What is coal bed methane used for?
It is a primary clean energy source of natural gas. The development and utilization of CBM is of great social and economic benefit. It is a clean-burning fuel (compressed natural gas—CNG) for domestic and industrial uses. The extraction of CNG reduces explosion hazards in underground coal mines.
How is methane extracted from coal bed?
Methane may be extracted by drilling wells into the coal seam. The goal is to decrease the water pressure by pumping water from the well. The decrease in pressure allows methane to desorb from the coal and flow as a gas up the well to the surface. Methane is then compressed and piped to market.
Is coal bed methane pure?
(Almost) Pure Methane Apart from the possibilities for its efficient exploitation in many parts of the world, the prime reason CBM is a suitable alternative to natural gas is its high methane content of over 95 percent, which makes it an excellent fuel.
Is coal bed methane the same as natural gas?
Unlike much natural gas from conventional reservoirs, coalbed methane contains very little heavier hydrocarbons such as propane or butane, and no natural-gas condensate. It often contains up to a few percent carbon dioxide. Coalbed methane is generally formed due to thermal maturation of kerogen and organic matter.
Is coal bed methane renewable energy?
Coalbed methane is considered a non-renewable resource, although the Alberta Research Council, Alberta Geological Survey and others have argued coalbed methane is a renewable resource because the bacterial action that formed the methane is ongoing.
What are the drawbacks of coal bed methane gas?
Coalbed methane production often results in large quantities of water that are released as byproducts of production; in some cases, the water may inundate sensitive arid ecosystems, worsen surface water quality, and diminish underground water supplies.
Which fuel gas is harvested from coal bed?
Methane
Methane is a gas formed as part of coalification (coal formation). When coal is mined, methane is inevitably released from the coal seam and the surrounding rock. The methane content within coal seams generally increase as depth increases.
Where is coal bed methane found in India?
The Gondwana sediments of eastern India host the bulk of India’s coal reserves and all the current CBM producing blocks. The vast majority of the best prospective areas for CBM development are in eastern India, situated in Damodar Koel valley and Son valley.
Why coal bed methane is called sweet gas?
Further, unlike natural gas from conventional reservoirs, coalbed methane contains very little heavier hydrocarbons such as propane or butane, and no natural-gas condensate. It is called ‘sweet gas’ because it does not contain any hydrogen sulphide. The gas often contains up to a few percent of carbon dioxide.