Technical Proposal: A Single Well Test for Green House Gas Sequestration/Enhanced Methane Recovery Design Parameters

There is a need to accelerate the technology for sequestering green house gas (GHG) emmissions from coal-fired electrical-generating plants, thereby reducing global warming. One sequestration option involves the injection of GHG into coalbeds. A straightforward inexpensive method is needed to predict the amount of CO2, NO2, and SO2 (all GHG components) that can be sequestered in unmineable coalbeds. This project will develop a pump-in/pump-out test in order to determine the potential amount of GHG retained in a coalbed and the potential amount of methane released. In Phase I, two simulations will be performed: one to measure the amount of methane produced without GHG injection and another to determine the amount produced and the amount of CO2, NO2, and SO2 sequestered with GHG injection. The simulations will demonstrate the concept and provide background for the design of Phase II field tests. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The technology could lead to an inexpensive and accurate computer design for coalbed-GHG-sequestration/enhanced-methane-recovery projects. An accurate design is necessary to forecast gas adsorption and methane recovery rates, in order to access the economics of a commercial project.