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Project Details

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Project Information Sheet 2002-01

Prediction of CO₂ sorption in coal seams

Funding Source:	U.S. Geological Survey
Period of Contract:	1 Oct 2003 to 30 Sep 2004
Status:	completed — Definition of status type
Project Director:	Maria Mastalerz

Issue

With the introduction of progressively stricter emission laws in North America, there is an immediate need to assess and develop methods for disposal of environmentally problematic gaseous effluents from combustion of fossil fuels, especially carbon dioxide (CO₂). An environmentally attractive concept is the underground disposal of effluents that are not subject to mining activity. Therefore, it is important to understand CO₂ sorption characteristics of different coals.

Objective

The overall research goals are to: 1) Develop a reliable and practical method to measure CO₂ sorption in coal in realistic temperature/pressure conditions; 2) Determine CO₂ sorption characteristics in coals of specific rank, type, and lithotype structure; and 3) Evaluate how fast and how much of initially present methane (CH₄) can be desorbed from coal during CO₂ adsorption.

Approach

We developed instrumentation for testing methane and carbon dioxide on coal cores at temperature and pressure conditions corresponding to those in in-situ seams. Carbon dioxide was introduced to the coal and the duration of desorption/adsorption, volume of gas, and its composition was monitored.

Products

From this project: 1) Instrumentation will be developed to measure the volume of CO₂ that can be introduced to a coal core; 2) A database will be created of adsorption/desorption characteristics of coals of different types; 3) A report will be produced comparing the adsorption/desorption characteristics of undisturbed coal to those of crushed coal.

Benefits

The project evaluated the extent to which adsorption and desorption characteristics, previously measured exclusively on crushed coal, can be used to predict the volume of carbon dioxide that could be sequestered in Indiana coal seams.

Locations Affected:

Outside Indiana

state

Indiana House Districts Affected:

all

Indiana Senate Districts Affected:

all

Indiana Congressional Districts Affected:

Information Updated February 2, 2007

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