consequences. The report gives the recommended development components for UCG commercialization. 97 refs., 31 figs., 57 tabs., 1 app.« less

Publication Date:
Research Org.:
GasTech, Inc., Casper, WY (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
21176883
Resource Type:
Miscellaneous
Resource Relation:
Other Information: IEACR LIB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; VIABILITY; COAL GASIFICATION; IN-SITU GASIFICATION; WYOMING; POWDER RIVER BASIN; USA; ECONOMIC ANALYSIS; ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT; RESOURCE ASSESSMENT; DEPTH; THICKNESS; COAL SEAMS; GEOLOGY; CARBON DIOXIDE; UNDERGROUND STORAGE; CAPITALIZED COST; OPERATING COST; SYNTHESIS GAS; PRODUCTION; POWER GENERATION; SURFACES; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; COAL DEPOSITS; RECOMMENDATIONS; SUBBITUMINOUS COAL

Citation Formats

. Viability of underground coal gasification in the 'deep coals' of the Powder River Basin, Wyoming. United States: N. p., 2007. Web.
. Viability of underground coal gasification in the 'deep coals' of the Powder River Basin, Wyoming. United States.
. 2007. "Viability of underground coal gasification in the 'deep coals' of the Powder River Basin, Wyoming". United States.
@article{osti_21176883,
title = {Viability of underground coal gasification in the 'deep coals' of the Powder River Basin, Wyoming},
author = {},
abstractNote = {The objective of this work is to evaluate the PRB coal geology, hydrology, infrastructure, environmental and permitting requirements and to analyze the possible UCG projects which could be developed in the PRB. Project economics on the possible UCG configurations are presented to evaluate the viability of UCG. There are an estimated 510 billion tons of sub-bituminous coal in the Powder River Basin (PRB) of Wyoming. These coals are found in extremely thick seams that are up to 200 feet thick. The total deep coal resource in the PRB has a contained energy content in excess of twenty times the total world energy consumption in 2002. However, only approximately five percent of the coal resource is at depths less than 500 feet and of adequate thickness to be extracted by open pit mining. The balance is at depths between 500 and 2,000 feet below the surface. These are the PRB 'deep coals' evaluated for UCG in this report. The coal deposits in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming are thick, laterally continuous, and nearly flat lying. These deposits are ideal for development by Underground Coal Gasification. The thick deep coal seams of the PRB can be harvested using UCG and be protective of groundwater, air resources, and with minimum subsidence. Protection of these environmental values requires correct site selection, site characterization, impact definition, and impact mitigation. The operating 'lessons learned' of previous UCG operations, especially the 'Clean Cavity' concepts developed at Rocky Mountain 1, should be incorporated into the future UCG operations. UCG can be conducted in the PRB with acceptable environmental consequences. The report gives the recommended development components for UCG commercialization. 97 refs., 31 figs., 57 tabs., 1 app.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21176883}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2007},
month = {Fri Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2007}
}

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