Obiettivo The aim is to locate fracture zones related to former coal mining activity and determine optimal position for drilling a large diameter borehole which will be used to extract gas reserves (coalbed methane or coal seam methane) commercially before this energy resource is rendered unusable by flooding or lost by leakage to the atmosphere. Coal seam methane will be sold directly to nearby energy consumers.Innovative aspects of the technology include : 3D virtual reality modelling of mime workings; integration of data with a surface geographic database to choose optimal location for drilling large diameter boreholes into destressed and fractured strata; use of positive displacement gas extraction pumps; and production of abandoned mine gas from workings directly beneath consumer sites thus precluding the need for a pipeline.The project is expected to produce about 700 million Mj/y from the first borehole.The UK's reserves of onshore coal are estimated at about 185 billion tonnes. Assuming an average gas content of 6 Nm³/tonne, the originally in-place coal seam methane reserves were at least 1 trillion Nm³. European coal seam methane reserves are much greater than those of the UK. During mining operations some of this gas was released but a proportion of it collects in voids in the abandoned mines or remains adsorbed in unworked coal.Coalgas has proved in two production tests that this remaining methane can be produced at commercial rates from mine vents. This project aims to extend Coalgas technology to gas extraction boreholes drilled into fracture zones above former mine workings. The project will operate within the context of abandoned coal mines containing very large methane reserves which can be extracted for socio-economic benefit to the former mining communities and profit for the company.Innovative aspects of the technology include :- 3D virtual reality modelling of old coal mine workings using data scanned from 2D plans of underground workings. Integration of this data with a surface geographic database to choose optimal location for borehole on energy user site.- drilling of large diameter borehole into destressed and fractured strata while causing minimal formation damage.- a new combination of positive displacement extraction pumps and specially modified intercoolers will be used to extract methane. - cyclones and filters will remove water from the highly saturated gas before it is used as a fuel.- production of coal seam methane from workings beneath consumer sites thus precluding the need for a gas pipeline.- Unusual reservoir management techniques required to maintain a negative drawdown pressure, control gas extraction rates and enable methane to desorb from the coal. Campo scientifico natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdatabasesengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfossil energycoalengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfossil energynatural gasnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryaliphatic compoundsnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationsvirtual reality Programma(i) FP4-NNE-THERMIE C - Specific programme for research and technological development, including demonstration in the field of non-nuclear energy, 1994-1998 Argomento(i) 1 - OIL AND GAS Invito a presentare proposte Data not available Meccanismo di finanziamento DEM - Demonstration contracts Coordinatore COALGAS PLC Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo 5 ACORN BUSINESS PARK COMMERCIAL GATE NG181EX Mansfield Regno Unito Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato
