Coal Bed Methane Enhancement Techniques: A Review

Exploring the Potential of Microbial Coalbed Methane for Sustainable Energy Development

By allowing coal to be converted by microorganisms into products like methane, hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, and other products, current coal deposits can be used effectively, cleanly, and sustainably. The intricacies of in situ microbial coal degradation must be understood in order to develop innovative energy production strategies and economically viable industrial microbial mining. This review covers various forms of conversion (such as the use of MECoM, which converts coal into hydrogen), stresses, and in situ use. There is ongoing discussion regarding the effectiveness of field-scale pilot testing when translated to commercial production. Assessing the applicability and long-term viability of MECoM technology will require addressing these knowledge gaps. Developing suitable nutrition plans and utilizing lab-generated data in the field are examples of this. Also, we recommend directions for future study to maximize methane production from coal. Microbial coal conversion technology needs to be successful in order to be resolved and to be a viable, sustainable energy source.

Laboratory investigation and core flood demonstration of enhanced biogenic methane generation from lignite

Over the last several decades, coalbed methane (CBM) has emerged as an important energy source in developing nations like India as well as worldwide and is expected to play a significant role in the energy portfolio of the future. The current scenario of rapid exhaustion of fossil fuels is leading to the need to explore alternative and efficient fuel resources. The present study demonstrates enhanced methane production per gram of lignite (lowest-rank coal). Optimization of the bioconversion of lignite to methane revealed 55°C temperature and 1.5 g/L NaCl concentration as ambient conditions for the process. A scale-up study in the optimized condition showed 2,800 mM methane production per 25 g of lignite in anaerobic conditions. Further, Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR) and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) analysis showed bioconversion of lignite into simpler intermediate substrates required for methane production. The results highlighted that the bacterial action first converts lignite into volatile fatty acids, which subsequently get converted into methane. Further, the exploration of indigenous microbial consortia in Tharad well (THAA) mainly comprises the order Methanosarcinales and Methanomicrobiales. The pathogenicity of the microbial consortium THAA was declared safe for use in mice via the oral route by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), India. The study demonstrated the development of indigenous consortia (TERI THAA), which can potentially enhance methane production from the lowest coal grade under extreme conditions in Indian coal beds.

Theory and Engineering Practice of Intermittent Heat Injection-Enhanced Coalbed Methane Extraction

Because of the strong adsorption characteristics of methane and the low permeability of coal seams, the extraction efficiency of coalbed methane (CBM) is very low. Here, based on the energy conservation equation, we propose the theory of heat injection-enhanced CBM extraction. We developed a device for heat injection-enhanced CBM extraction and performed an on-site heat injection test in the Chengzhuang coal mine. The results showed that when the water injection rate was 0.5 m3/h, the heat injection temperature was 145 °C, with two heat injections, yielding the best CBM extraction effect. This could fully utilize the heat injection equipment and achieve a fast, safe, and efficient extraction. The gas production law of the intermittent heat injection-enhanced CBM extraction method had obvious stages; the CBM concentration and daily gas production were very low during the heat injection stage but were greatly improved during the extraction stage after heat injection. The highest CBM concentration reached 100%, and the maximum daily gas production of CBM increased by 1269 times. The variation law of the cumulative gas production with time was fitted using Wang's empirical formula. Comparative analysis showed that, compared to traditional extraction, intermittent heat injection shortened the extraction time by 6.6 years. Compared with other enhanced CBM extraction methods, the intermittent heat injection method had obvious technical advantages and greater improvements in concentration and CBM extraction speed. Therefore, the results are of great significance for improving the recovery rate of CBM and for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Experimental Study of the Pore Structure and Gas Desorption Characteristics of a Low-Rank Coal: Impact of Moisture

Coal-water interactions have a prominent impact on the prediction of coal mine gas disasters and coalbed methane extraction. The change of characteristics in the microscopic pores of coal caused by the existence of water is an important factor affecting the diffusion and migration of gas in coal. The low-pressure nitrogen adsorption experiments and gas desorption experiments of a low-rank coal with different equilibrium moisture contents were conducted. The results show that both the specific surface area and pore volume decrease significantly as the moisture content increases, and the micropores (pore diameter <10 nm) are most affected by the water adsorbed by coal. In particular, for a water-equilibrated coal sample at 98% relative humidity, micropores with pore sizes smaller than 4 nm as determined by the density functional theory model almost disappear, probably due to the blocking effects of water clusters and capillary water. In this case, micropores with a diameter less than 10 nm still contribute most of the specific surface area for gas adsorption in coal. Furthermore, the fractal dimensions at relative pressures of 0-0.5 (D ₁) and 0.5-1 (D ₂) calculated by the Frenkel-Halsey-Hill model indicate that when the moisture content is less than 4.74%, D ₁ decreases rapidly, whereas D ₂ shows a slight reduction as the moisture content increased. In contrast, when the moisture content exceeds 4.74%, further increases in the moisture content cause D ₂ to decrease significantly, while there is nearly no change for D ₁. The correlation analyses show that the ultimate desorption volume and initial desorption rate are closely related to the fractal dimension D ₁, while the desorption constant (K _t) mainly depends on the fractal dimension D ₂. Therefore, the gas desorption performances of coal have a close association with the pore properties of coal under water-containing conditions, which indicate that the fluctuation in moisture content should be carefully considered in the evaluation of gas diffusion and migration performances of in situ coal seams.

Dynamic Evolution of Gas Flow during Coalbed Methane Recovery to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emission: A Case Study

Gas pre-extraction technology in a coal reservoir can not only reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions but also effectively recover coalbed methane (CBM). In this work, we use a geomechanical-coupled gas flow (GCF) model to simulate and analyze the pre-extraction effect of a mining-disturbed coal seam. First, the simulation results of the GCF model are compared with field test data to verify the correctness and reliability of our model. Then, the evolution law of the stress field, permeability field, and gas flow field in the extraction process is analyzed through a case study. The results show that the first principal stress of coal in a mining area increases first and then decreases slowly and reaches the peak value at 5 m. The third principal stress increases gradually at first and becomes stable after 10 m. As the distance from the mining face increases, the permeability and gas pressure of the coal seam show continuous and asymmetric "U"-shaped and "n"-shaped distribution characteristics, respectively. In addition, the recovery effect and abnormal emission factors of CBM are discussed. This study can provide theoretical guidance for optimizing the CBM recovery effect and reducing GHG emissions during mining.

Dynamic Accumulation of the Quaternary Shale Biogas in Sanhu Area of the Qaidam Basin, China

Biogas resources in the Sanhu area of the Qaidam Basin have great potential, but there are few studies on biogas from shale, especially on the accumulation conditions of shale biogas. The study of biogas accumulation conditions of quaternary shale in the Sanhu area is of great significance to the theory of biogas accumulation and the guidance of exploration and development. This paper takes Quaternary shale in the Sanhu area as the research object. It is analyzed from multiple perspectives of shale hydrocarbon generation conditions, reservoir conditions, as well as hydrodynamic and structural conditions. Through the experiments of soluble organic carbon analysis and porosity and permeability analysis, the accumulation conditions of shale biogas reservoirs are clarified. The results show that the quaternary shale has a high soluble organic carbon content and high salinity formation water, which is conducive to late methane biochemical generation. Quaternary shale has the characteristics of high porosity and low permeability, mainly developing intergranular pores and intragranular pores. The large pore volume and specific surface area provide a lot of storage space for free gas and adsorbed gas, and the reservoir conditions are good. Under the structural characteristics of high in the south and low in the north and the action of formation hydrodynamics, biogas migrated from the south and deep to the north of the basin. The north slope is the main biogas-rich zone. On the whole, the quaternary shale in the Sanhu area has the characteristics of continuous hydrocarbon generation and dynamic accumulation, which has huge resource potential and exploration and development value.

