Deep Coal Energy

Jack Hamilton, Ph.D.Jack Adams, Ph.D. John McLennan, Ph.D. Mike Free, Ph.D. Mike Nelson, Ph.D.

The objective of this research is to achieve a methodology that can recover energy from carbon resources that are otherwise unrecoverable using conventional techniques, primarily by using microbe consortia to produce methane – the cleanest variety of fossil fuel.

The first target for evaluation is existing coal-bed methane production that is in decline, because of accessibility and the existing infrastructure.

Ultimately, a carbon-neutral power generation scenario may be feasible.

From: U.S. EnergyInformation Agency2005

In billion short tons

In Billion Short Tons

Energy / Emissions

Fuel TypeApproximate Energy (KBTU/Kg)

Approximate CO2 Emissions (Kg/MBTU)

Wood (50% C) 14 88Coal (poor) (50 -80% C) 14 102Coal (premium)(86 - 96% C - C135H96O9NS) 26 92Ethanol (C2H5OH) 28* 51*Petroleum(C5H12 to C36H74)

43 71 gasoline73 diesel

Methane (CH4) 51 52Hydrogen 133 None(*)  It takes ~44 KBTU of energy to produce a kilogram of EtOH from corn!

Coal Bed Methane

Methane occurs in most coals, but water permeates coal beds, and its pressure traps methane within the coal. To produce methane from coal beds, water must be drawn off first, lowering the pressure so methane can flow out of the coal and to the well bore.

The coal acts as both the source of the gas and the storage reservoir

CO2 is preferentially adsorbed on fracturesurfaces and displacesmethane from those surfaces

Coal Bed Methane

CBM existing today was formed millions of years ago in an environment that does not exist in the CBM deposits today

If only 1/100th of 1% of US coal reserves were converted into methane by microbes, and captured above ground, gas resources would increase by 23 Tcf, or approximately 16% of current US reserves (Scott, 1994)

An infrastructure of ~30,000 CBM wells currently exist to take advantage of this technology – some of these wells are nearing methane depletion

THE GOAL To initiate or enhance methane production by introducing a mixture of

nutrients, non-pathogenic bacteria and Archaea that work together to break down the organic carbon structure in coal and produce methane

Microbes

Microorganisms are the earliest forms of life on earth; occupy almost every conceivable ecological niche -- even the harshest, most extreme, and toxic environments -- about 1 billion live in a single teaspoon of moist soil

Methanogens

Strict anaerobes

They produce large quantities of methane as a byproduct of their metabolism

They are members of the domain Archaea

Form mutualistic relationships with other microbes allows them to exist in a wide variety of environments

Structure of Coal

Coal is a mixture of compounds, its chemical formula is approximated by C135H96O9NS. This means that by mass, carbon accounts for almost 85% of coal.

GEOPOLYMERS IN COAL,OIL SHALE, TAR SANDS,

AND HEAVY OILS VARIOUS HUMIC ACIDS & OTHERCOLLOIDAL POLYMERS

Microbial Methane Production

FATTY ACIDS, SUGARS, AMINO ACIDS,

HydrolyticFermentativeBacteria

HydrolyticFermentativeBacteria

Syntrophic FermentativeAcetogenicBacteria CH4 + HCO3

-MethanogenicBacteria

CH4 + 2H2O

SEQUESTRATION OF CO2

NH3, H2S, CO2, H+, ACETATE +

MethanogenicBacteriaH+

Methanogenesis

Methane production depends on: Site environment, microbes present, and nutrient components available

MICROBES

METHANE

SUBSTRATES

Microbes & Nutrient Components

Correct ratios of C:N:P:S:Other minerals:Vitamins

Proper nutrient component composition

Optimized non-pathogenic microbial populations

Site chemistry adjustments

(CF

/TO

N)

Overall Objective

Commercialize microbial enhanced coal bed methane production by increasing the understanding of the process, optimizing production, facilitating both above ground and in-situ application, and partnering with industry for large-scale implementations

Goals

Perform small (~1/2 ton) pilot-scale testing with different coal types to optimize microbes and nutrients-environment ▪ Understand factors affecting enhanced microbial CBM production ▪ Examine CO2 addition

Establish a partnership with industry to conduct a commercial-scale pilot test of the enhanced microbial CBM technology ▪ Conduct on-site methane production testing to optimize process

Initiate a full-scale model production facility and market the proven technology within two years

Goals

Test established delivery methods - hydraulic fracturing and/or remote mining to achieve adequate reactive surface area

Examine potential environmental risks

Acquire data to assess potential for carbon-neutral power generation

Initiate a full-scale in situ model production facility and market the technology

Examine the potential for integrating on-site power generation

Why this Approach will be Successful?

The multidisciplinary team understands the complexities of this project based on prior success at a large scale in other related in-situ and industrial microbial systems

This approach addresses the important challenges that are likely to facilitate a transition from small-scale testing to large-scale commercialization

Demonstrated successful approach at bench scale and are ready to move to small-scale pilot tests

Success demonstrated in other full-scale bioreactor and in situ microbial transformations

CH4 RECOVERYGEOPOLYMERS IN

COAL, OIL SHALE, OIL SANDS, AND HEAVY

OILS

HydrolyticFermentativeBacteria/Archaea

H2O - FATTY ACIDS,SUGARS, AMINO ACIDS,

NH3, H2S, CO2, ACETATE, H+MethanogenicBacteria/Archaea

Fracture Solution / Microbe /Nutrient / CO2 re-injection

Conversion of Injected CO2 to Methane

CO2

CH4

Storage

BiogenicMethane

REDUCED CARBON EMISSION COAL ENERGY