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) as methane adsorbents: From storage to diluted coal mining streams concentration

Ventilation Air Methane emissions (VAM) from coal mines lead to environmental concern because their high global warming potential and the loss of methane resources. VAM upgrading requires pre-concentration processes dealing with high flow rates of very diluted streams (<1% methane). Therefore, methane separation and concentration is technically challenging and has important environmental and safety concerns. Among the alternatives, adsorption on Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) could be an interesting option to methane selective separation, due to its tuneable character and outstanding physical properties. Most of the works devoted to the methane adsorption on MOFs deal with methane storage. Therefore, these works were reviewed to determine the properties governing methane-MOF interactions. In addition, the metallic ions and organic linkers roles have been identified. With these premises, decisive effects in the methane adsorption selectivity in nitrogen/methane lean mixtures have been discussed, since nitrogen is the most concentrated gas in the VAM stream, and it is very similar to methane molecule. In order to fulfill this overview, the effect of other aspects, such as the presence of polar compounds (moisture and carbon dioxide), was also considered. In addition, engineering considerations in the operation of fixed bed adsorption units and the main challenges associated to MOFs as adsorbents were also discussed.

Capture and Reuse of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) for a Plastics Circular Economy: A Review

Plastic production has been increasing at enormous rates. Particularly, the socioenvironmental problems resulting from the linear economy model have been widely discussed, especially regarding plastic pieces intended for single use and disposed improperly in the environment. Nonetheless, greenhouse gas emissions caused by inappropriate disposal or recycling and by the many production stages have not been discussed thoroughly. Regarding the manufacturing processes, carbon dioxide is produced mainly through heating of process streams and intrinsic chemical transformations, explaining why first-generation petrochemical industries are among the top five most greenhouse gas (GHG)-polluting businesses. Consequently, the plastics market must pursue full integration with the circular economy approach, promoting the simultaneous recycling of plastic wastes and sequestration and reuse of CO2 through carbon capture and utilization (CCU) strategies, which can be employed for the manufacture of olefins (among other process streams) and reduction of fossil-fuel demands and environmental impacts. Considering the previous remarks, the present manuscript’s purpose is to provide a review regarding CO2 emissions, capture, and utilization in the plastics industry. A detailed bibliometric review of both the scientific and the patent literature available is presented, including the description of key players and critical discussions and suggestions about the main technologies. As shown throughout the text, the number of documents has grown steadily, illustrating the increasing importance of CCU strategies in the field of plastics manufacture.

Distribution law of floor stress during mining of the upper protective coal seam

Floor stress distribution is the main index for evaluating the mining effect of upper protective coal seam. However, parameters currently used in theoretical analysis of mining-induced stress lack practicality. Therefore, in this article, a model for calculating floor stress during mining of upper protective coal seams was established based on the theory of elastic mechanics. Subsequently, the stress induced by the abutment pressure at any point in the five parts of the floor was derived. Moreover, the distribution characteristics of the horizontal, vertical, and shear stresses of the floor during mining of the upper protective coal seam were elaborated. The results show that with the continuous mining of the working face of the protective coal seam, the vertical stress of the floor strata experiences three stages, that is, rapid increase, abrupt stress relaxation, and gradual recovery to the in situ stress. With regard to the morphology, the floor strata recompress or expand in the vertical direction. Vertical and horizontal stress are relieved in the shallow part of the floor in the goaf behind the working face, and there is an abrupt reduction in the increase of concentration degree of vertical and horizontal stress in the floor strata in front of the working face. High shear stress occurs underneath the goaf near the working face. The isoline of the shear stress is distributed in a bubble shape and is oblique to the goaf. These research achievements can provide some theoretical basis for understanding the gas drainage during the mining of the upper protective coal seam.